Susanna Phillips News

On Monday, March 2, 2020, at Carnegie Hall, the Oratorio Society of New York performs the U.S. premiere of a new critical edition of one of the masterpieces of choral music, Brahms's A German Requiem (Ein deutsches Requiem) a?" a work that the organization gave its very first U.S. performance, more than 140 years ago. OSNY Music Director Kent Tritle conducts, and the featured soloists are Susanna Phillips, soprano, and Takaoki Onishi, baritone.

Kent Tritle begins the new decade with his first organ recital at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in two years, Bach's St. John Passion with the Cathedral Choir, and both a new edition of Brahms's A German Requiem and the world premiere of A Nation of Others, an oratorio about Ellis Island with music by Paul Moravec and libretto by Mark Campbell, with the Oratorio Society of New York.

In 1874, a one-year-old organization called the Oratorio Society of New York performed Handel's Messiah on Christmas night at Steinway Hall, then on East 14th Street. Earlier that year, New York City made its first move to grow beyond Manhattan by annexing the 'West Bronx.'

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces a week of free Millennium Stage performances that pay tribute to the 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees. Events include a film screening in honor of Sally Field (December 3), a Michael Tilson Thomas tribute concert (December 4 at 8 p.m.; note alternate time), a showcase of Linda Ronstadt's most beloved songs (December 5), The Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band (December 6), and a sing-along in honor of Sesame Street (December 7).

The Metropolitan Opera and WQXR, New York City's classical music station, today announced a second season of “Aria Code” — the critically-acclaimed podcast about opera's most legendary arias — debuting Wednesday, November 13. 

In 1874, a one-year-old organization called the Oratorio Society of New York performed Handel's Messiah on Christmas night at Steinway Hall, which was then on East 14th Street. Earlier that year, New York City made its first move to grow beyond Manhattan by annexing the 'West Bronx.'

The Metropolitan Opera presents Puccini's La Bohème, conducted by Marco Armiliato, with eight initial performances beginning October 25, 2019. Ailyn Pérez returns to the role of the seamstress Mimì; her lover, the poet Rodolfo, is portrayed by Matthew Polenzani in his Met role debut. Olga Kulchynska makes her Met debut as the singer Musetta, while David Bizic sings the role of the painter Marcello.

The Oratorio Society of New York begins its four-concert 2019-20 season on Tuesday, November 5, with a special program at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The 2019-20 season of the Oratorio Society of New York, the city's standard for grand choral performance led by its acclaimed music director, Kent Tritle, is highlighted by two premieres that reflect its 146-year history: the U.S. premiere of a new critical edition of a Brahms masterwork that the Society performed in 1877; and the world premiere of A Nation of Others, an OSNY-commissioned oratorio for soloists, chorus, and orchestra by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell on the subject of immigrants' arrival at Ellis Island.

Twickenham Fest, a premiere summer chamber music festival held in Huntsville, Alabama, will be celebrating its 10th year in production this August. Founded by leading soprano Susanna Phillips and decorated bassoonist Matthew McDonald in 2010, Twickenham Fest brings together top young professional musicians from around the world to Huntsville to celebrate all that Chamber music has to offer. 

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, under the leadership of artistic director Brian Zeger, announces its 2019-20 season of opera and vocal arts performances. Highlights of the upcoming season include three mainstage operas: Mozart's Così fan tutte, conducted by alumnus Nimrod David Pfeffer and directed by faculty member David Paul, on November 13, 15, and 17, 2019, in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater; Virgil Thomson's The Mother of Us All, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's MetLiveArts and the New York Philharmonic with Juilliard singers, conducted by Daniela Candillari and directed by Louisa Proske, on February 8, 11, 12, and 14, 2020, in the Charles Engelhard Court at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Puccini's La bohème, conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson and directed by Stephen Wadsworth, on April 22, 24, and 26, 2020, in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

On the eve of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra's (MMFO) opening performances at the 2019 Mostly Mozart Festival, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss has announced that Lincoln Center has extended the contract of Renee and Robert Belfer Music Director Louis Langree through the summer of 2023. Langree has held the position since 2003, fostering the Festival Orchestra's profile as an established ensemble and steadfast presence on the Lincoln Center campus, furthering its scope of repertoire beyond music of the classical era, and heightening its reputation as one of America's premier chamber orchestras. Langree made his Mostly Mozart Festival debut in 1998 and began his tenure as music director in 2003. 2023 will be his twenty-first season in the role. American Express is the lead sponsor of the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Cincinnati Opera kicks off its 99th Summer Festival on Sunday, June 9 with a free concert in Washington Park. Opera in the Park will feature a selection of unforgettable opera and musical theater favorites-from 'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess to Man of La Mancha's 'The Impossible Dream'-performed by stars from the 2019 season, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The Metropolitan Opera has named soprano Lisette Oropesa as the winner of the 14th annual Beverly Sills Artist Award. The $50,000 award is given to extraordinarily gifted singers with rising Met careers. Given in honor of the legendary American soprano Beverly Sills, the award was established in 2006 by an endowment gift from the late Agnes Varis, a managing director on the Met's Board of Directors.

Boston Court Pasadena continues its mission of fostering new musical talent with the 3rd Annual Emerging Artists Series, May 30 June 9, 2019. The series will feature up-and-coming pianists, as well as vocalists who have been through a rigorous mentoring curriculum with some of Los Angeles' most prominent musicians and coaches including Mark Robson, Gloria Cheng, Lisa Sylvester, Vicki Ray, Brent McMunn and Paul Floyd.

The La Jolla Music Society, which celebrates its 50th anniversary season this year, has announced the complete programming for its 34th SummerFest under the new musical direction of globally-renowned pianist Inon Barnatan. With its enormously varied concert offerings ranging from interdisciplinary collaborations to chamber arrangements of the orchestral canon and newly commissioned works to French Baroque, the La Jolla Music Society SummerFest carries on its tradition of world-class concert offerings, uniting a stellar roster of resident soloists, composers, ensembles, and artistic fellows in the San Diego area for the month of August.

Paul Appleby will sing Don Ottavio in tonight's performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni, replacing Pavol Breslik, who is ill.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts today announced this summer's Mostly Mozart Festival, running from July 10 through August 10, 2019. Harnessing Mozart's innovative spirit as its inspiration, the 2019 festival builds upon the expanded scope established last summer with groundbreaking, international multidisciplinary productions, acclaimed artists of all genres, introductions to emerging creative voices, commissions and premieres, and the presentation of new work and ideas. American Express is the lead sponsor of the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Baritone Peter Mattei and bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni star as opera's most notorious seducer in Mozart's masterpiece of dark comedy. Cornelius Meister makes his Met debut conducting performances that also include sopranos Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Guanqun Yu as Donna Anna, sopranos Federica Lombardi and Susanna Phillips as Donna Elvira, and basses Ildar Abdrazakov and Adam Plachetka as Leporello.