Samuel Barber News

On Saturday, May 26, Grammy Award-winning mezzo Susan Graham – “an artist to treasure” (New York Times) – makes her title role debut in Marc Blitzstein's Regina at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. She will be joined by veteran bass-baritone James Morris, Broadway and television actor Ron Raines, and award-winning soprano Susanna Phillips in a new production by Artistic Director James Robinson, with Music Director Emeritus Stephen Lord leading from the pit (May 26–June 24).

Great Performances: The Opera House, the new documentary by multiple Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Susan Froemke (Grey Gardens; Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton) surveys a remarkable period of the Metropolitan Opera's rich history and a time of great change for New York City. Drawing on rarely seen archival footage, stills and recent interviews, the film chronicles the creation of the Met's storied Lincoln Center home of the last 50 years, set against a backdrop of the artists, architects and politicians who shaped the cultural life of New York City in the 1950s and 60s. Among the notable figures featured in the film are famed soprano Leontyne Price, who opened the Met's present Opera House in 1966 with a starring role in Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra; Rudolf Bing, the Met's imperious general manager who engineered the move from the old house to the new one; Robert Moses, the unstoppable city planner who bulldozed an entire neighborhood to make room for Lincoln Center; and Wallace Harrison, whose quest for architectural glory was never fully realized.

With “Rebirth and Renewal: A Celebration of Spring” the Morris Choral Society concluded its 45th Anniversary Concert Season to rousing applause Saturday May 12th at the historic Methodist Church on the Green in Morristown, New Jersey.

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) presents the spring concert of its world-renowned Symphony Orchestra at Chicago's Orchestra Hall (220 S. Michigan Ave.) on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Made up of some of the most talented and dedicated young musicians from across the Chicago region, the 125-member ensemble is led by Music Director Allen Tinkham. The concert will feature an all-American program of disparate cross-genre voices that explore the many 'Americas' that make up our country.

Morris Choral Society to feature distinguished soloist's Baritone Jonathan Scott, Mezzo Soprano Maya Hoover and organist Michael Shane Wittenburg in Gabriel Faure's Requiem in d minor May 12th.

Great Performances: The Opera House, the new documentary by multiple Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Susan Froemke (Grey Gardens; Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton) surveys a remarkable period of the Metropolitan Opera's rich history and a time of great change for New York City. Drawing on rarely seen archival footage, stills and recent interviews, the film chronicles the creation of the Met's storied Lincoln Center home of the last 50 years, set against a backdrop of the artists, architects and politicians who shaped the cultural life of New York City in the 1950s and 60s. Amongst the notable figures featured in the film are famed soprano Leontyne Price, who opened the Met's present Opera House in 1966 with a starring role in Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra; Rudolf Bing, the Met's imperious general manager who engineered the move from the old house to the new one; Robert Moses, the unstoppable city planner who bulldozed an entire neighborhood to make room for Lincoln Center; and Wallace Harrison, whose quest for architectural glory was never fully realized.

Noted American conductor and MCS Music Director Jason Tramm will begin the Morris Choral Society's 45th Season Finale with the exquisite music of Gabriel Faure's Requiem in d minor, Op. 48 in a concert entitled “Rebirth and Renewal: A Celebration of Spring” Saturday May 12th at 8PM at the historic Methodist Church on the Green in Morristown, New Jersey. The concert program will continue with works by noted contemporary composers Ola Gjeilo, Gwyneth Walker, Dan Forrest and Morten Lauridsen, as well as renown 20th century composers Samuel Barber and Randall Thompson.

On the occasion of the 20-year mark of Matthew Shepard's tragic death, the Ford Theatres presents Considering Matthew Shepard, on Friday, June 15 and Saturday June 16 at 8:30pm, in association with Chris Isaacson Presents. Part of the 2018 Season and the IGNITE @ the FORD! series, Considering Matthew Shepard is performed by the 30-member GRAMMY Award-winning Conspirare choir, and composed and conducted by its GRAMMY Award-winning artistic director, Craig Hella Johnson. 

Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg are thrilled to present the eighth season of the Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place Summer 2018 on Governors Island, New York City. Rite of Summer will present free outdoor concerts from May through August.  In a locale The New York Times has called a "Playground for the Arts," the aim of the Festival is simple: to present the highest quality live performances, and to bring free contemporary classical music to as many people as possible in a relaxed, fun, outdoor setting.

Encompass New Opera Theatre in association with The Church of The Ascension and The Social Justice Music Factory present its annual PARADIGM SHIFTS, MUSIC AND FILM FESTIVAL!

When the radiant, intellectual soprano Julia Bullock stepped on stage Carnegie Hall's intimate venue, Weill Recital Hall (just 268 seats), to wild applause, I felt like I was the only one hearing her “live” for the first time. Everyone else there seemed to have a personal relationship with her and her artistry. I'd somehow missed her “live,” in previous recitals and in the title roles of CENDRILLON and CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN at Juilliard. My loss--and a significant one.

Great Performances: The Opera House, the new documentary by multiple Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Susan Froemke (Grey Gardens; Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton) surveys a remarkable period of the Metropolitan Opera's rich history and a time of great change for New York City. Drawing on rarely seen archival footage, stills and recent interviews, the film chronicles the creation of the Met's storied Lincoln Center home of the last 50 years, set against a backdrop of the artists, architects and politicians who shaped the cultural life of New York City in the 1950s and 60s. Among the notable figures featured in the film are famed soprano Leontyne Price, who opened the Met's present Opera House in 1966 with a starring role in Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra; Rudolf Bing, the Met's imperious general manager who engineered the move from the old house to the new one; Robert Moses, the unstoppable city planner who bulldozed an entire neighborhood to make room for Lincoln Center; and Wallace Harrison, whose quest for architectural glory was never fully realized.

Armenian-American pianist Kariné Poghosyan makes her debut at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 7th at 7:30pm with a solo recital inspired by New York City. Titled The New York Connection, the program will feature works by both native New Yorkers as well as composers who visited and worked in New York, including the virtuosic piano sonatas by Samuel Barber, Béla Bartók and Sergei Rachmaninoff; Gershwin's iconic Rhapsody in Blue; and her own arrangement of the beautiful Lullaby from Khachaturian's Gayaneh.

The San Diego Symphony's season continued this past weekend with guest pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane. He opened at the piano in front of an orchestra reduced to half its usual size for Mozart's 27th piano concerto. After intermission there were roughly twice as many musicians for Samuel Barber's tone poem Music for a Scene from Shelley and Schumann's third symphony, the 'Rhenish.' Regardless of orchestra size or whether at the piano or podium, Kahane conducted with smooth sweeping gestures, and the orchestra responded well with clear section balances and attention to detail.

The MORRIS CHORAL SOCIETY will conclude its 45th Anniversary year with a grand season finale concert "Rebirth and Renewal: A Celebration of Spring" on Saturday May 12th at 8PM at the historic Methodist Church on the Green in Morristown, New Jersey.

San Diego Symphony's programs have been announced for this spring. Please see below for  all remaining performances of the 2017-18 downtown season that will conclude at the end of May.

This spring, Grammy Award-winning mezzo Susan Graham revisits her signature interpretation of Ravel's Sheherazade in performances with the San Francisco Symphony under Yan Pascal Tortelier (April 19-21). She then makes her title role debut in Marc Blitzstein's Regina at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (May 26-June 24), in a production that marks the 30th anniversary of her company and leading-role debuts. After three glorious decades at the highest echelons of the opera world, there is still, as the New York Times put it, "no more satisfying singer than this eminent mezzo-soprano, with her rich, even voice, exquisite musicianship, and warm presence."

The centennial of renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein is celebrated throughout the National Philharmonic's 2018-2019 concert series at The Music Center at Strathmore. Performing compositions that influenced Bernstein, as well as some of his very own famous works, the National Philharmonic will be the only symphony orchestra dedicating most of its 2018-2019 season to the works surrounding the legendary composer. 

Rehearsals are in full swing for The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Kiss Me, Kate, which begins performances next Friday, April 6.

San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, launches its 61st season offering audiences a look at the opera stars of tomorrow.