Brian Mulligan News

Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director, president & CEO, announced today that American bass-baritone Eric Owens has withdrawn from Lyric's upcoming Ring cycles in order to undergo treatment for ongoing health issues.

Washington National Opera's (WNO) 2020-2021 season offers an ambitious mix of sweeping political epics and intimate stories of interpersonal relationships, centered on human pursuits of justice, power, and love. Led by General Director Timothy O'Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, WNO announces the six mainstage titles in the 2020-2021 season: Fidelio, Nixon in China, Boris Godunov, Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, and La bohème.

Houston Grand Opera opens the 2019a?'20 season with a new production of Verdi's Rigoletto under the direction of Tomer Zvulun, who returns to HGO after directing last season's haunting The Flying Dutchman. Featuring some of opera's most recognizable music, Rigoletto is a tragic story of jealousy, lust, and revenge. The antagonistic jester Rigoletto is cursed after a joke with the villainous Duke of Mantua goes too far. Despite his best efforts to protect his beloved daughter Gilda, Rigoletto is unable to keep her safe from the outside world and the curse's fulfillment. He most certainly will not have the last laugh. The dark undertones are reflected in the theme a?oea man who seeks revenge should dig two graves.a??

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will present its 2019-20 season with a broad repertoire of operas in productions that have never been seen by Houston audiences. The 65th season will open October 18, 2019, with Verdi's classic Rigoletto. Tomer Zvulun returns to direct the season opener after successfully opening the 2018-19 season with his production of The Flying Dutchman. American baritone Brian Mulligan sings his first Rigoletto leading an outstanding cast filled with renowned HGO Studio alumni, including Mexican tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz as the Duke of Mantua and Armenian soprano Mane Galoyan as Gilda. Paired with Rigoletto is the North American  premiere of the dramatic oratorio Saul in a much-lauded and imaginative production by Barrie Kosky. Christopher Purves returns to the title role after his celebrated performance at the Glyndebourne Festival and is joined by countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and Korean soprano Pureum Jo, both HGO Studio alumni.

San Francisco Opera presents Richard Strauss' Arabella in five performances at the War Memorial Opera House from October 16 through November 3. Last performed by the Company 20 years ago, Arabella returns in Tim Albery's acclaimed production with leading Strauss interpreter Marc Albrecht, making his United States opera debut on the podium. The cast features soprano Ellie Dehn performing the title role for the first time, baritone Brian Mulligan in his role debut as Mandryka, soprano Heidi Stober as Zdenka, tenor Daniel Johansson in his first San Francisco Opera engagement as Matteo and Hye Jung Lee as the Fiakermilli. Company Chorus Director Ian Robertson prepares the San Francisco Opera Chorus.

Opera Rara announced an important new partnership with Warner Classics who will assume worldwide distribution for Opera Rara recordings. The agreement includes all future recordings, together with Opera Rara's most recent releases: International Opera Award-winning recordings of Offenbach's Fantasio and Donizetti's Les Martyrs, and selected recordings of the extensive back catalogue of more than 85 recordings.

San Francisco Opera presents Richard Strauss' Arabella in five performances at the War Memorial Opera House from October 16 through November 3. Last performed by the Company 20 years ago, Arabella returns in Tim Albery's acclaimed production with leading Strauss interpreter Marc Albrecht, making his United States opera debut on the podium. The cast features soprano Ellie Dehn performing the title role for the first time, baritone Brian Mulligan in his role debut as Mandryka, soprano Heidi Stober as Zdenka, tenor Daniel Johansson in his first San Francisco Opera engagement as Matteo and Hye Jung Lee as the Fiakermilli. Company Chorus Director Ian Robertson prepares the San Francisco Opera Chorus.

Baruch Performing Arts Center announces their 2018/2019 season, featuring premieres by composers Huang Ruo, Gregory Spears, and the late Matt Marks, and choreographer Dusan Týnek. The season includes the 27th year of the Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives series, a 5th Anniversary celebration of the CUNY Dance Initiative, and work in progress by veteran writer-performer Penny Arcade. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac/. All performances take place at 55 Lexington Ave. (enter 25th Street between Lexington & 3rd Aves.)

