Elizabeth DeShong News

The Houston Symphony celebrates the holiday season with what is arguably the greatest oratorio ever written: the spiritual, Baroque-era masterpiece, Handel's Messiah, at 8 p.m. Dec. 21-22 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23 in Jones Hall. Baroque specialist Jane Glover leads the orchestra, a stellar quartet of soloists and the Houston Symphony Chorus (prepared by director Dr. Betsy Cook Weber).

Tickets go on sale today for the Met's Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning Live in HD series' 2017-18 season, which begins on October 7 with the company's new production of Bellini's Norma.

Season 12 of Great Performances at the Met continues Sunday, July 8 on PBS (check local listings) with a rare Met performance of Rossini's masterpiece Semiramide, starring Angela Meade as the titular Queen of Babylon and Elizabeth DeShong as the warrior Arsace. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov and Ryan Speedo Green complete the all-star bel canto cast.  

Season 12 of Great Performances at the Met continues Sunday, July 8 on PBS (check local listings) with a rare Met performance of Rossini's masterpiece Semiramide, starring Angela Meade as the titular Queen of Babylon and Elizabeth DeShong as the warrior Arsace. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov and Ryan Speedo Greencomplete the all-star bel canto cast.

The University Musical Society (UMS), under the leadership of President Matthew VanBesien, today announces its 140th season in 2018-19 with an initial slate of 40 performances and events. One of the country's most acclaimed performing arts presenters, UMS honors its past by showcasing respected ensembles and performers with whom it has enjoyed rich relationships, and fully embraces the future as initiator, incubator, and accelerator for innovative new works and projects. This potent combination infuses the anniversary season with dynamic and diverse voices and perspectives featuring artists at the top of their game - celebrating the canon, taking risks, moving genres in new directions, disrupting stereotypes, and surprising audiences.

Today the Edinburgh International Festival unveils its 2018 programme. The International Festival runs Friday 3 to Monday 27 August. The event welcomes 2,750 artists from 31 nations to perform in Scotland's capital city and attracts visitors from all over the world, with audiences expected to travel from over 80 nations to be part of Edinburgh's global celebration of culture.

Gareth Morrell will replace Maurizio Benini as conductor for Rossini's Semiramide at the Met on Saturday March 3, 2018, at 8.00pm. The British conductor led the opera on February 24th and 28th, 2018.

Robert McPherson will sing the role of Idreno in Rossini's Semiramide for tonight's performance, February 28 at 7.30pm, replacing Javier Camarena who is ill. The American tenor also replaced Camarena on Saturday February 24, 2018.

The Peterborough Players will present a live screening of the Metropolitan Opera's Semiramde on Saturday, March 10 at 1:00pm.

This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance-its first in nearly 25 years-with Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, who squares off in breathtaking duets with Arsace, a trouser role sung by Elizabeth DeShong. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green complete the stellar cast.

This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance-its first in nearly 25 years-with Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, who squares off in breathtaking duets with Arsace, a trouser role sung by Elizabeth DeShong. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green complete the stellar cast.

Gareth Morrell will replace Maurizio Benini as conductor for performances of Rossini's Semiramide on Saturday February 24 at 8.00pm and Wednesday February 28th at 7.30pm, 2018.

Travel back to ancient Babylon when Assur, a prince descend­ed from Baal, brings offerings to the temple in hopes that Queen Semiramide will choose him as successor to her late husband. But, with a flash of lightning, the sacred altar flame goes out…

A lot of risk, fast rotations in perfect unison, a precarious balance point. No, I'm not talking about doing a twizzle in Olympic ice-dancing--but starring in SEMIRAMIDE by Gioacchino Rossini, a man who believed there was no such thing as too many runs, roulades and high notes. Neither did soprano Angela Meade, who fearlessly stars in the Met's current run of this dazzlingly difficult piece.

Rossini's Semiramide is presented at the Met for the first time in 25 years, with eight performances beginning February 19, 2018, led by Maurizio Benini. The cast, comprised of artists considered by many to be amongst the world's leading bel canto singers, includes Angela Meade in the title role, Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, Javier Camarena as Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov as King Assur and Ryan Speedo Green as the High Priest Oroe. On March 10, 2018, the production will be transmitted to cinemas throughout the world as part of the Met's Live in HD series.

The Warner Theatre's Met Opera Live in HD Season continues in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre on Saturday, March 10 at 12:55 pm with Rossini's SEMIRAMIDE. A complimentary 45 minute pre-opera lecture by Nunzio DeFilippis will be offered in the Studio Lobby at 10:55 am.

The Grammy nominations are here! It's such a fun awards show, chock-full of accolades for mediocre pop songs sung by artists with nodules bigger than my fist-a true example of folks living the American Dream. Each year I hope for the best, thinking that, maybe, the nominating committee, or the performers, will surprise me-flipping the script on my shockingly low expectations. This year, to see if they'd accomplished that feat, I headed over to the Grammy's website to peruse the list of nominees.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's recording of Handel's MESSIAH received two 2018 GRAMMY Awards Nominations - Best Choral Performance & Producer of the Year, Classical.

Alcina showcases all the best aspects of Handel's skill without getting bogged down by melismatic asides. Every aria has a purpose. Every word moves the plot forward or gives depth to the characters. Indeed, the show moves briskly. (The 'approximately three hour' run time is a bit of an overstatement.)

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2017 2018 season with the company premiere of Handel's magical Baroque opera Alcina - starring megawatt soprano Angela Meade in the title role - November 4 19, 2017, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.