By Afton Wooten
The sought-after soprano and activist Karen Slack will perform “Of Thee I Sing,” a program focused on “the healing powers of justice and love.”
Focused on racial justice and music by women composers, Slack curated “Of Thee I Sing” in the summer of 2020. She chose works by Clayton White, Undine Smith Moore, Ricky Ian Gordon, Scott Gendel, H. Leslie Adams, Jake Heggie, and Adolphus Hailstork to be featured.
The performance will take place at National Sawdust in New York City on June 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Slack has performed with many of the leading opera companies in the world including the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and San Francisco Opera, among others. She serves as the Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, Co-Chair of the Women’s Opera Network with Opera America, and started #KikiKonversations, a video roundtable for artists.
By Francisco Salazar
The Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a number of productions, concerts and special guests. Here is a look.
Opera
The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring Sergio Vitale, Rosa Feola, Pene Pati, Agnès Letestu, and Paul Gay. Ben Glassberg conducts the production by Richard Brunel.
Performance Dates: Sept. 22-Oct. 2022
“Mon amant de Saint-Jean” will feature Stéphanie d’Oustrac and Le Poème Harmonique. Vincent Dumestre conducts the production by Marie Lambert-Le Bihan.
Performance Dates: Oct. 18 & 19, 2022
Offenbach’s “Le Voyage dans la Lune” will be conducted by Chloé Dufresne and directed by Olivier Fredj. The work will star Sheva Tehoval, Jennifer Michel, Aurélia Legay, Violette Polchi, Kaëlig Boché, Éric Vignau, Thibaut Desplantes, Poncet de Solages, and Matthieu Lécroart.
Performance Date: Nov. 4-8, 2022
Philip Glass’ “Einstein on the Beach” will be conducted by Tom de Cock and Georges-Elie Octors and narrated by Suzanne Vega.
Performance Date: Nov. 17, 2022
Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” is set to star Ed Lyon, Simona Šaturová, Anna Stéphany, Victoire Bunel, Chiara Skerath, and Luigi de Donato. Ben Glassberg conducts.
Performance Dates: Dec. 14 & 16, 2022
Britten’s “A Midsummer Night Dream” will star Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Soraya Mafi, Miltos Yerolemou, Michael Mofidian, Lucile Richardot, Eric Ferring, Samuel Dale Johnson, Kitty Whately, Nardus Williams, Joshua Bloom, Barnaby Rea, Antony Gregory, William Thomas, Robert Burt, and William Dazeley. Ben Glassberg conducts Robert Carsen’s production.
Performance Dates: Jan. 27-31, 2023
David Bates conducts Handel’s “Serse” in a production by Clarac & Deloeuil. The production will star Jake Arditti, Jakub Józef Orliński, Cecilia Molinari, Mari Eriksmoen, Sophie Junker, Luigi de Donato, and Biagio Pizzuti.
Performance Dates: March 10-14, 2023
Koen Kessels conducts Hans Op de Beeck’s production of Wim Henderickx’s “The Convert.” The production stars Lore Binon, Vincenzo Neri, Iryna Kyshliaruk, Françoise Atlan, Stephan Adriaens, Michael Wilmering, and Guido Jentjens.
Performance Dates: May 4 & 6, 2023
The season closes with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” led by Amitai Pati and Elbenita Kajtazi. Pierre Dumoussaud conducts the production by Jean-Fernand Setti. The cast is rounded out by Philippe Estèphe, Bruno de Sá and Jérôme Varnier.
Performance Dates: June 9-15, 2023
Concerts
Ben Glassberg and Sally Matthews joins forces for Mahler and Wagner.
Performance Dates: March 24 & 25, 2023
Sahy Ratia and Aliénor Feix perform music by Britten and Ligeti.
Performance Date: May 16, 2023
Special Guests
Leonardo García Alarcón conducts an early music concert with Julie Roset, Paulin Bündgen, Valerio Contaldo, Matteo Belloto, accentus, and the Cappella Mediterranea.
Performance Date: Oct. 11, 2022
Karine Deshayes performs in an evening of music by Mahler, Bruch, Bloch, Bartók, Kovács, John Williams, Kurt Weill, Ravel, Glick, Prokofiev, and Monti. She is joined by Deborah Nemtanu, Pierre Fouchenneret, and Ensemble Contraste.
Performance Date: Nov. 22, 2022
Francesco Corti, Bruno de Sá, and Il Pomo d’Oro bring the music of Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Antonio, Latilla, Cocchi, Conforto, di Capua, Arena, García Fajer, and Piccinni to Rouen audiences.
Performance Date: Dec. 1, 2022
Thomas Dunford conducts an all Bach program with Lea Desandre and Ensemble Jupiter.
Performance Date: Feb 2, 2023
Thomas Dunford leads an all Handel program with Lea Desandre and Ensemble Jupiter.
Performance Date: Feb 7, 2023
René Jacobs conducts Bach and Pergolesi with Kateryna Kaspar, Helena Rasker, and the B’Rock Orchestra.
Performance Date: March 21, 2023
Eduardo Egüez conducts Luis Rigou and Bárbara Kusa in music by Codex Martínez Compañón, Codex Zuola, Eduardo Egüez, Clarken Orosco, and Ariel Ramírez.
Performance Date: April 6, 2023
Julien Chauvin conducts works by Vivaldi with Ambroisine Bré, Eva Zaïcik, and Le Concert de la Loge.
Performance Date: May 23, 2023
By Francisco Salazar
The Clermont Auvergne Opéra has announced its 2022-23 season featuring opera, concerts, and recitals.
