BWW Review: Mason Opera's ALBERT HERRING is a Case Study in Untapped Potential
It's never a good sign when, during an opera, you pay more attention to the orchestra than the people onstage. This is the kind of situation that befalls George Mason University's School of Music and Mason Opera's new revival of Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring. Britten's complex score is indeed a difficult one and Mason Opera tackles it head-on. They're never able to reach the necessary heights this work allows. This calls into question whether this selection was the right choice for this class of students.
Art Song Preservation Society and Opera America Present Virginie Verrez in Recital Tonight
The Art Song Preservation Society (ASPS) will present French Mezzo-Soprano, Virginie Verrez in recital with accomplished piano collaborator, Thomas Muraco. Ms. Verrez, the first place winner of the 2014 Mary Trueman Vocal Art Song Competition sponsored by the Art Song Preservation Society, will present works by Brahms, Monteverdi, Poulenc, Duparc, Canteloube among others.
The Art Song Preservation Society Presents Virginie Verrez in Recital with Pianist Thomas Muraco, 3/21
The Art Song Preservation Society (ASPS) will present French Mezzo-Soprano, Virginie Verrez in recital with accomplished piano collaborator, Thomas Muraco. Ms. Verrez, the first place winner of the 2014 Mary Trueman Vocal Art Song Competition sponsored by the Art Song Preservation Society, will present works by Brahms, Monteverdi, Poulenc, Duparc, Canteloube among others. The recital is on March 21 at 2pm at the National Opera Center (330 7th Avenue) in New York City. Tickets are $25 at the door. You can purchase tickets by visiting the Art Song Preservation Society website at www.artsongpreservationsocietyny.org
Art Song Preservation Society and Opera America to Present Virginie Verrez in Recital, 3/21
The Art Song Preservation Society (ASPS) will present French Mezzo-Soprano, Virginie Verrez in recital with accomplished piano collaborator, Thomas Muraco. Ms. Verrez, the first place winner of the 2014 Mary Trueman Vocal Art Song Competition sponsored by the Art Song Preservation Society, will present works by Brahms, Monteverdi, Poulenc, Duparc, Canteloube among others.
Michael Weyandt & Thomas Muraco Set for ASPS' First Summer of Song Series Tonight
ASPS (Art Song Preservation Society), will present a concert in conjunction with their first annual Summer of Song Series led by Baritone, Michael Weyandt, and International Piano Collaborator, Thomas Muraco today, June 20 at 7pm at Opera America (330 7th Avenue). The Art Song Preservation Society is New York's premiere Art Song Organization that serves the New York City area by creating opportunities and performance in the genre of classical art song vocal literature.
Michael Weyandt & Thomas Muraco Set for ASPS' First Summer of Song Series, 6/20
ASPS (Art Song Preservation Society), will present a concert in conjunction with their first annual Summer of Song Series led by Baritone, Michael Weyandt, and International Piano Collaborator, Thomas Muraco on Thursday, June 20 at 7pm at Opera America (330 7th Avenue). The Art Song Preservation Society is New York's premiere Art Song Organization that serves the New York City area by creating opportunities and performance in the genre of classical art song vocal literature.
Julliard Presents KOMMILITONEN! Opera Nov. 16-20
This November, in Juilliard School's Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Anne Manson will conduct the U.S. premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Kommilitonen! (Young Blood!) - an opera co-commissioned by Juilliard and the Royal Academy of Music - which received its world premiere in London this past March to remarkable critical acclaim. The production opens Juilliard's 2011-12 Vocal Arts season on Wednesday, November 16 at 8 PM, with additional performances on Friday, November 18 at 8 PM and Sunday, November 20 at 2 PM. David Pountney, librettist of the opera, provides stage direction, sets and costumes are by Robert Innes Hopkins, and choreography is by Carolum Choa.
Julliard Presents KOMMILITONEN! Opera Nov. 16-20
This November, in Juilliard School's Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Anne Manson will conduct the U.S. premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Kommilitonen! (Young Blood!) - an opera co-commissioned by Juilliard and the Royal Academy of Music - which received its world premiere in London this past March to remarkable critical acclaim. The production opens Juilliard's 2011-12 Vocal Arts season on Wednesday, November 16 at 8 PM, with additional performances on Friday, November 18 at 8 PM and Sunday, November 20 at 2 PM. David Pountney, librettist of the opera, provides stage direction, sets and costumes are by Robert Innes Hopkins, and choreography is by Carolum Choa.
