Stephen Powel News

Boston loves Italian opera

Inspired by the musical connection of people, place, and culture, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Christopher Wilkins, announces the 2015 summer's free concerts at the DCR's Hatch Shell. Free concerts will be held every Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) beginning July 15 thru August 26, 2015. Neighborhood concerts and youth engagement residencies featuring Brazilian composer, pianist and vocalist Clarice Assad continue throughout the summer beginning on July 12 (6 p.m.) at Pinebank Promontory in Jamaica Plain and through August 14 at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Dorchester. For more information and schedule visit landmarksorchestra.org.

A display of operatic and symphonic talent rarely seen and heard on one stage

When Stephen Powell's Sweeney Todd lunges at the audience in vengeful anger declaring, "No ones in the chair, come on! Come on! Sweeney's waiting, I want you bleeders," It's hard to think of anything more thrilling. And yet, Powell's performance along with a glorious 28 piece orchestra only partially makes-up for the Virginia Opera Company's rather uneven production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Carnegie Hall today announced that tenor Thomas Cooley has agreed to step in for Anthony Dean Griffey, performing Britten's War Requiem with Music Director Robert Spano leading the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus tomorrow evening, Wednesday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Griffey is unable to appear due to illness. Mr. Cooley is joined by soprano Evelina Dobraeva, baritone Stephen Powell, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Carnegie Hall's Benjamin Britten centenary celebration comes to an end tonight, April 30 at 8:00 p.m., with Music Director Robert Spano leading the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of Britten's masterful War Requiem in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. They are joined by a trio of eminent soloists-soprano Evelina Dobra?eva, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, and baritone Stephen Powell-as well as the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Written for the inauguration of Coventry's new cathedral in 1962, Britten's War Requiem is a deeply felt expression of the composer's pacifism. By juxtaposing Latin texts from the Mass for the Dead with shocking depictions of battle by British poet Wilfred Owen (who died in World War I), Britten created a gripping musical statement about man's inhumanity to man.

Carnegie Hall's Benjamin Britten centenary celebration comes to an end on Wednesday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m., with Music Director Robert Spano leading the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of Britten's masterful War Requiem in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. They are joined by a trio of eminent soloists-soprano Evelina Dobra?eva, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, and baritone Stephen Powell-as well as the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Written for the inauguration of Coventry's new cathedral in 1962, Britten's War Requiem is a deeply felt expression of the composer's pacifism. By juxtaposing Latin texts from the Mass for the Dead with shocking depictions of battle by British poet Wilfred Owen (who died in World War I), Britten created a gripping musical statement about man's inhumanity to man.

A darkly romantic tale of family honor, betrayal and madness, Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor returns to LA Opera for the first time in a decade, conducted by Music Director James Conlon and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer in her LA Opera debut.

(Los Angeles) December 19, 2013 - General Director Placido Domingo announced updated details for LA Opera's first production of Lucia di Lammermoor since 2003. Conducted by Music Director James Conlon and directed by Elkhana Pulitzer in her LA Opera debut, the new production stars Albina Shagimuratova in the title role as the dagger-wielding Scottish lass and Saimir Pirgu as her secret lover, Edgardo. Lucia di Lammermoor will open today, March 15, 2014, and run for a total of six performances through April 6 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Chorus in Britten's War Requiem April 24, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. and April 26, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

A darkly romantic tale of family honor, betrayal and madness, Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor returns to LA Opera for the first time in a decade, conducted by Music Director James Conlon and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer in her LA Opera debut.

Carnegie Hall has announced its April 2014 calendar. Scroll down for details!

During its 40th anniversary season, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe will present the world premiere of acclaimed writer Ishmael Reed's new play 'The Final Version'. The play follows Lee Ransom, a writer who struggles with tensions between Communist ideology and commercial success from the 1930s through the 1960s. Ishmael Reed's poetry, prose and plays have been honored with fellowships from the MacArthur and Guggenheim Foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts; his work has also been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Awards. 'The Final Version' stars Rome Neal as Lee Ransom. Neal, who has been recognized with an Obie and multiple Audelco awards for his theatrical work, also directs the production.

Throughout its 2013-2014 season, Carnegie Hall pays tribute to composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Barter Theatre has released the results of a major study measuring the theatre's impact on the local economy. The independent study determined that Barter Theatre is responsible for generating $34 million in economic impact and supporting 485 jobs across the economic spectrum. Barter is a non-profit organization with an annual operating budget of just over $6 million, located in historic downtown Abingdon, Virginia.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Announces 2013-14 Season

From June to August, Orchestra of St. Luke's presents its 34th summer season at the Caramoor Music Festival, taking place in the beautiful al fresco Venetian Theater at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York. The five-concert series offers something for every musical taste, with a Broadway musical, symphonic masterworks, elegant chamber music for unusual groupings, and a longtime tradition of OSL's Caramoor residencies-Bel Canto operas under the baton of Will Crutchfield.

The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, and the Children's Chorus and three soloists combined to perform Orff's masterpiece, CARMINA BURANA, for four sold out performances.

On March 15, 16 and 17, the Houston Symphony welcomes guest conductor Hannu Lintu, baritone Stephen Powell and the Houston Symphony Chorus in a performance of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast. The concerts will begin with Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, which features the string sections of the Symphony divided into two separate orchestras on stage. Then, the wind and percussion sections will come on stage for a full-orchestra performance of Haydn's Symphony No. 98. After intermission, Lintu will lead the Symphony musicians, Powell and the Houston Symphony Chorus on stage to close the evening with a piece which is amazing in both scope and storytelling, Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus in Bach's Mass in B minor February 28 and March 1, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.