Clay Hilley

The Canadian Opera Company's 2023/2024 season launches with Fidelio, the only opera from master composer Ludwig van Beethoven and a work that hasn't been seen on the COC stage in nearly 15 years. The opera, running from September 29 to October 20, 2023, centres on Leonore, a woman who has disguised herself as a man named Fidelio in order to save her husband, imprisoned for his revolutionary political views.

Beethoven’s FIDELIO returns to the COC for the first time in 15 years in a new production directed by Matthew Ozawa. Will justice and freedom prevail against tyranny and corruption?

The global celebration of performing arts, Edinburgh International Festival, today unveils an expansive programme of world-class music, opera, dance and theatre to take place from 4 – 27 August 2023. This year marks the first Festival under the direction of new Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti, one of today's most influential classical music artists.  

The Canadian Opera Company announced its 2023/2024 season today featuring a slate of exciting new productions and rare musical gems.

Ring des Nibelungen is a new interpretation of Wagner's iconic Ring Cycle performed by world-renowned company Deutsche Oper Berlin. Filmed in its four parts - Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung – the performances will be available to view on Marquee TV from 13 May 2022

Tour members meet on the Flying Opera Magic Carpet for a week of American and international performances. Our first stop is at San Francisco Opera, for Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven online October 14, 17, and 30, 2021. Cost- $25.

Verdi’s Il Trovatore can be seen live online on Sunday, October 3 at 2:00 pm or on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm live streamed directly from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Streamed live, they will not be able to be re-visited. Access to these performances is $30.00, available by clicking on the link below.   LINK https://www.laopera.org/performances/2122-season-page/il-trovatore-3/

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced the Company's 98th season, which opens on September 11, 2020 with an Opening Night Celebration featuring soprano Albina Shagimuratova and tenor Pene Pati in concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra conducted by Music Director Designate Eun Sun Kim. Opening Night festivities include San Francisco Opera Guild's Opera Ball, BRAVO! CLUB's annual Opening Night Gala and two new events: the Opera Supper in the Veterans Building's elegant Green Room and, for the entire audience, a celebratory, post-concert toast to the season.

Committed since its inception to reviving important but neglected operas, Bard SummerScape has long proven itself 'an indispensable part of the summer operatic landscape' (Musical America).

One of the nation's most adventurous opera companies, Odyssey Opera, presents the Boston premiere of Richard Strauss's little-known opera Die agyptische Helena (The Egyptian Helen) with libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. As part of Odyssey Opera's sixth season, this marks the second of three works to be performed in 2019 inspired by one of the most enigmatic figures in ancient history, Helen of Troy. The challenging title role of Helen will be played by soprano Kirsten Chambers (Met Opera). With orchestra and chorus conducted by Gil Rose, this two-act concert performance will be sung in German with English subtitles.

One of the nation's most adventurous opera companies, Odyssey Opera, presents the Boston premiere of Richard Strauss's little-known opera Die agyptische Helena (The Egyptian Helen) with libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. As part of Odyssey Opera's sixth season, this marks the second of three works to be performed in 2019 inspired by one of the most enigmatic figures in ancient history, Helen of Troy. The challenging title role of Helen will be played by soprano Kirsten Chambers (Met Opera). With orchestra and chorus conducted by Gil Rose, this two-act concert performance will be sung in German with English subtitles.

Opening next Today, July 28, Bard SummerScape presents the long overdue American staged premiere of Dimitrij (1882). Set to a libretto by Marie Cervinkova-Riegrova, one of the relatively few 19th-century women to contribute to the genre, Antonín Dvorák's grand opera is rarely produced outside the Czech Republic, and only received its U.S. concert premiere more than a century after its composition.

Committed since its inception to reviving important but neglected operas, Bard SummerScape has long proven itself “an indispensable part of the summer operatic landscape” (Musical America). With the long overdue American staged premiere of Antonín Dvo?ák's Dimitrij as its operatic centerpiece, this year's immersion in “Chopin and His World” is no exception.

Opening next Friday, July 28, Bard SummerScape presents the long overdue American staged premiere of Dimitrij (1882). Set to a libretto by Marie Cervinkova-Riegrova, one of the relatively few 19th-century women to contribute to the genre, Antonín Dvorák's grand opera is rarely produced outside the Czech Republic, and only received its U.S. concert premiere more than a century after its composition.

Committed since its inception to reviving important but neglected operas, Bard SummerScape has long proven itself “an indispensable part of the summer operatic landscape” (Musical America). With the long overdue American staged premiere of Antonín Dvo?ák's Dimitrij as its operatic centerpiece, this year's immersion in “Chopin and His World” is no exception.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2016-2017 season with the company premieres of two modern American masterworks of opera: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's Dead Man Walking, February 25-March 11, 2017 in the Opera House, and Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer's Champion, March 4- 18, 2017 in the Opera House. Both operas explore the theme of social justice which is often associated with John F. Kennedy and are presented as part of JFKC, the Kennedy Center's season-long celebration of President Kennedy's centennial. Using many of the same designers and scenic elements, the directors of each opera have worked collaboratively to create two distinct worlds in each new production to showcase the issues of Justice, Courage, and Freedom at the heart of these two compelling stories. An additional special event will continue the exploration of these themes: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will headline Justice at the Opera on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in the Opera House.

Presented during The Austin's Opera's 30th anniversary season, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN commands the historic Long Center's stage with a diverse, collective cast and belting operatic sequences. The origins of the story of The Flying Dutchman are rather skewed between timelines. The story first appeared in Travels in various parts Europe, Asia, and Africa in 1790 by John MacDonald, and again when Richard Wagner's operatic rendition came to life in 1843, after being adapted from an episode of Heinrich Heine's satirical novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski. More modernly, the story of The Flying Dutchman is told through the highly loved film series, The Pirates of The Carribean. Regardless of the interpretations by creative minds, one fact remains true - The Flying Dutchman refers to a ghostly ship destined to sail the seas for all eternity. Richard Wagner's rendition, sure to please both critics and audiences alike, is bringing this haunted tale to life with the reputation of precision that precedes The Austin Opera.

As one can imagine, an opera created by Ludwig van Beethoven is likely driven by intricate musicality. That assumption would be completely accurate as the plot is fairly simple and the characters are of common theatrical stock. Though these observations are true, Madison Opera's recent production of Fidelio - translated as the favorite child - is far from ordinary.

Seven productions tempt opera-lovers in a bright summer season.

Seven productions tempt opera-lovers in a bright summer season.