By Francisco Salazar
Sara Bañeras has joined GoDirect for General Management.
Bañeras studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Valencia and has appeared in masterclasses by Montserrat Caballé, Renata Scotto, Mariella Devia, Teresa Berganza, Ernesto Palacio, Chris Merritt, Alberto Zedda, and Miquel Ortega, among others.
She has also performed in workshops by the Rossini Academy and in the festival’s “Il Viaggio a Reims” productions.
The soprano has taken the stage at the Teatro Mayor in Bogota, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana, and has toured with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Vallés.
Her repertoire includes works by Verdi, Donizetti, Mozart, Gluck, Bizet, and Rossini.
Bañeras is the latest artist to join GoDirect following Néstor Galván, Vanessa Goikoetxea, and Željko Lučić.
By Francisco Salazar
George Gagnidze is set to sing his 100th performance of Scarpia in “Tosca” on Jan. 21, 2023.
He will sign this milestone performance at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. The villainous Baron has played a pivotal role in Gagnidze’s career as he rose to prominence in a 2008 concert performance of “Tosca” with Lorin Maazel conducting the New York Philharmonic and in the Luc Bondy “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera led by James Levine the following year.
He has since performed the role at the Met over 40 times and also took part in the Metropolitan Opera’s 1000th performance of the Puccini masterpiece. He has also sung the role at the Teatro alla Scala, Opéra National de Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, Deutsche Oper and Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Teatro San Carlo Naples, and the Weimar Opera.
In a statement, Gagnidze said, “The role of Scarpia has been having a great impact on my entire career. Almost 20 years ago, I made my debut in this thrilling part when I was a member of the company of the Osnabrück Opera in Germany. I feel very privileged to have since then had the honor to perform this character on so many great stages and with some of the best conductors. Even though Tosca is one of Puccini’s most popular and most performed operas, I think it is also one of these eternal masterpieces one can see on stage countless times and every single time it is gripping. For us singers it is the same on stage, and my 100th performance on Saturday at the Gran Teatre del Liceu will certainly be as thrilling for me as the previous 99 shows.”
By Francisco Salazar
Opera Philadelphia is set to return to the Academy of Music for Orff’s “Carmina Burana.”
The performances, which will be held on Feb. 3 and 5, 2023, will gather nearly 200 performers from the company’s Chorus and Orchestra and marks the Philadelphia premiere of “Credo.” “Credo,” which followed a much less celebrated path to the stage, is based on a prose poem by W.E.B. Du Bois, the work is an affirmation of racial justice, peace, and Black pride expressed through powerful melodic language and ingenious orchestration.
Joining the concert as soloists are soprano Brandie Inez Sutton, tenor Alasdair Kent, and baritone Ethan Vincent. The concert marks Sutton and Vincent’s company debuts with Opera Philadelphia. Kent, a graduate of Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts, is an alumnus of Opera Philadelphia’s Emerging Artist Program.
The performances will make the company debut of a rising star, conductor Lina González-Granados.
By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: Gisela Schenker)
Conductor David Afkham will extend his contract with the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España.
The decision was made by the General Director of the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música. Afkham will now be the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor through 2026. Afkham’s original contract was originally set to end on August 31, 2024, but with this renewal, the conductor hopes to make more recordings as well create an audiovisual platform.
The conductor has led the orchestra as Chief Conductor since 2019 and was Principal Conductor of the orchestra starting in 2014. He
At the time of his hiring as Principal Conductor, trumpet player Manolo Blanco told El País that Afkham “ emanates music; he doesn’t waste time with any nonsense… His technique is exquisite and his musical training great. He is a tremendous perfectionist who goes over every last detail; he consults with the musicians; he teaches but he is also learning at the same time, he’s like a sponge. It’s like having hired Bernstein or Karajan at the age of 30. Except I doubt even they were so knowledgeable at his age.”
has also conducted at the Theater an der Wien, Staatsoper Stuttgaart, the Teatro Real, and Dresden Philharmonic.
By Afton Wooten
Irish-born mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught in collaboration with Drogheda Classical Music will lead a weekend of professional development titled “Celebrating the Voice.”
The workshop curated by Tara will feature prominent industry professionals such as Dr. Paul Kwak, Jonathan Friend, Gaby Smith, and mezzo-soprano Angela Brower, along with coaching from song pianists Dearbhla Collins and Morgane Fauchois-Prado.
Dr. Kwak not only is a sought-after collaborative pianist but is one of the top laryngologists at the New York University Voice Center. He will present tips on vocal health and care for performers – singers and actors. There will be sessions on industry expectations, portfolio building, and tax and finance management for entertainers.
Andreas Massow from the Bavarian State Opera will present on the casting process, and what directors are looking for during the audition process.
The eight Irish young artists chosen from an open call to take part include mezzo-soprano Anna-Helena Maclachlan, mezzo-soprano Heather Sammon, tenor Seán Tester, soprano Maria Matthews; these four will take part in art song masterclasses. Meanwhile, Soprano Catherine Donnelly mezzo-soprano Deirdre Arratoon, soprano Deirdre Higgins, and tenor Owen Lucas will participate in the opera masterclasses. Each will participate in the lectures and information sessions and close out “Celebrating the Voice” with a concert alongside Tara, Angela, Dearbhla, and Morgane.
The events will take place Jan. 26 – 29 at St Peter’s Church of Ireland.
