Robert Carsen News

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the American premiere of a new production of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, starring Richard E. Grant and Lisa O'Hare as Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. The production runs tonight, April 28, through May 21 (press opening April 29) at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Shortly before performances began for MY FAIR LADY at Lyric Opera, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lisa O'Hare (Eliza Doolittle) and Bryce Pinkham (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) for a conversation backstage at the opera house. O'Hare and Pinkham are no strangers to working together, as they both originated roles in the 2014 Tony Award-winning musical A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER. Pinkham in fact revealed that one of the reasons he signed on to MY FAIR LADY was to have a 'front-row seat' to see O'Hare's take on Eliza, a role she has performed previously in the West End and in a 2008 U.S. national tour. While dressed in street clothes but still wearing faces full of stage makeup, O'Hare and Pinkham chatted with me about what it's been like to reunite, why they're excited to be involved in this staging of Lerner and Loewe's classic musical, and how it feels to perform on the Lyric stage. Read on for excerpts from the conversation.

Lyric Opera of Chicago released today new behind-the-scenes rehearsal images from its production of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, starring Richard E. Grant and Lisa O'Hare as Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. The production runs April 28 through May 21 (press opening April 29) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Scroll down for a peek at the company in rehearsal!

The dream cast of Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and El?na Garan?a as Octavian star in Strauss's grandest opera, Der Rosenkavalier, which opened at the Met on April 13th. In his new production, Robert Carsen, the director behind the Met's recent Falstaff, places the action at the end of the Habsburg Empire, underscoring the opera's subtext of class and conflict against a rich backdrop of gilt and red damask, in a staging that also stars Günther Groissböck as Baron Ochs. Sebastian Weigle conducts the sparklingly perfect score.

More than 400 opera aficionados and performers - including opera stars Harolyn Blackwell, Lauren Flanigan, Ailyn Perez, Diana Soviero, Teresa Stratas and surprise presenter Renee Fleming, were among those who attended the 12th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards at The Plaza Hotel last night.

More than 400 opera aficionados and performers - including opera stars Harolyn Blackwell, Lauren Flanigan, Ailyn Perez, Diana Soviero, Teresa Stratas and surprise presenter Renee Fleming, were among those who attended the 12th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards at The Plaza Hotel last night.

According to an article published in the New York Times, they reported that 'Renee Fleming has announced that she will be retiring from the opera stage,' stating that her final performance will be of 'Der Rosenkavalier' at the Metropolitan Opera on May 13th.  However, the NPR now reveals new information that the diva is not quitting just yet.

Renee Fleming sings her final performances of one of her signature roles as the Marschallin in the Met's new production of Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, opening April 13. Robert Carsen directs the new production-the company's first new staging of the piece since 1969-with Sebastian Weigle conducting all performances. The starry cast includes El?na Garan?a in her company role debut as the Marschallin's young lover, Octavian, opposite Erin Morley as Sophie, the innocent young woman who comes between Marschallin and Octavian; Gunther Groissbock as Baron Ochs, the Marschallin's oafish cousin; Marcus Bruck in his Met debut as Sophie's father Faninal; and Matthew Polenzani as the Italian Singer. Kathleen Kim sings Sophie in the April 28 and May 1 performances.  

Lyric Opera of Chicago's grand-scale company premiere of My Fair Lady, starring Richard E. Grant and Lisa O'Hare as Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, runs April 28 through May 21 (press opening April 29) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the leads in costume below, plus a behind-the-scenes look at their photo shoot!

BroadwayWorld reported in 2014 that opera diva, Renee Fleming said in an interview at the time, that she 'may stop singing in 3 years.'  Three years later, Fleming, who's starring in Richard Strauss's 'Der Rosenkavalier' at the Met, will give her final performance on the afternoon of Saturday, May 13.

The dream cast of Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and El?na Garan?a as Octavian star in Strauss's grandest opera, Der Rosenkavalier, April 13-May 13. In his new production, Robert Carsen, the director behind the Met's recent Falstaff, places the action at the end of the Habsburg Empire, underscoring the opera's subtext of class and conflict against a rich backdrop of gilt and red damask, in a staging that also stars Günther Groissböck as Baron Ochs. Sebastian Weigle conducts the sparklingly perfect score.

The Dallas Opera is thrilled to present—for the first time on our stage—Vincenzo Bellini's suspense-filled masterpiece of the bel canto repertoire, NORMA, starring the phenomenal South African-born soprano Elza van den Heever in the title role of a Druid priestess wronged by the man she loves.

Music Director Alan Gilbert begins his final weeks by leading the New York Philharmonic in Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. The program juxtaposes the tragedy and optimism of human experience through Schoenberg's depiction of the horror of the Holocaust and the message of hope, brotherhood, and joy in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw will feature Gabriel Ebert as narrator (in his Philharmonic debut) and the men of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, directed by Joe Miller. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony will feature soprano Camilla Tilling, mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack (debut), tenor Joseph Kaiser (debut), bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, directed by Joe Miller. The performances will take place Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 6 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. The program will be presented without intermission.

This autumn the Victoria and Albert Museum, in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, will create a vivid and immersive journey through nearly 400 years of opera, exploring its passion, power and politics.

Print Room at the Coronet has today announced further details for Out of Blixen and Babette's Feast, two productions that will run consecutively, putting a spotlight on the fascinating life and writing of Karen Blixen.

The Ridgefield Playhouse and Craig's Fine Jewelry Live in HD Series presents an encore screening of The Met Opera:  Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier on Tuesday, May 16 at 2 p.m. The dream cast of Renee Fleming as the Marschallin and El?na Garan?a as Octavian star in Strauss's grandest opera. In his new production, Robert Carsen places the action at the end of the Habsburg Empire, underscoring the opera's subtext of class and conflict against a rich backdrop of gilt and red damask, in a staging that also stars Gunther Groissbock as Baron Ochs. Sebastian Weigle conducts the sparklingly perfect score.  

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

An unforgettable romantic story of unrequited love and its unintended consequences returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago Feb. 26 -Mar. 20 for eight performances. For those who know Tchaikovsky's ballets Nutcracker and Swan Lake but not his operas,Eugene Onegin is a wonder and revelation. The glorious music brings Pushkin's poetic tale to life brilliantly in a beautiful production with a terrific international cast.

The New York Philharmonic will return to Bravo! Vail in Colorado, celebrating its 30th season, for the Orchestra's 15th annual summer residency, July 21-28, 2017. The residency will include six orchestral concerts that honor the Philharmonic's legacy on the occasion of its 175th anniversary season and the conclusion of Alan Gilbert's tenure as Music Director.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.