Candide Revival 1999 - Articles Page 3.4

There's just something about Kristin Chenoweth. It's almost undefinable, perhaps even undescribable, yet as with any writer's efforts to put into words how remarkable the woman behind the image is, I'll give it my best shot, attempting to encapsulate the wonder that is Kristin Chenoweth in 2,000 words or less (but if I go over, don't judge too harshly - I'm simply stating the facts that prove the folly of my initial hypothesis).

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.   As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus 'Va, pensiero,' from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

Your knees won't buckle when you enter Belk Theater to see LOVE NEVER DIES, Anthony Lloyd Webber's long-awaited sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. There's no gleaming chandelier looming ominously over ticketholders in the front rows, nor will you see any nooks or gargoyles spanning the stage proscenium. Until the curtain rose, about the only aspect of the new Lloyd Webber melodrama that reminded me of its predecessor on opening night was the size of the crowd who had come to see it. A near sellout - not too shabby for a musical that has never played on Broadway.

There's just something about Kristin Chenoweth. It's almost undefinable, perhaps even undescribable, yet as with any writer's efforts to put into words how remarkable the woman behind the image is, I'll give it my best shot, attempting to encapsulate the wonder that is Kristin Chenoweth in 2,000 words or less (but if I go over, don't judge too harshly - I'm simply stating the facts that prove the folly of my initial hypothesis).

This year, a living legend of musical theatre turns 90: Lyricist-bookwriter Tom Jones (who also, under a stage name) appeared in the original company of his most famous and wildly successful record-breaking musical, The Fantasticks. His collaborator, composer Harvey Schmidt, just recently passed away. The production's record-breaking run closed, on January 13, 2002, after 17,162 performances. Their shows also include 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, Celebration and many more. And celebration is what it's about when Broadway veterans Carole Demas, who originated the role of Sandy in Grease, and Sarah Rice, who originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd, return to celebrate Jones & Schmidt. Demas and Rice have based the show on their 50 years of work and personal relationships with Tom and Harvey. With very special guest Broadway's Hal Robinson who is also a Fantasticks alumni.

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...

On June 5, 2018, the Fulton Theatre launches The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the theatre's season finale and biggest production of the 2017/2018 season.  The Hunchback of Notre Dame will also be one of the largest shows in the theatre's one hundred sixty six year history. Over ninety cast and choir members will take the stage amidst soaring bell towers, a gypsy village, and the bustling streets of fifteenth century Paris. Beneath the stage, a fourteen piece orchestra will bring to life the incredible music of the timeless classic.

When you hear the first few notes of the rollicking overture, you know Bernstein is genuflecting hard to Johann Strauss. Yet this is a story in which the principal characters are bayoneted, hanged, maimed, raped, prostituted, ravaged by disease, and enslaved, among other things, a story which, thematically, takes the characters and us right to the edge of the Nietzschean abyss and gives us a good long sobering look into it - not the sort of thing Strauss or Gilbert and Sullivan ever did.

Scott Wheeler's opera, The Sorrows of Frederick, will be seen at Brooklyn's Irondale Center on Friday, May 18, 2018, at 8pm. Act 1 of this two-act opera is being presented as part of Center for Contemporary Opera's Development Series. The libretto is by Romulus Linney. Mark Shapiro conducts and Beth Greenberg is the stage director with Keith Phares singing the title role of Frederick.

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.

New York City Opera presents a new production of Italo Montemezzi's masterpiece L'amore dei tre re (The Love of the Three Kings) directed by Michael Capasso with Pacien Mazzagatti leading the New York City Opera Orchestra. The production marks the first time Montemezzi's opera will be heard in New York City in nearly a decade. Four performances of L'amore dei tre re will be presented at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m., April 14 at 2:00 p.m., and April 15 a 4:00 p.m.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region. Single tickets, as well as subscription packages, are on sale now at www.operasaratoga.org.