By David Salazar
The Young People’s Chorus of NYC will present Hans Krása’s “Brundibár” on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 as part of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The event, which will take place at The Museum of Jewish Heritage, will also feature music by such composers as Leonard Cohen, Simon & Garfunkel and Leonard Bernstein. Francisco J. Núñez conducts the program. For this event, choristers ages 8-11 will perform the work.
“Brundibár” is a children’s opera regularly performed by children at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupiedCzechoslovakia in 1943.
“We appreciate the opportunity for our children to learn about a major part of Jewish history, especially since YPC teaches our choristers the concepts of tolerance and acceptance of all humans,” said Núñez in an official press statement. “This performance helps teach our children that we must learn about the past and understand each other’s histories to be able to prepare for the future. Our choristers are also learning that, even today, we must continue to support each other and show resilience in the face of adversity.”
By David Salazar
(Credit: Frances Marshall)
The Bach Collegium Japan is set to present a concert at the Schubert Club on Feb. 7 and 8, 2023.
The showcase, which will star baritone Roderick Williams, represents the ensembles debut appearance in Minnesota.
Audiences will hear music by Bach, Telemann, and Janitch, including Bach’s Cantata for Bass Solo “Ich habe genug” and Telemann’s Cantata for Bass Solo “Der am Ölberg zagende Jesu.” Masaaki Suzuki will lead the performance from the harpsichord.
The Feb. 7 performance will take place at 7:30 p.m., while the Feb. 8 showcase is set to start at 2 p.m. local time.
Bach Collegium Japan was founded in 1990 with the goal of showing Japanese audiences historically informed performances from the baroque period. The organization expanded its reach, becoming an international sensation that has been lauded with numerous awards and opportunities, including a 2020 Gramophone Award, a 2014 ECHO Klassick Award, and a Diapason d’Or de l’Année 2010, among others.
By David Salazar
Per reports, the Metropolitan Opera will no longer be able to present its upcoming Ring Cycle production in 2025.
Back in 2021, the company announced that it would showcase a new staging of Wagner’s famed tetralogy in co-production with the English National Opera. However, earlier today the ENO announced that while it had been given new funding by Arts Council England, that it would still be getting a reduction from previous seasons and that this would impede the company from completing its Ring Cycle, which is directed by Richard Jones.
“With the ENO not being in a position to continue with the production of its Ring Cycle, it obviously makes it impossible to help produce it with them,” Met Opera general manager Peter Gelb told the Associated Press.
Per the Associated Press report, the Met was set to open the first production of the “Ring” in 2025 followed by a full cycle in 2026-27.
Jones’ production was set to succeed a staging of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” by Robert Lepage, which debuted in 2010 and was presented in full in 2012, 2013, and 2019. The production‘s central feature was a huge 45-ton machine that was prone to glitches and ill-timed malfunctions. It cost the company $16 million.
By Afton Wooten
(Credit: Norman Doggett)
Santa Fe Opera has announced the 44 singers participating in the 2023 apprentice program.
Apprentice singers will join in the mainstage opera performances for the 2023 season and will appear in two staged Apprentice Scene productions. Each singer will also have opportunities to work with voice faculty, participate in masterclasses with notable artists, and audition for opera executives from major companies.
Selected singers include sopranos Caitlin Aloia*, Cadie J. Bryan, Adia Evans, Caitlin Gotimer, Lydia Grindatto, Nicole Elyse Keeling, Ilanah Lobel-Torres, Amber R. Monroe, Gemma Nha, Amber Norelai*, and Taylor See. Mezzo-sopranos are Rebekah Daly, Lucy Evans*, Tessa Fackelmann, Karen Kelley, Gretchen Krupp*, Michelle Mariposa, Quinn Middleman, Kaylee Nichols, Meridian Prall, and Emma Rose Sorenson.
The countertenor section consists of Luke Elmer. Tenors selected are Matthew Corcoran, Garrett Evers, Spencer Hamlin, Lawrence Barasa Kiharangwa, Philippe L’Esperance*, Jordan Loyd*, Jehú Otero Mateo, San Juan, Wayd Odle, Andrew Turner*, and Samuel White. Baritones are Joel Balzun, Brandon Bell, Bernardo Medeiros, Michael Pandolfo, and Spencer Reichman. Ben Brady*, Le Bu, Sam Dhobhany, Dylan Gregg, Luke Harnish, and Christian Simmons make up the bass-baritone singers, along with Younggwang Park for the bass voices.
Over 1,000 applicants made Santa Fe Opera history by being the most diverse group of applicants. Singers hail from the USA including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, East Africa, Australia, Canada, China, South America, and South Korea.
*Denotes second-year apprentice singers.
By Logan Martell
On February 17, 2023, The George and Nora London Foundation Competition will hold the final round of its 51st event.
The concert will also mark the return of a live audience to the competition for the first time since 2020. The prizes for this year’s competition are $12k, up from the usual $10, with $2k of Encouragement Awards for the remaining finalists. One dozen finalists have been selected after three days of semi-finals, and will each perform one selection before the audience and panel, joined by pianist Michael Fennelly.
This year’s panel is comprised of soprano Harolyn Blackwell, mezzos Susanne Mentzer and Susan Quittmeyer, bass James Morris, and former Metropolitan Opera administrator Lenore Rosenberg. This year also marks the first competition held under its new name, with the change honoring Nora London who passed away in 2022.
The season of the George and Nora London Foundation will continue on April 16, with a recital by 2018 winner, baritone Benjamin Taylor, accompanied by Katelan Terrell.