Baruch Performing Arts Center announces their 2018/2019 season, featuring premieres by composers Huang Ruo, Gregory Spears, and the late Matt Marks, and choreographer Dusan Týnek. The season includes the 27th year of the Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives series, a 5th Anniversary celebration of the CUNY Dance Initiative, and work in progress by veteran writer-performer Penny Arcade. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac/. All performances take place at 55 Lexington Ave. (enter 25th Street between Lexington & 3rd Aves.)

San Francisco Opera announces updated casting for its 96th Season, which opens Friday, September 7, with the double bill of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and two galas, Opera Ball 2018: ¡Viva La Noche! and the BRAVO! CLUB Opening Night Gala. The 2018-19 Season features eight productions that are new to the War Memorial Opera House stage, including a new staging of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca and the West Coast premiere of Jake Heggie's It's a Wonderful Life. Highlights also include Placido Domingo in Concert on October 21 and a roster of returning artists, debuting soloists and conductors.

San Francisco Opera's presentation of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) opens tonight with the first of three complete cycles, each presented over the course of one week as the composer originally intended, from June 12 through July 1 at the War Memorial Opera House. Encompassing four operas-Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung-and more than 17 hours, Wagner's Ring is one of the most ambitious works of music, theater and stagecraft ever created.

San Francisco Opera presents Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) in three complete cycles, each presented over the course of one week as the composer originally intended, from June 12 through July 1 at the War Memorial Opera House. Encompassing four operas-Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung-and more than 17 hours, the story and music of Wagner's Ring are the acme of the operatic artform and one of the most ambitious works of music, theater and stagecraft ever created. In anticipation of the performances, San Francisco Opera today announced a schedule for its Ring Festival events designed to provide the public, from first-timers to experienced Ring-goers, with enriching activities including lectures, symposia, film screenings, musical programs, public discussions and a Ring Community Day for families.

On February 4 at 8 p.m., the Bay Area's Classical KDFC will broadcast a 1980 San Francisco Opera performance of Richard Strauss' romantic opera Arabella starring soprano Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role, soprano Barbara Daniels as Zdenka, tenorWilliam Lewis as Matteo and baritone Ingvar Wixell as Mandryka, with German conductor Wolfgang Rennert. This performance from the Company's archives will be hosted by KDFC radio announcer Dianne Nicolini.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced plans for the 2018 19 Season. The Company's 96th Season will open Friday, September 7 with a gala double-bill performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in Jos Cura's production with an international cast featuring Lianna Haroutounian, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, Marco Berti and Dimitri Platanias, conducted by Daniele Callegari. To usher in the new opera season, San Francisco Opera Guild will produce its signature benefit event, Opera Ball 2018.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced plans for the 2018 19 Season. The Company's 96th Season will open Friday, September 7 with a gala double-bill performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in Jos Cura's production with an international cast featuring Lianna Haroutounian, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, Marco Berti and Dimitri Platanias, conducted by Daniele Callegari. To usher in the new opera season, San Francisco Opera Guild will produce its signature benefit event, Opera Ball 2018.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Louis Langree have announced details of the final installment of a three-year exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's 1893 symbolist play, Pelleas et Melisande, a collaboration with director, production designer and visual artist James Darrah.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Louis Langree have announced details of the final installment of a three-year exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's 1893 symbolist play, Pelleas et Melisande, a collaboration with director, production designer and visual artist James Darrah.

Gianandrea Noseda makes his highly anticipated first appearances as the seventh music director of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in July with two performances: Friday, July 28, at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and Saturday, July 29, on the National Mall (between 4th and 7th Streets) with a free concert for the community as part of the day's celebration of Music and Movement: The National Symphony Orchestra and National Dance Day.

Pacific Chorale, the resident choir of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, will be presenting its season finale - and Artistic Director John Alexander's final performance with the organization - on Saturday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) takes part in the world-wide celebration honoring Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams on the occasion of his 70th birthday when guest conductor Carlos Kalmar leads a performance of Adams' The Wound-Dresser on Today, February 25, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, and Sunday, February 26, 2017, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall.