By Francisco Salazar
Joe O’Neill will become Nevill Holt Opera’s new Managing Director.
O’Neill will take up the post in September and will succeed Annie Lydford who will become the Chief Executive at The Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
He is currently the Senior Producer for the Education department at Shakespeare’s Globe where he has championed the growth of access to live performance for young people and families.
O’Neill said about his appointment, “I am very much looking forward to working with Nevill Holt Opera as the company continues to grow each year. Alongside its excellent performances of opera and concerts, NHO clearly has meaningful education work and artist development at its core. The company’s mission to widen access to brilliant live performance and participation is one that is close to my heart, and I am pleased to bring my own experience to ensure the success and growth of this important work. 2023 is NHO’s tenth anniversary year, and I am looking forward to working closely with Nicholas Chalmers, the Nevill Holt Opera team, and the Board to celebrate this milestone and to secure a tremendous future for NHO for years to come.”
Meanwhile, Nevill Holt Opera’s Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Derbyshire born, Joe O’Neill to our team. We were impressed with the way he has sustained and grown the education program at Shakespeare’s Globe. His background in producing, audience development, and introducing young people to theatre makes him perfectly placed to build and broaden Nevill Holt Opera’s reach and long-term strategies. 2023 marks the tenth anniversary year of Nevill Holt Opera and I look forward to producing our education, community, and operatic work alongside Joe.”
Nevill Holt Opera recently concluded its 2022 summer festival which featured “La Bohéme” and “The Barber of Seville.”
By Francisco Salazar
Legendary singer Grace Bumbry was honored at the Festival Valle Della d’Itra in Martina Franca, Italy.
The singer received the Premio Rodolfo Celletti at the conclusion of a performance of “Beatrice di Tenda” at the Palazo Ducale on July 26.
The festival’s president Alessandro Caroli and the mayor of Martina Franca, Franco Punzi were in attendance to give the award to Bumbry, who became the first African-American to be recognized with the award.
Punzi said, “On the occasion of her 85th birthday we want to celebrate an artist of such international level who undoubtedly contributed to the comprehension of the female voice and who broke stereotypes of what is a soprano or mezzo-soprano, and what they can sing and creating another academic category.”
Bumbry performed at the festival 45 years ago in a production of “Norma” after being invited by Rodolfo Celletti. According to Punzi, “it was an unforgettable evening.”
Upon receiving the award Bumbry said, “I am honored to be here in Martina Franca where I sang my first ‘Norma.’ It was here that I met Rodolfo Celletti and after that we met in Moscow at the Tchaikovsky Competition. We were able to speak about singing and the vocal probems. I saw that he was very conscious about singing and the voice.”
She added, “I am so honored to receive this recognition and to be the first African American to receive the award.
Throughout her career, Bumbry was considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano earlier in her career. She was also a member of a pioneering generation of African-American opera and classical singers who paved the way for future generations of African-American opera and concert singers
By Francisco Salazar
Sony Classical has signed Julie Fuchs to an exclusive contract.
In a statement, the company said, “Fuchs has established herself as one the most exciting opera singers of her generation.”
The soprano’s first album for the company will be dedicated entirely to Mozart and will be released in November 2022.
Fuchs previously recorded two solo albums for Deutsche Grammophon, entitled “Mademoiselle” and “Yes.” She has also recorded with Erato.
The French soprano is set to open her 2022-23 season at the Paris Opera in a production of “I Capuleti e I Montecchi.” She will also appear at the Dutch National Opera, Zurich Opera, and Gran Teatre del Liceu, among other houses. Fuchs is currently at the Rossini Opera Festival for a production of “Le Comte Ory” which opens on August 9.
By Francisco Salazar
This week there is a special release from the Metropolitan Opera as well as two complete opera releases you will not want to miss. Here is a look!
Crepuscolo
BR-Klassik recorded a concert from Bayerischer Rundfunk in Munich. The recital includes 27 songs spanning three decades of the composer’s career, including three complete song cycles as well as a selection of individual songs.
Tenor Timothy Fallon is joined by pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz for his second BIS Records release.
A Concert for Ukraine
The Metropolitan Opera, Decca Classics, and Deutsche Grammophon present “A Concert for Ukraine,” an album recorded live at the Met on March 14, 2022. The album features the company’s complete special concert expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The proceeds from the album will support relief efforts in the country.
In a statement, the Met’s General Manager Peter Gelb said, “This album captures a uniquely memorable performance by the Metropolitan Opera and its stars, and demonstrates the power of art to deliver a clear message to the forces of darkness that would destroy a nation. I hope this concert brings a measure of comfort and moral support to the suffering people of Ukraine, and that it reminds the world that we stand with them.”
The concert features Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus with soloists Vladyslav Buialskyi and Lise Davidsen. The program includes Valentin Silvestrov’s “Prayer for Ukraine;” Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Op. 11; and “Va, pensiero” from Verdi’s “Nabucco.” There is also Strauss’ Four Last Songs and the final selection of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, featuring soprano Elza van den Heever, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, tenor Piotr Beczała, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green.
The Passenger
Naxos releases Mieczysław Weinberg’s emotionally wrenching opera written in 1968. Nadja Loschky’s production for Graz stars mezzo-soprano Dshamilja Kaiser, soprano Nadja Stefanoff, tenor Will Hartmann and baritone Markus Butter. Roland Kluttig leads the Grazer Philharmoniker and the Chor der Oper Graz.
Falstaff
German director Sven-Eric Bechtolf staged and John Eliot Gardiner conducted “Falstaff” in Florence in November 2021. Dynamic releases the opera starring baritone Nicola Alaimo, soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano Caterina Piva, mezzo-soprano Sara Mingardo, baritone Simone Piazzola, soprano Francesca Boncompagni and tenor Matthew Swensen.
By Francisco Salazar
The Kaufman Music Center has announced its 2022-23 season.
Here is a look at the vocal performances:
VOCES8 perform Choral Dances: Wm. Byrd to V. Morrison.
Performance Date: Oct. 13, 2022
VOCES8 will showcase “Underneath the Stars,” which includes music by Byrd, Britten, Gibbons, Smith, Schütz, Rheinberger, and Alfvén, among others.
Performance Date: Oct. 14, 2022
Briana Elyse Hunter performs a program of music by J. de la Chica, Ravel, Dupart, and R. I. Gordon.
Performance Date: Dec. 6, 2022
The Accord Treble Choir and Special Music School Treble Choir will feature “A Ceremony of Carols.”
Performance Date: Dec. 19, 2022
VOCES8 performs a program entitled Lux Aeterna: works on the theme of light.
Performance Date: Feb. 14, 2023
The Harlem Quartet performs music by Fanny Mendelssohn and A. López-Gavilán, among others.
Performance Date: Jan. 13 & March 23, 2023
Sasha Cooke and Kirill Kuzmin perform the NY premiere of the pandemic commissioning project, “how do I find you?”
Performance Date: May 25, 2023
By Operawire Staff
Principal conductor and artistic director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO), Bramwell Tovey, died at 69 on July 12, 2022, a day after his birthday.
In May 2019, Bramwell was diagnosed with cancer—a rare type of sarcoma, and after surgery in June 2021, he was declared cancer free. Unfortunately, it returned in January 2022.
Tovey’s tenure with Rhode Island began in 2018 after 18 years as the artistic director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra—a record for that organization. Prior to joining VSO, Tovey did stints at the Winnipeg Symphony and as the music director of the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida.
Born in East London on July 11, 1953, Tovey’s music training began as a member of Salvation Army Bands as a tuba player, and thus began a life of music that saw the maestro win Grammy and Juno Awards. Though his tenure at RIPO was sadly cut short, Tovey brought renowned artists Olga Kern, Yefim Bronfman, James Ehnes, Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsythe, and Emanuel Ax to RIPO.
“We are all heartbroken,” orchestra Executive Director David Beauchesne said on Rhode Island Philharmonic website. “Bramwell Tovey was a dear friend and colleague, and a person of uncommon ability, warmth, humor, sincerity and kindness. The youngest student and most revered guest artist received the same level of his care and attention.”
The conductor/composer died in his home, surrounded by his family, listening to brass band music. His daughter Jess was at the piano while Emma sang.
Tovey is survived by his partner Verena De Neovel, children Ben, Jessica, Emmeline, and grandchildren.
By Francisco Salazar
The Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini in Parma, Italy has announced its 2022-23 season.
For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on the vocal performances.
Georg Friedrich Händel “Messiah” will be performed by Sandrine Piau, Sara Mingardo Levy Sekgapane, and Luca Tittoto. Enrico Onofri conducts.
Performance Date: Dec. 7, 2022
Timothy Brock leads the New Year’s concert with vocalists from London’s West Side Story in works by Bernstein, Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, and Kern.
Performance Date: Jan. 1, 2023
Johannes Debus conducts Marin Kataeva and Johannes Martin Kranzle in Gustav Mahler’s Lieder da Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2.
Performance Dates: March 10 & 11, 2023
Omer Meier Wellber conducts the youth chorus in works by Aziza Sadikova, Tchaikovsky and Webern.
Performance Dates: May 4 & 6, 2023
By Francisco Salazar
The Wiener Konzerthaus has announced the 2022-23 “Great Voices” Series.
The series opens with a concert by Piotr Beczała featuring music by Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, and Mascagni. Marco Boemi conducts.
Performance Date: Nov. 24, 2022
Diana Damrau performs a concert alongside Jérémie Rhorer featuring music by Mozart and Händel.
Performance Date: Dec. 20, 2022
Regula Mühlemann sings music by Faure, Ravel, and Mozart alongside Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli.
Performance Date: April 16, 2023
Juan Diego Flórez concludes the series with the Bruckner Orchester Linz.
Performance Date: June 19, 2023
By Afton Wooten
Daniel Stern, the long-time conductor of the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra and Boise Philharmonic, died on July 12, 2022.
Stern was born in Switzerland but grew up in Rochester, New York and began his musical career in the Oregon public schools and eventually moved on to teach at Boise State University and the College of Idaho.
From 1974 – 87 Stern served as the Music Director of the Boise Philharmonic. He also was the Music Director of the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra between 2005 and 2018.
For his significant work in the Boise area, Stern received Idaho’s Governor’s Award in the Arts in 2014.
Daniel Stern is survived by his two daughters and grandchildren.
By Francisco Salazar
Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan has joined the roster of Askonas Holt for general management.
The news comes a month after the soprano took home the Grand Prize at the International Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition where she also received the Marcella Sembrich-Kochańska Prize as the youngest finalist and was awarded The Katowice City Of Gardens – Krystyna Bochenek Cultural Institution Prize.
The soprano will be managed at Askonas Holt by Dominic Domingo and Flo Rivington.
Grigoryan has performed with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, The Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of Armenia as well as with the Yerevan State Chamber Orchestra conducted by Gianluca Marciano. She holds a Master’s Degree from Yerevan State Conservatory and is a member of their Young Artist Opera Programme.
The soprano is set to compete at the Operalia Competition later this year.