The Play Company (PlayCo) is pleased to announce chefs and artists scheduled for Cabaret Gourmet: The Ultra Violet Party, on Monday, April 9 at Espace in mid-town Manhattan. This year's event will be hosted by Lauren Worsham and Kyle Jarrow, and will feature a live performance by Mwenso and The Shakes. Participating chefs and restaurants will include Graffiti, Miznon, Omar's, Chef Samira Nanda Sine, Ortzi, August, Serengeti Kitchen and more.

El concierto sera una nueva colaboracion entre Alfonso Casado y Mariano Detry, esta vez para realizar un recorrido por el trabajo de Leonard Bernstein y su influencia en el musical Americano.

Palm Springs Opera Guild, one of the longest-standing cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley, will host the 20th Anniversary Opera in the Park on Sunday, April 8, 2018 from 1 - 4 pm at Sunrise Park in Palm Springs. The free concert will feature eight career-ready singers accompanied by a professional orchestra conducted by Maestro Valery Ryvkin. Event attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day of beloved opera arias. Limited shade space under the main tent may be purchased by making a contribution through the Opera Guild office at 760-325-6107. The event draws thousands of people from all over Southern California who unite to celebrate great opera music. Sunrise Park is located at 2000 East Ramon Road, Palm Springs.

The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) is one of the most respected community music education and youth orchestra performance programs in the United States, and on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 3 p.m., all the student musicians will share the stage in the annual PYO SHOWCASE PERFORMANCE.

Ahead of the opening of priority booking for Friends of the Festival on Saturday, 24 March, details of the full programme for the 67th Wexford Festival Opera are announced. Continuing its tradition of presenting the 'best operas rarely seen', this year's Festival includes a verismo double-bill, a European premiere and a classic Wexford offering involving kidnapping, murder, arson and a posh New York dinner party that doesn't quite go to plan! All this plus three daytime ShortWorks operas, concerts, recitals, theatre and talks. 62 public events over the autumn 17-day period.

The Minnesota Orchestra announced plans today for Sommerfest 2018, unveiling a series of “Music for Mandela” concerts and events, in connection with a worldwide celebration of the late Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African leader and human rights advocate Nelson Mandela on the centenary of his birth.

New York City Opera continues its 2017-18 Chamber Opera Series with a unique double bill of Donizetti's Il Pigmalione and Rameau's Pigmalion, the first time these one-act gems will be presented on the same program. The production also marks the New York premiere of Donizetti's first opera. This double bill will be directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, with Gil Rose conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Two performances of Il Pigmalione/Pigmalion will be presented at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Saturday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 25 at 4:00 p.m.

The Verdi Chorus celebrates its 35th anniversary with its Spring 2018 concert The Force of Destiny for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on April 28 and 29 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum. As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, their program will feature selections from three Verdi operas - La forza del destino, Nabucco, including the famed chorus "Va, pensiero," the opening party scene of La traviata, and conclude with beloved melodies from Strauss' Die Fledermaus.

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a three-week extension for Jerry Springer - The Opera, with Matt McGrath appearing as Jerry Springer beginning March 13.  Terrence Mann, currently appearing in the role of Jerry Springer, plays his final performance March 11 due to an existing commitment beyond that date.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: At Home at the Zoo opens off-Broadway tonight at Signature Theatre, and more!

The New York Philharmonic will return to Bravo! Vail in Colorado for the Orchestra's 16th annual summer residency there, performing six orchestral concerts July 20-27, 2018.

Following the success of its fall productions of Puccini's beloved La Fanciulla del West and the New York premiere of Tobias Picker's Dolores Claiborne, New York City Opera continues the 2017/2018 season in January 2018 with the New York premiere of Jos 'Pepe' Mart nez and Leonard Foglia's Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, the world's first mariachi opera.

New York City Opera will present the celebrated Italian soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci in her highly anticipated return to New York on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. Due to popular demand, City Opera has added a second performance the following night, Wednesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. Both concerts will be at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Antonacci will perform a program tailored for City Opera featuring works by Debussy, Nadia Boulanger, Respighi, Britten, and Poulenc with her longtime collaborator pianist Donald Sulzen. The concerts will be Ms. Antonacci's first appearance in the U.S. in nearly three seasons.