Tamara Wilson News

The Canadian Opera Company has closed another successful opera season with 2011/2012 recording an average attendance of 91%. A total of 125,238 patrons attended the 67 performances of the company's seven mainstage productions in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: Gluck's Iphigenia in Tauris, Verdi's Rigoletto, Puccini's Tosca, Saariaho's Love from Afar, Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, the double bill of Zemlinsky's A Florentine Tragedy and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and Handel's Semele.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) today announced that six new artists will join its young artist development program in the 2012-13 season.

Patrick Summers continues his first season at the helm of the Houston Grand Opera this spring, leading performances of Verdi's Don Carlos (April 13-28) and Donizetti's Mary Stuart (April 21-May 4). Summers - named HGO's Artistic and Music Director in May 2011, following a 13-year period as Music Director - began his Houston season withVerdi's La traviata. Last fall, the conductor continued his long association with San Francisco Opera as principal guest conductor, leading the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis' Heart of a Soldier and, soon after, the company premiere of Handel's Xerxes. He returns to the West Coast this spring, making his Los Angeles Opera debut by conducting Puccini's La boheme (May 12-June 2).

Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman announced the festival's 2012 season, which offers more than 100 separate events exemplifying most musical genres, including the 77th residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The summer boasts a variety of music's legends from Philip Glass to James Taylor, along with 43 debuts, including Glee and Wicked star Idina Menzel, reggae master Jimmy Cliff, classic rocker Santana, Grammy-and-Oscar sensation Esperanza Spalding, and Musical America's "conductor of the year" Jaap van Zweden. Ravinia Music Director James Conlon celebrates the 35th anniversary of his own festival debut as his contract is extended through 2014.

Houston Grand Opera's new production of Benjamin Britten's intimate but intensely gripping chamber opera The Rape of Lucretia takes place through February 11, 2012 and features the young American theatre director Arin Arbus in her operatic debut.

Houston Grand Opera's new production of Benjamin Britten's intimate but intensely gripping chamber opera The Rape of Lucretia takes place on February 3-11, 2012 and features the young American theatre director Arin Arbus in her operatic debut.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

Houston Grand Opera's new production of Benjamin Britten's intimate but intensely gripping chamber opera The Rape of Lucretia takes place on February 3-11, 2012 and features the young American theatre director Arin Arbus in her operatic debut.

When the Houston Grand Opera's 2011-12 season - its 57th - opens officially on October 21 with a new production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville, the company begins a new era under the leadership of Patrick Summers.

Houston Grand Opera General Director and CEO Anthony Freud announced the company's 2011-2012 season today. Opening on October 21, 2011, the season offers thirty-two performances of six operas. 'We've chosen an exciting array of operas that will thrill, stimulate and entertain,' says Freud. 'From celebrated masterpieces to rarely-performed operatic gems, our 2011-12 season features world-renowned directors, beloved productions and acclaimed singers.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Opera Honors awards ceremony and concert was held on Friday, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington D.C. This year's honorees-soprano Martina Arroyo, general director David DiChiera, composer Philip Glass and music director Eve Queler-were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to opera in America. Produced in cooperation with Washington National Opera and OPERA America, the NEA Opera Honors awards ceremony and concert was free and open to the public; approximately 2,000 people attended the event.

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, opens its 55th season with Giuseppe Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) in eight performances, September 11 to 25 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced the third-annual Target FREE Opera in the Outfield, a free, live opera broadcast at Nationals Park. This year's simulcast, Verdi's dramatic opera A Masked Ball (Un Ballo in Maschera), will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, September 19, 2010, and is expected to attract up to 20,000 people for free opera and 'pre-game' activities in the festive ballpark atmosphere.

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, opens its 55th season with Giuseppe Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) in eight performances, September 11 to 25 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Washington National Opera General Director Plácido Domingo has announced the company's 2010-11 season, including productions, casting and creative teams, and performance dates for all main stage operas. Opening September 11, 2010 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, the company's 55th season encompasses 45 performances of five productions, all new to Washington: Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, a new production of Strauss' Salome, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, the company premiere of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, and Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The company enjoys an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation.

Washington National Opera GeneralDirector Plácido Domingo today announced the company's 2010-11 season, including productions,casting and creative teams, and performance dates for all main-stage operas.

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, presents Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff in seven performances, October 10 to 30 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, presents Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff in seven performances, October 10 to 30 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.