Suor Angelica 2024 - Articles Page 4

The big question for the evening was how mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe would do as the first woman in professional opera to sing the baritone title role in Gianni Schicchi. But the question wouldn’t be answered until the second one-act opera in San Diego Opera’s “Puccini Duo.” Blythe was first a contralto as the stern, unfeeling Principessa in Suor Angelica. This crushingly poignant half of the Duo is set in a 17th-century Italian convent where Sister Angelica has been living for seven years after her family banished her for the sin of giving birth to a boy out of wedlock. The one-hour opera builds slowly from a choir of offstage convent sisters singing adoringly of the Virgin Mary. From its first appearance the Opera company’s choir led by Chorus Master Bruce Stasyna sang with a solemn warmth consistent with the convent setting. When the sisters reach the stage, a monitor becomes the center of attention as she sings of a succession of minor sins and their punishments. Two sisters lose a day of holy celebration for arriving late to services, another is sent to her room for hiding two red roses in a sleeve of her habit.

Stephanie Blythe’s dad had no use for singers. “He liked my voice, but I wasn't allowed to sing in the chorus. So all through junior high I wanted to be part of a rock band with my three best friends. But since we played euphonium, trombone, saxophone and flute, I was like, well, that's not going to work. We formed a barbershop quartet instead. And that was the singing I did in junior high. When I got into high school, my choral conductor Martin Banner insisted that I join the chorus and called my father to change his mind about that. Thank God for Martin Banner. Joining the chorus has led to everything for me.

Stephanie Blythe is probably the only opera singer who represents an ukulele company. That she embodies the unexpected is further confirmed by her upcoming roles in the San Diego Opera's next production, two one-act operas by Puccini. The mezzo soprano will first sing a deeper contralto as the Principessa in Suor Angelica. Then, in title role of Gianni Schicchi, she'll be in the baritone range traditionally assigned to a male singer.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has announced the winners for this year's Concert of Arias, the 35th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, held this evening at the Wortham Theater Center and livestreamed for audiences at home.   

New York Festival of Song, led by Artistic Director Steven Blier, will continue its 2022-2023 season with Amor on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 8:00pm at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center.

​​​​​​​Wagner's soaring masterpiece Lohengrin returns to the Met stage after 17 years, in a new production by internationally renowned director François Girard. The production runs from February 26th-April 1st.

San Diego Opera's 2022-2023 Season continues with The Puccini Duo: a double-bill of the tragic Suor Angelica and the witty comic opera Gianni Schicchi on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances. Additional performances are February 14, 17, and 19 (matinee), 2023. All evening performances take place at 7:30 PM, matinees at 2 PM.

San Diego Opera's 2022-2023 Season continues with The Puccini Duo: a double-bill of the tragic Suor Angelica and the witty comic opera Gianni Schicchi on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances.

Home for the Holidays with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra combines seasonal favorites, storytelling, and more! Guest conductor Geoffery Larson, renowned Irish-American Baritone Emmett O'Hanlon, Notre Dame Concordia Octet, and Southold Dance Theater unite with the Symphony to create South Bend's favorite holiday performance.

San Diego Opera's 2022-2023 Season continues with The Puccini Duo: a double-bill of the tragic Suor Angelica and the witty comic opera Gianni Schicchi on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances. Additional performances are February 14, 17, and 19 (matinee), 2023.

As an early holiday present for opera lovers, On November 12 and 13, the Verdi Chorus’ 39th season culminates with a Verdi Puccini Fest for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica. Under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, who promises the program will include “some of the most exciting moments from two of the greatest operatic composers who ever lived,” I decided to speak with her on its inception, creation, and what makes the Verdi Chorus such a special part of our city.

The Verdi Chorus' 39th season culminates with  A Verdi Puccini Fest, for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on November 12 and 13.  Led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, the Verdi Chorus is the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus.

State Opera South Australia has announced the return of 'the honeymoon killers' in a two-month national tour of the hugely popular opera, Love Burns.

The Verdi Chorus' 39th season culminates with  A Verdi Puccini Fest, for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on November 12 and 13. 

This was a wonderful performance.

Single tickets to San Diego Opera's 2022-2023 Season are now on sale beginning September 7, 2022.

Raehann Bryce-Davis, the young mezzo-soprano whose star has been rising since her 2018 George London Award win, performs the first recital of the George London Foundation for Singers 2022-23 season on Sunday, October 2, at 4 pm at The Morgan Library & Museum.

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler today announced the selection of the artists for the Resident Artist Program for the 2022-2023 season.

Opera Orlando's hot soprano summer comes to a thrilling conclusion on August 28 at the University Club of Winter Park. Soprano Susan Hellman Spatafora, bass Andrew W. Potter, and pianist Robin Stamper present LATE NIGHT ENCOUNTERS.

WA's performing arts industry celebrated the outstanding achievements of actors, directors, producers, theatre- and dance-makers at last night's 2022 Performing Arts WA Awards.

Juilliard has announced full programming for its 2022-23 season, including live music, dance, and drama performances at venues throughout the city with numerous livestreams and on-demand opportunities for global audiences to witness the future of the performing arts today.

Verdi's Falstaff is another glittering gem in the train of Union Avenue Opera. I'm not a big fan of 're-purposing' classic plays. Poor Shakespeare! He's been subjected to such vandalism over the years with modern 'concept' versions of his works. No, I do not want to go to see a trendy lesbian-Hamlet-on-Mars!

An intimate and sensitive performance.

New Camerata Opera has announced details for the company's groundbreaking seventh season. The upcoming season breaks boundaries by bringing classic stories to the stage and re-contextualizing them for today's audience.

New Camerata Opera announced details for the company's seventh season. The upcoming season breaks boundaries by bringing classic stories to the stage and re-contextualizing them for today’s audience.