Stephen Costello

Review: Heggie-Scheer MOBY-DICK Triumphs in New Foglia Production at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Mar 4, 2025

MOBY-DICK--Herman Melville’s epic tale of obsession and man-versus-nature, succinctly adapted by composer Jake Heggie with Gene Scheer’s taut libretto--roared into the Met Monday night and begged only one question: What took so long for it to get here?

CARMEN, THE LITTLE PRINCE and More Set for Dallas Opera 2025-26 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 4, 2025

Dallas Opera has revealed its 2025/2026 Season at the Winspear Opera House. The Dallas Opera’s 68th season features four mainstage productions, all new to Dallas as company or U.S. premieres. Lear more!

Photos: First Look at Met Opera's MOBY DICK
by Joshua Wright - Feb 28, 2025

Get a first look at Moby-Dick at the Metropolitan Opera. Following the haunting Met premiere of his first opera, Dead Man Walking, composer Jake Heggie returns to the company with his 2010 adaptation of Herman Melville’s sea-drenched, heaven-storming epic.

Video: Act III Quartet from RIGOLETTO at the Met Opera
by Joshua Wright - Jan 16, 2025

Watch Erin Morley, Rihab Chaieb, Pene Pati, and Luca Salsi sing an excerpt from the Act III quartet in a recent performance.  Reigning Verdi baritone Quinn Kelsey reprises his devastating portrayal of the title court jester, and soprano Nadine Sierra, following her acclaimed performances as Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette last season, sings the role of his daughter, Gilda, as they lead the first of two casts beginning.

New York City Opera Presents MUSIC OF SURVIVAL: Works By Weinberg, Korngold, And Rovner
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 10, 2025

New York City Opera will present Music of Survival: Works by Weinberg, Korngold, and Rovne, with the NYC Opera Orchestra, featuring Constantine Orbelian, Conductor; Kristina Reiko Cooper, Cello; and Elizaveta Ulakhovich, Soprano.

Review: Top Singing and Tap Dancing Highlight Richard Tucker Awards Gala
by Richard Sasanow - Nov 3, 2024

As usual, the gala concert of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation started off with an interloper from the golden age of opera: Richard Tucker himself, singing Mascagni’s “Addio alla Madre” from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA. A tough act to follow for those singing live at Carnegie Hall, but happily no one seemed daunted by it. That doesn’t mean everything went smoothly at the gala concert, which is par for the course of the annual event. Despite the prestige of the Richard Tucker Awards, the world doesn’t stop when the Tucker Foundation comes a calling.

More Artists Join Lineup for Richard Tucker Music Foundation 2024 Opera Gala at Carnegie Hall
by Stephi Wild - Oct 10, 2024

 The Richard Tucker Music Foundation presents its annual Gala on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, and countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, tenor Anthony Léon, soprano Nadine Sierra, and soprano Elena Villalón join the star-studded line-up of previous Richard Tucker Award Winners, Grant Recipients, and special guests.

Video: First Look at RIGOLETTO at the Met Opera
by Joshua Wright - Oct 9, 2024

Get a first look at the production of Rigoletto now on stage at the Met Opera in this all-new video.

Review: With Great Music But Little Jesting, RIGOLETTO Returns to the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Oct 7, 2024

“This is not a cathartic tragedy or a tale of noble sacrifice. There are no admirable characters here, no moral lesson, no redemption, and no silver lining. There is only a merciless depiction of society’s dark side,” say the Met’s program notes for RIGOLETTO. I’m not so sure.

Verdi's RIGOLETTO to Return to The Met This Month
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 20, 2024

Verdi's Rigoletto will return to the Metropolitan Opera starring reigning Verdi baritone Quinn Kelsey, and soprano Nadine Sierra. Rigoletto has been performed 926 times at the Met since its company premiere on November 16, 1883. Sher’s production premiered on December 31, 2021. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

New York City Opera Installs Constantine Orbelian as Executive Director & Music Director
by Stephi Wild - Sep 10, 2024

The board of New York City Opera has announced the appointment of Constantine Orbelian as the organization's new Executive Director & Music Director, succeeding General Director Michael Capasso.

Richard Tucker Music Foundation Announces 2024 Gala At Carnegie Hall
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 3, 2024

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation announced its 2024 Gala will take place on October 27 at Carnegie Hall, featuring performances by renowned opera stars.

GROUNDED by Jeanine Tesori to Open The Metropolitan Opera's 2024�"25 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 21, 2024

The Metropolitan Opera has unveiled the 2024–25 season lineup. Learn about the operas being presented and see how to purchase tickets.

Bravo! Vail Music Festival Unveils 37th Season Featuring Orchestras, Opera Productions & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 1, 2024

Bravo! Vail Music Festival has unveiled its 37th season. The festival will take place from June 20 to August 1, 2024, offering a diverse range of classical and Latin-American music in the stunning Vail Valley region of Colorado.

The Metropolitan Opera Reveals Cast Change for LA BOHEME
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 26, 2023

Stay updated on the latest cast changes for the Metropolitan Opera's production of La Bohème. Get all the details on who will be performing in this beloved opera.

Review: Plenty of High Notes at Unusually Low-Key Richard Tucker Awards Gala
by Richard Sasanow - Nov 2, 2023

An historic recording of golden age tenor Richard Tucker singing “Sound an Alarm” from Handel’s JUDAS MACCABEUS” set the tone for the Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s Gala concert at Carnegie Hall. There was wonderful singing ahead of us—but of a certain kind. Like many other classical organizations, the Tucker Foundation, has found that, as Charles Dickens said in “A Tale of Two Cities,” “It was the best of times, the worst of times.” The “best” is for the quality of the singers that the foundation has supported through varying kinds of grants. The “worst”? Money from the usual donor pool is in shorter supply than usual, which meant a less elaborate evening

Richard Tucker Music Foundation Hosts 2023 Gala in October
by Stephi Wild - Sep 19, 2023

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation presents its annual Gala on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Learn more about the gala and how to attend here!

Franco Zeffirelli's Staging of Puccini's LA BOHEME to Return to The Metropolitan Opera in October
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 7, 2023

Get ready to be transported by Franco Zeffirelli’s timeless production of Puccini’s La Bohème, which is returning to the Metropolitan Opera stage in October. Find out all the important details about the dates and venue for this iconic opera performance.

San Diego Opera's Season Opens With a Concert With Latonia Moore and J'Nai Bridges
by Stephi Wild - Aug 28, 2023

San Diego Opera’s 2023-2024 Season opens with the exciting return of soprano Latonia Moore and mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7:30 PM in concert at the Balboa Theatre with the San Diego Symphony.

San Diego Opera's Season Opens October 25 With Latonia Moore And J'Nai Bridges In Concert With The San Diego Symphony
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 9, 2023

San Diego Opera's 2023-2024 Season opens with the exciting return of soprano Latonia Moore and mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7:30 PM in concert at the Balboa Theatre with the San Diego Symphony. Both Latonia and J'Nai performed at San Diego Opera early in their careers, coming together in 2016 for a production of Madama Butterfly, where Latonia sang Cio-Cio San and J'Nai performed Suzuki.