Graham Vick News

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA—A MASKED BALL—certainly makes for a juicy opera, on paper at least. It has a plot filled with passion, jealousy and conspiracies, and a score by Giuseppe Verdi that has some of his most memorable music, including a great duet, plus unforgettable arias for soprano, tenor and baritone, and some first-rate music for secondary characters (Ulrica the fortune teller and Oscar the pants-role page) and chorus. The production at Barcelona’s gorgeous Grand Liceu Theatre didn’t stint on the resources for the cast and Verdi sounded as good as he should under conductor Riccardo Frizza with the company’s orchestra and chorus in fine form.

 The Greek National Opera’s 2023-24 season, curated by GNO Artistic Director Giorgos Koumendakis, features seven new opera and ballet productions including the first Wagner production to be staged at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center, two co-productions, and one newly commissioned opera, as well as four revivals of past productions, tribute celebrations for Maria Callas’s centennial anniversary, and the third Artist on the Composer program.

Afraid of Shostakovich? Don’t be. LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK is a glory to behold, in Graham Vick’s knockout production, designed and costumed by Paul Brown, staged this time by Paula Suozzi, with Ron Howell’s choreography. And there were times when the music, with the Met orchestra under the firm, smart baton of Keri-Lynn Wilson, almost sounded like, yes, Puccini, while it was clearly expressionist as well.

Maestro Keri-Lynn Wilson, following a triumphant tour leading the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra last summer, makes her Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk for six performances beginning September 29.

San Diego Opera will present the world premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank's El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances.

Svetlana Sozdateleva will make her Met debut singing Katerina Ismailova in all performances of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, replacing Eva-Maria Westbroek.

Arcola Theatre and Hackney Empire announced the full cast and creatives for the dramatic conclusion of Wagner's Ring Cycle, in Graham Vick's and Jonathan Dove's innovative reduction.

The Metropolitan Opera today announced its 2022–23 season, which features seven new productions, the most in ten seasons. Opening Night is September 27 with the company premiere of Cherubini’s Medea, starring soprano Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role alongside tenor Matthew Polenzani in David McVicar’s new staging, conducted by Carlo Rizzi.

The first installment of the iconic “Ring Cycle” – Das Rheingold includes all the magic and power of Wagner’s larger-than-life vision, including gods, dwarves, and giants. This condensed version will be performed in under two hours while you enjoy the delicious bites and beverage offerings at Topgolf.

The Grimeborn Festival scales up for the second part of Wagner's Ring Cycle and gains in music what it loses in intimacy.

We board the Magic Opera Flying Carpet on Saturday morning, July 24, and go straight to the Bay Area for San Francisco Opera’s production of Richard Strauss’ Elektra.Soprano Christine Goerke stars in the title role. Director Keith Warner’s production blurs the line between past and present, myth, and reality. Conductor Henrik Nánási debuts.

In 1987, he founded the Birmingham Opera Company. Vick's productions with Birmingham Opera included the first UK production of Othello to feature a black tenor in the title role in 2009, and the 2012 world premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht.

In the video, Gallup/Na'nízhoozhí, Anthony Roth Costanzo and Davone Tines sing music by Matthew Aucoin written to poetry by Jake Skeets. Lowe and Skeets are both Navajo artists. Skeets, who grew up in Gallup, gives his hometown a leading role in his poetry. Lowe's film is an unflinching yet tender portrait of the city in 2021.

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.

For her Los Angeles Opera Signature Recital, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, accompanied by Jeremy Frank, sings a collection of her favorite songs. They perform works  by 20th-century composer Kurt Weill, including 'Lonely House,' 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself,” and 'September Song.” LAO will stream the recital until July 1, 2021

Los Angeles Opera’s new Signature Recital Series gives vocal music fans  exclusive access to astounding performances in intimate settings—filmed in stunning venues across this country and in Europe—streamed directly to home screens. Tenor Russell Thomas partners with pianist Mi-Kyung Kim for Schumann's Dichterliebe (Poet's Love).

Angelinos, join soprano and Shakespeare super-fan Katherine Powers on a romp through the Bard’s stories told in music. In each of her episodes, Powers calls an expert on her 'Shakespeare Hotline' and performs songs from his timeless works.

LA Opera's newest digital short film, Death, unites the striking visuals of celebrated filmmaker Nadia Hallgren, the Emmy-nominated director of the Michelle Obama documentary Becoming, with the intriguing harmonies of composer Tyshawn Sorey, a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship.

The West is a Land of Infinite Beginnings will stream for free Jan. 15-29. The promise of the American dream runs up against hard realities and uncontrollable forces in this new digital short from Missy Mazzoli, composer of Song from the Uproar and Breaking the Waves. James Darrah directs this video that tells of a ghostly sodbuster.

The New Year’s Honours List has been published, and several members of the theatrical community were named this year.