Thomas Russell News

The new Signature Recital Series gives you exclusive access to astounding performances in intimate performances-filmed in stunning venues across the country and in Europe-streamed directly to your home screen.

San Francisco Opera announced today repertory, casting and reopening plans for its 99th season. Commencing with a performance of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Saturday, August 21, the 2021–22 Season marks the inauguration of Eun Sun Kim’s tenure as Caroline H. Hume Music Director and a reemergence of opera at the War Memorial Opera House.

On June 18, 2021, I watched Los Angeles Opera’s film of Stravinsky’s 1927 opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex. Jean Cocteau, who wrote the libretto, based it on the ancient Greek tragedy Sophocles wrote ca. 429 BCE. Right now LAO is featuring it online for free.

On Saturday, we see Los Angeles Opera’s online stream of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex. Stravinsky based Oedipus on Sophocles’ Greek tragedy and his 1927 opera is a highly stylized, ritualistic work. A narrator describes the action throughout the course of the opera. Although the opera is in Latin, narration is spoken in the language of the audience.

Beginning today at 5pm PT, LA Opera presents a new streaming presentation of Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex, conducted by James Conlon, the company's Richard Seaver Music Director, and starring tenor Russell Thomas, the company's Artist in Residence, in the title role.

LA Opera presented the company premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex at 2pm on Sunday, June 6, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. A special video presentation of the opera will subsequently stream on LA Opera's On Now digital platform, also free of charge, beginning later today, June 17.

Los Angeles Opera’s presentation of Oedipus Rex by Igor Stravinsky is available online from June 17 to July 18, 2021. The libretto is by Jean Cocteau. The cast includes: Oedipus, Russell Thomas; Jocasta, J’nai Bridges; Creon, John Relyea; Tiresias, Morris Robinson; Narrator, Stephen Fry; Conductor, James Conlon.

LA Opera has released the next installment of its digital #LAOperaOnNow revival of “After Hours” with its newest recital, “Songs of Protest.” This program celebrating music that galvanizes social justice features a collection of works made famous by musical icons and has been specially curated by host Russell Thomas, LAO's LAO Artist in Residence.

The new Signature Recital Series gives you exclusive access to astounding performances in intimate performances—filmed in stunning venues across the country and in Europe—streamed directly to your home screen.

This week (June 7-13) in live streaming: Matthew Morrison visits Backstage Live, the Next on Stage Season 3 finale, Show of Titles premieres, and so much more!

Los Angeles Opera presents a digital recital exploring the invaluable contributions Latina composers have made to the world of classical music. LAO’s much-beloved After Hours Recital Series is back, and this time it celebrates eleven Latina composers. Russell Thomas, the company's Artist in Residence-turned-host, curated this fabulous stream to transport viewers virtually to Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, and Peru.

Our Magic Opera Flying Carpet Virtual Tour begins in Los Angeles with the Signature Recital by tenor Russell Thomas and pianist Kyung-Mi Kim. A native of  Miami, Florida, Thomas debuted as Pollione in LA Opera’s Norma. He sang Cavaradossi in Tosca and Titus in The Clemency of Titus . Next year, he will be Radames in Aida. Currently, he is the company's Artist in Residence.

Award-winning actor, writer and director Stephen Fry will perform the role of the Narrator in LA Opera's premiere of Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex. 

Our much-beloved After Hours recital series is back, and this time, we're celebrating 11 astounding Latina composers.

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, Los Angeles Opera and Opera San Jose presented a recital honoring Latina composers. It includes songs by Modesta Bor, María Luisa Escobar, Chabuca Granda, María Grever, Ernestina Lecuona , Ángela Peralta, Consuelo Velázquez, and contemporary writers, Gabriela Lena Frank, Tania León, Mariela Rodríguez, and Irma Urteaga.

Today (May 14) in live streaming: The Next on Stage College Top 15, 'Stand Up' for Asian Americans, and more!

Washington National Opera today announced its 2021–2022 season featuring a triumphant return to the Opera House stage, four world premiere commissions celebrating the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary, debuts from acclaimed and rising opera stars, the return to the pit for Principal Conductor Evan Rogister and the WNO Orchestra & Chorus, and more.

 The Met has announced themed lineups for two weeks of its Nightly Met Opera Streams, the company’s ongoing series of encore Live in HD presentations and classic telecasts streamed on the its website during the Covid-19 closure.

 LA Opera will present the company premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex at 2pm on Sunday, June 6, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. A special video presentation of the opera will subsequently stream on LA Opera's On Now digital platform, also free of charge, beginning June 17.

LA Opera has announced details about its new artist development program, the HBCU Opera Career Comprehensive, designed to nurture, support and elevate the skills of talented singers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).