Julliard Presents KOMMILITONEN! Opera Nov. 16-20
This November, in Juilliard School's Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Anne Manson will conduct the U.S. premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Kommilitonen! (Young Blood!) - an opera co-commissioned by Juilliard and the Royal Academy of Music - which received its world premiere in London this past March to remarkable critical acclaim. The production opens Juilliard's 2011-12 Vocal Arts season on Wednesday, November 16 at 8 PM, with additional performances on Friday, November 18 at 8 PM and Sunday, November 20 at 2 PM. David Pountney, librettist of the opera, provides stage direction, sets and costumes are by Robert Innes Hopkins, and choreography is by Carolum Choa.
Tenor Paul Appleby Performs At Alice Tully Hall 11/30
Tenor Paul Appleby is joined by pianist Brian Zeger for a solo recital as the winner of Juilliard's 14th annual Alice Tully Vocal Arts Recital Award on November 30 at 8 PM in Alice Tully Hall (Broadway at 65th Street). The program features Schubert's song cycle, 'Die schöne Müllerin', on poems by Wilhelm Müller.
Tenor Paul Appleby Performs At Alice Tully Hall 11/30
Tenor Paul Appleby is joined by pianist Brian Zeger for a solo recital as the winner of Juilliard's 14th annual Alice Tully Vocal Arts Recital Award on November 30 at 8 PM in Alice Tully Hall (Broadway at 65th Street). The program features Schubert's song cycle, 'Die schöne Müllerin', on poems by Wilhelm Müller.
James Conlon Leads Chicago Symphony Orchestra in COSÌ FAN TUTTE & THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
Ravinia celebrates opera with Mozart's Così fan tutte and The Marriage of Figaro featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by James Conlon and joined by all-star casts as well as members of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Both operas will be presented in the Martin Theatre and will receive two performances, Così on Aug. 5 and 7 and Figaro on Aug. 6 and 8. Cosi fan tutte features 'one of America's finest artists and singers' (New York Times), mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, portraying Despina; Grammy Award winning soprano Ana Maria Martinez, who last appeared at Ravinia with Plácido Domingo at the festival's 2007 Gala, as Fiordiligi; Romanian mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose, who recently appeared as Veronica Quaife in The Fly at L.A. Opera, making her Ravinia debut as Dorabella; Russian baritone Rodion Pogosov, who made his Metropolitan Opera debut playing Papageno in the 2004 production of Die Zauberflöte, portraying Guglielmo in his festival debut; and Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu, who made his US debut singing Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi at LA Opera, conducted by Conlon and directed by Woody Allen, appearing as Ferrando in his festival debut.
BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 21st, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Shrek,' 'Rock Of Ages,' Ravinia Festival, 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' 'She Loves Me,' more....
Ravinia Festival Announces Lineup for its 2010 Season, 6/3-9/7
Offering up greater variety, including more than 50 debuts from Sting to Wagnerian tenor John Treleaven, Ravinia Festival Chairperson Pamela B. Strobel and President and CEO Welz Kauffman today announced details of the 2010 season, including a Chicago Symphony Orchestra residency that celebrates major anniversaries of Mahler, Chopin, Schumann, Barber, Bernstein and Copland, as well as milestone birthdays of Music Director James Conlon, Christoph Eschenbach and Stephen Sondheim. The season, featuring 117 separate events, runs from June 3 through September 7.
Hearn Joins LuPone & Stokes Mitchell in ANNIE...GUN for Ravinia Fest., 8/13
As previously announced, this year's Ravinia Festival includes a new production of the musical Annie Get Your Gun; a gala concert celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday and featuring highlights from Ravinia's Sondheim productions; Ravinia Music Director James Conlon's 60th birthday celebration taking the Chicago Symphony Orchestra into the Martin Theatre for two Mozart operas, featuring mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in Così fan tutte and baritone Nathan Gunn in The Marriage of Figaro; Leonard Bernstein's Vocal Suite from Candide; Broadway vocalist Kelli O'Hara and pianist Hershey Felder in intimate solo shows in the Martin Theatre; world premieres with Concert Dance, Inc. and the debut of Delfos Danza Contemporánea; the presentation of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico; and a national radio broadcast of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.
Today, the Ravinia organization revealed that George Hearn has been added to the cast of Annie Get Your Gun as Buffalo Bill Cody, joining Patti LuPone as Annie Oakley and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Frank Butler. Paul Gemignani will conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the show's three performances, Aug. 13-15. Hearn and LuPone also reunite with Michael Cerveris, Audra McDonald and the CSO for an all-Sondheim gala concert on July 31.