BWW Reviews: Santa Fe's Back with a MIDSUMMER Treat and a LORD-ly Mishap
There are a number of parallels between the two operas I saw in Santa Fe (NM) this past weekend: The Benjamin Britten/Peter Pears treatment of Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and the world premiere of the John Corigliano/Mark Adamo THE LORD OF CRIES. The first was, for me at least, an all-around, marvelous success, while the other was a disappointment.
North Carolina Opera Announces 2021-22 Season
North Carolina Opera's General Director, Eric Mitchko has announced the company's upcoming 2021-22 season. The season will open on November 14 with Beethoven's only opera FIDELIO, followed by two timeless classics, Puccini's LA BOHÈME (Jan. 28 & 30) and Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE (Apr. 8 & 10).
BWW Review: UNSHAKEABLE at Home Computer Screens
On Friday evening August 28, Santa Fe Opera screened a filmed performance of Joseph Illick and  Andrea Fellows Waltersa?? one-act opera UnShakeable, composed for the a?oeShakespeare 400a?? celebration in 2016. Meridian had lost her memory due to a pandemic of a?oeerasure,a?? but Wyatt still retained some memories of the past and his love for Meridian.
David Lang's PRISONER OF THE STATE To Be Released in June
The New York Philharmonic and Music Director Jaap van Zweden's World Premiere performances of David Lang's prisoner of the state will be released in digital and physical formats on June 26, 2020, on Decca Gold, Universal Music Group's US classical music label.
LA Philharmonic And Classical KUSC Radio Announce 2020 Broadcast Series
The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Classical KUSC continue their annual radio broadcast partnership, reaching listeners across Southern and Central California. Concerts recorded during the LA Phil's 2019/20 season feature the orchestra with an impressive roster of guest artists and conductors, and an eclectic repertoire including the world premiere of Esteban Benzecry's Piano Concerto, a?oeUniversos infinitos.a??
MOR Returns To Bay Area With Music By Jake Heggie
On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., Music of Remembrance (MOR) presents a concert at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall featuring a rare double bill of works by the incomparable team of composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. Tickets are $60 and $75 and available at www.musicofremembrance.org.
BWW Review: COSI FAN TUTTE at Santa Fe Opera
On July 26, 2019, Santa Fe Opera presented R. B. Schlather's rambunctious production of W. A. Mozart's dramma giocoso Così fan tutte. His first act started with Don Alfonso as a cowboy and the two couples, Fiordiligi with Gugliemo and Dorabella with Ferrando dressed in tennis whites. Amanda Majeski, who has sung several leading roles at Santa Fe, showed herself to be a capable Fiordiligi whose top notes bloomed with silver magic as she romped around the stage. For a?oeCome Scoglioa?? (a?oeLike a rocka??), she was comedically impassive and for a?oePer pietà a?? (a?oeFor pitya??) she truly begged for forgiveness as she used every note in her wide range to encompass the scope of Mozart's writing. whose top notes bloomed with silver magic as she romped around the stage.
BWW Review: Reshaping Beethoven's FIDELIO into Lang's PRISONER OF THE STATE at the Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic finished up its season with a powerful performance of a new version of the FIDELIO story by composer David Lang, which he neatly titled PRISONER OF THE STATE, summing up a key part of the story. Lang's score and the staging by Elkhanah Pulitzer—and the pulsating performance of the score by the Philharmonic under music director Jaap van Zweden--were triumphs, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as the 70-minute work unfolded.
Photo Flash: New York Philharmonic Presents The World Premiere of PRISONER OF THE STATE
Last night Jaap van Zweden and the New York Philharmonic gave the World Premiere performance of David Lang's prisoner of the state - a fully staged reimagining of Beethoven's Fidelio, directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer. The program concludes the Orchestra's three-week Music of Conscience series, exploring how composers respond to the social and political issues of their times.
VIDEO: Opening Night Highlights From PRISONER OF THE STATE Opening Night At the NY Philharmonic
Last night Jaap van Zweden and the New York Philharmonic gave the World Premiere performance of David Lang's prisoner of the state - a fully staged reimagining of Beethoven's Fidelio, directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer. The program concludes the Orchestra's three-week Music of Conscience series, exploring how composers respond to the social and political issues of their times.
MUSIC OF CONSCIENCE To Conclude New York Philharmonic Season
The New York Philharmonic will conclude the 2018-19 subscription season with Music of Conscience, May 22-June 8, 2019,three weeks of concerts and events exploring the ways in which composers have used music to respond to the social and political issues of their times. Music Director Jaap van Zweden will conduct all three orchestral programs: the World Premiere of David Lang's opera prisoner of the state, a retelling of Beethoven's Fidelio; John Corigliano's Symphony No. 1, his 'personal response to the AIDS crisis'; and Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony, about his struggles under Stalin, alongside Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, originally dedicated to Napoleon until the composer angrily redacted the inscription.
New York Choral Society Partners With The Angel Band Project For Virtual Choir Performance
The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will join forces with the Angel Band Project's One Voice Virtual Choir on Monday, November 19, 2018, to perform Ruth Moody's One Voice as part of the opening for the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. NYCHORAL members led by Associate Conductor Michael Ciavaglia will sing alongside sexual violence survivors as well as the Angel Band Project's virtual choir. The opening will take place in the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chambers (on 1st Avenue between E. 42nd and E. 43rd Streets) from 10 am to 12:30 pm, with the performance slotted for 11:05 am.Â
BWW Review: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at Santa Fe OPERA
ARIADNE is an opera that shows the beauty of great voices and this cast had plenty to offer. Amanda Echalaz, whose voice has significant heft to it, sang Ariadne with beautiful rose velvet tones. She was a bit of a witch in the prologue, but in the opera, her voice rolled out over the audience like waves in the ocean. Offering pathos at the beginning, Echalaz's use of a tapestry of vocal color made her transition to Bacchus's lover credible