Scott Conner News

San Francisco Opera continues its 2017 Summer Season on June 10 at the War Memorial Opera House with Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme. Coinciding with city-wide celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the "Summer of Love," this revival of one of the greatest love stories in the operatic repertory will feature a brilliant cast including sopranos Erika Grimaldi, Julie Adams and Ellie Dehn; tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz as Rodolfo; and baritone Audun Iversen. Carlo Montanaro conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestral and Chorus.

San Francisco Opera presents a trio of operatic favorites- Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni and Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme-at the War Memorial Opera House from May 31 through July 2.

The 68th season of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will present an international roster of artists in six major vocal productions plus an opera-in-concert from June 30 - July 20. New Festival productions this year are Mozart's Cosi fan tutte directed by Christophe Honore and conducted by Louis Langree with the Freiburger Barockorchester; Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande led by Esa-Pekka Salonen with the Philharmonia Orchestra; and completing the Festival's Handel Cycle, Il Trionfo del tempo e del disinganno conducted by Emmanuelle Haimwith Le Concert d'Astree. In addition, the 2016 season will feature a concert version of Rameau's Zoroastre with Raphael Pichon leading the orchestra and choir of the Ensemble Pygmalion.

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and Music Director Nicola Luisotti today announced the Company's 2016–17 Season repertory and roster of international guest artists, conductors and creative teams scheduled to appear at the War Memorial Opera House, as well as initial programming for SF Opera Lab 2017 presentations at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera's Taube Atrium Theater. The Company's 94th Season will also mark Matthew Shilvock's inaugural year as San Francisco Opera's new general director, succeeding his mentor and internationally respected impresario, David Gockley, who will step down on July 31, 2016.

Verdi was a master at crescendo. In "Masked Ball," the score foreshadows and defines even while characters defy fate. As Count Anckarstrom laments his wife's betrayal in the opera's third act, the harp and violin take turn in old romance and revenge, building to a grand determination. Like Verdi's "Rigoletto" and "Il Trovatore," "A Masked Ball" concludes with a game-changing revelation in answer to an incredible setup.

The 65th annual Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will feature five opera productions, a selection of orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber music performances, world music programs, and more than 50 events from the 16th annual European Academy of Music. The Festival marks important milestones this year: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner's 200th birthday anniversaries; Benjamin Britten's centennial; the 50th anniversary of Francis Poulenc's death; and celebrates Marseille-Provence 2013, European Cultural Capital for the year. All events unfold in extraordinary venues, many of them open-air, in and around the picturesque ancient Provencal city: a Medieval archbishop's palace, an 18th century Italian-style theatre, a private courtyard hidden behind doors dating back to the time of Louis XV, and an 11th century Romanesque chapel inside the grounds of a Renaissance castle - as well as a state of the art, 1,350-seat theatre. The official portion of the Festival runs from July 4 to 27, 2013.

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation today announced that lyric soprano Ailyn Pérez is the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award.

Nashville Opera presents the third production of its 30th Anniversary Season, W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Directed by John Hoomes and featuring the Nashville Symphony conducted by Maestro William Boggs. The international cast of principal artists include Scott Conner (bass) as Figaro, Anne-Carolyn Bird (soprano) as Susanna; Corey McKern (baritone) as Count Almaviva, Georgia Jarman (soprano) as Countess Almaviva; and Kirsten Gunlogson (mezzo-soprano) as Cherubino. Amy Tate Williams, Chorusmaster/Accompanist, leads the Nashville Opera Ensemble. Tickets range in price from $19 to $95, and the company also offers its unique Pay-What-You-Can option which carries a suggested minimum donation of $5 per seat.

Nashville Opera presents the third production of its 30th Anniversary Season, W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Directed by John Hoomes and featuring the Nashville Symphony conducted by Maestro William Boggs. The international cast of principal artists include Scott Conner (bass) as Figaro, Anne-Carolyn Bird (soprano) as Susanna; Corey McKern (baritone) as Count Almaviva, Georgia Jarman (soprano) as Countess Almaviva; and Kirsten Gunlogson (mezzo-soprano) as Cherubino. Amy Tate Williams, Chorusmaster/Accompanist, leads the Nashville Opera Ensemble. Tickets range in price from $19 to $95, and the company also offers its unique Pay-What-You-Can option which carries a suggested minimum donation of $5 per seat.

Nashville Opera presents the third production of its 30th Anniversary Season, W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Directed by John Hoomes and featuring the Nashville Symphony conducted by Maestro William Boggs. The international cast of principal artists include Scott Conner (bass) as Figaro, Anne-Carolyn Bird (soprano) as Susanna; Corey McKern (baritone) as Count Almaviva, Georgia Jarman (soprano) as Countess Almaviva; and Kirsten Gunlogson (mezzo-soprano) as Cherubino. Amy Tate Williams, Chorusmaster/Accompanist, leads the Nashville Opera Ensemble. Tickets range in price from $19 to $95, and the company also offers its unique Pay-What-You-Can option which carries a suggested minimum donation of $5 per seat.

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) New York, NY 10036. Tickets may be purchased via Ticketmaster - www.ticketmaster.com / 1-800-745-3000 or at the B.B. King's Box Office: 10:30am - Midnight ($2 per ticket service charge)

Kansas City opera fans have been waiting 10 years for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to produce the audience favorite, La Traviata. On March 14, 16, 18, 20, & 22, 2009 the Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present Verdi's spellbinding tragedy, La Traviata at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Kansas City. Under the spell of one exquisite party, Violetta is tempted - and eventually swayed - to abandon her life of endless immoral pleasure to join lovesick Alfredo in the love affair of a lifetime despite Violetta's secret terminal disease. Violetta's colored past proves to be a hurdle for Alfredo's father, who persuades her to leave Alfredo for his own good. The pair is only reunited for the final moments of Violetta's life.

Kansas City opera fans have been waiting 10 years for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to produce the audience favorite, La Traviata. On March 14, 16, 18, 20, & 22, 2009 the Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present Verdi's spellbinding tragedy, La Traviata at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Kansas City. Under the spell of one exquisite party, Violetta is tempted - and eventually swayed - to abandon her life of endless immoral pleasure to join lovesick Alfredo in the love affair of a lifetime despite Violetta's secret terminal disease. Violetta's colored past proves to be a hurdle for Alfredo's father, who persuades her to leave Alfredo for his own good. The pair is only reunited for the final moments of Violetta's life.