Alex DeSocio News

“Why did I enlist? Why did I go to war?” are but two of the questions that Private Danny Chen asks himself in the powerful docu-opera, AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang. It was directed thoughtfully and surely by Chay Yew in its New York debut Sunday afternoon at the new Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC-NYC) at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.

The Perelman Performing Arts Center has revealed the complete and creative team for An American Soldier at the new performing arts center at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.

Five outstanding young artists have been selected to participate in Opera Columbus' annual Cooper- Bing Competition. The operatic vocal competition drew a record-breaking pool of 270 submissions, attracting talent from around the world to compete for the grand prize of $10,000.

Have you watched Los Angeles Opera’s digital short Brown Sounds yet? Brown Sounds celebrates Black history by beginning with the Garden of Eden. Conceived by Raehann Bryce-Davis, a rising star in the LA firmament, it's a stunning vocal piece. Composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson set poet Henry Dumas's evocative verses to music with Bryce-Davis’s ravishing mezzo-soprano in mind.

Gaetano Donizetti's The Elixir of Love opens on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 pm, the third work in the 2020 Winter Opera Festival. Can a magic love potion lead to happily ever after? This comedy is filled with charming characters, wonderful melodies, and sweet surprises. Beautiful scenery, imaginative costumes, and a a?oefeel gooda?? ending will truly enchant! The Elixir of Love will have seven performances through March 21, 2020. Tickets start at $19. For more information, visit SarasotaOpera.org, call (941) 328-1300, or visit the box office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.

There is a real pleasure in enjoying amazing voices telling a story in a language you do not know, and be able to understand the emotion conveyed by singers of exceptional skill. Opera Birmingham provided such wonder in 'Romeo and Juliet.'

Twenty of the finest young opera singers in the United States will be competing in the 30th Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition presented, jointly, by The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild.

Opera Santa Barbara will open its 2017-18 season with a sumptuous production of Jules Massenet's sultry Manon starring celebrated soprano Sarah Coburn at 7:30 pm on Friday, November 3, followed by an encore performance at 2:30 pm on Sunday, November 5.

Single tickets are on sale for Opera Santa Barbara's 2017-18 season, which will open with a sumptuous production of Jules Massenet's sultry Manon starring celebrated soprano Sarah Coburn on November 3 and 5, followed by a frolicsome staging of Gioachino Rossini's enduring comic masterwork The Barber of Seville on March 2 and 4. Ranging in price from $29 to $204, tickets can be purchased at www.granadasb.org or by calling 805-899-2222. Performances will take place at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.

Subscription sales have begun for Opera Santa Barbara's 2017-18 season, which will open with a sumptuous production of Jules Massenet's sultry Manon on November 3 and 5, followed by a sprightly staging of Gioachino Rossini's enduring comic masterwork The Barber of Seville on March 2 and 4.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 20, 2015 – The Merola Opera Program's Summer Festival concludes with its 2015 artists performing in the Merola Grand Finale tonight, August 22 at 7:30 pm at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. Conductor Antony Walker will lead the orchestra and 2015 Merola Apprentice Stage Director Mo Zhou will stage the program, featuring works by Gounod, Bellini, Tchaikovsky, Jake Heggie, Nikolai, Verdi, Rossini, Humperdinck, Mascagni, and Offenbach. The performance is a culmination of the 12-week Merola Opera training program, and all 23 of the 2015 Merola singers will perform, under the coaching and direction of their fellow artists. A special artists' reception follows the Grand Finale (tickets sold separately).

The Merola Opera Program presents Donizetti's Don Pasquale, led by conductor Warren Jones and director Nic Muni, in two performances tonight, August 6 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 8 at 2pm at the Cowell Theater in San Francisco.

The Merola Opera Program presents Donizetti's Don Pasquale, led by conductor Warren Jones and director Nic Muni, in two performances Thursday, August 6 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 8 at 2pm at the Cowell Theater in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 20, 2015 – The Merola Opera Program's Summer Festival concludes with its 2015 artists performing in the Merola Grand Finale Saturday, August 22 at 7:30 pm at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. Conductor Antony Walker will lead the orchestra and 2015 Merola Apprentice Stage Director Mo Zhou will stage the program, featuring works by Gounod, Bellini, Tchaikovsky, Jake Heggie, Nikolai, Verdi, Rossini, Humperdinck, Mascagni, and Offenbach. The performance is a culmination of the 12-week Merola Opera training program, and all 23 of the 2015 Merola singers will perform, under the coaching and direction of their fellow artists. A special artists' reception follows the Grand Finale (tickets sold separately).

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 2015 – The Merola Opera Program presents Donizetti's Don Pasquale, led by conductor Warren Jones and director Nic Muni, in two performances Thursday, August 6 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 8 at 2pm at the Cowell Theater in San Francisco. 

Pittsburgh Opera presents CARMEN, March 21, 24, 27, 29, 2015 at the Benedum Center. Check out a first look below!

SAN FRANCISCO, February 4, 2015 – Twenty-three singers, five apprentice coaches, and one apprentice stage director, representing seven countries, will participate in the 58th season of the Merola Opera Program from June 8 to August 22, San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald announced today. More than 800 artists vied this year for the 29 coveted spots in the highly selective summer opera training program. Nearly one third of this season's artists come from countries outside the United States, including artists from Australia, China, Italy, New Zealand, Russia and South Korea, and the US artists hail from 15 states, including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Idaho.

Houston, TX - February 4, 2015: Houston Grand Opera announced today the finalists for the annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias, to be presented in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Theater Center on Thursday, February 5, at 7 p.m. This year's finalists are:

Pittsburgh Opera presents Second Stage Project: PAUL'S CASE, February 22, 25, 28; March 2, 2014 at George R. White Studio, Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. Music by Gregory Spears • Libretto By Gregory Spears and Kathryn Walat. PAUL'S CASE is part of Pittsburgh Opera's 2014 American Opera Series.