Opera
Gaspard Brécourt conducts Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” with Éric Pérez conducting. Julie Goussot, Ania Wozniak, Marielou Jacquard, Antoine Foulon, Jean Miannay, and Mikhael Piccone star.
Performance Dates: Oct. 13 & 14, 2022
Amaury du Closel conducts Pierre Thirion-Vallet production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Erminie Blondel, Matthieu Justine, and Leonardo Galeazzi star.
Performance Dates: Jan. 20 & 22, 2023
Haydn’s “L’Isola Disabitata” will be conducted by Philippe Cassard and will star Ania Wozniak, Inès Berlet, Marco Angioloni, and Florian Bisbrouck.
Performance Dates: Feb. 3, 2023
Martin Mázik conducts Puccini’s “Turandot” with Matteo Peirone and Gualtiero Ristori conducting. Chrystelle di Marco, Mélanie Moussay, David Baños, Eduardo Sandoval, Yeonjoo Park, Gabrielle Philiponet, Ivaylo Dzhurov, and Giorgi Kirov star.
Performance Dates: March 28 & 29, 2023
“Les Aventures du Baron de Münchhausen” will be conducted by Hervé Niquet and directed by Patrice Thibaud. Patrice Thibaud, Axelle Fanyo, Romain Dayez, and Jean-Gabriel Saint-Martin star.
Performance Dates: May 11 & 12, 2023
Recitals
Susan Manoff, Julia Muzychenko, Beatriz Baptista, and Alexey Birkus will perform music by Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini.
Performance Date: Nov. 10, 2022
Yara Kasti and Ivan Foucher star in Chapelle du Bon Pasteur.
Performance Date: Jan. 12, 2023
Sandrine Piau and Arnaud Thorette perform in recital with Johan Farjot.
Performance Date: Feb. 20, 2023
Erminie Blondel and Philippe Marty perform music by Puccini, Gounod, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky.
Performance Date: March 16, 2023
Concerts
Sébastien d’Hérin conducts “Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno” with Caroline Mutel, Karine Deshayes, and Raffaele Pe.
Performance Date: Dec. 4, 2022
Céline Scheen, Vincenzo Capezzuto, and Anna Dego perform Alla Napoletana.
Performance Date: April 29, 2023
Youth Opera
Blanche Stromboni conducts “The Magic Flute” with Marine Garcia-Garnier directing. Thomas Monnot, Corentin Backès, and Zoé Gosset star.
Performance Date: Nov. 18, 2022
By Afton Wooten
Santa Fe Opera unveiled its 47 Apprentice Singers for the 2022 season and will restart the popular visitor activities.
With over 800 applicants, the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Singer Program set a new record in selecting 47 participants. Current participants hale from the United States, Canada, China, Haiti, Japan, Korea, and Venezuela.
Sopranos include Caitlin Aloia, Avery Boettcher, Caroline Corrales, Vanessa Croome Nanaimo, Magdalena Kuźma, Amanda Olea, Murrella Parton, Teresa Perrotta, Ardeen Pierre, Emily Richter, and Emilie Kealani Suarez. Mezzo-sopranos are Amanda Lynn Bottoms, Ashlyn Brown, Maire Therese Carmack, Lucy Evans, Kathleen Felty, Gretchen Krupp, Sophia Maekawa, Gloria Palermo, and Sarah Saturnino. The two contra-altos are Lauren Decker and Megan Esther Grey.
Among the tenors chosen were Thomas Cilluffo, Dylan M. Davis, Jonah Hoskins, Anthony León, Philippe L’Esperance, Kameron Lopreore, Jordan Loyd, Daniel O’Hearn, Kevin Punnackal, Eric Taylor, Andrew Turner, and Tianchi Zhang. Baritones and Basses include Peter Barber, Ben Brady, Justin Burgess, Darren Lekeith Drone, Erik Grendahl, Jongwon Han, Allen Michael Jones, Kyle Miller, Nicholas Newton, Sejin Park, Joseph Parrish, Luke Sutliff, and Griffen Hogan Tracy.
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program has attributed to the careers of Joyce DiDonato, Micheal Fabiano, John Holiday, and many other successful performers, teachers, coaches, and arts administrators.
The Apprentices will perform in masterclasses, as well as ensemble and some main stage roles. The Apprentice Scenes performances will be held on August 14 and 21, each at 8 pm.
In an official press statement, Program Director Gayletha Nichols said, “A big, exciting season awaits! Due to its significant programming, we have more performance opportunities than ever before for young singers. Our focus remains on balancing these opportunities with individualized training, which has long been a core value of the program. I look forward to hearing how beautifully the class of 2022 takes to the vocal riches of Bizet, Wagner, Verdi, and more.”
The opera company also announced the return of its visitor activities such as Prelude Talks, Opera House Tours, Opera Ranch Tours, Family Night, and Opening Night Dinning. All guests must follow the company’s COVID-19 guidelines to participate.
By Logan Martell
On June 14, 2022, Death of Classical and The Green-Wood Cemetery will present “Mass for the Endangered.”
This new work by Sarah Kirkland Snider is commissioned by Trinity Wall Street as part of their “Mass Re-Imaginings” project. The traditional text of the Latin Mass will be used in tandem with original text by writer, artist, and musician Nathaniel Bellows to create a prayer for endangered animals and their habitats.
The work is written for SATB choir and twelve instruments, to be performed by English vocal ensemble Gallicantus under Gabriel Crouch, and instrumentalists from Decoda Ensemble. There will also be animated videos by CandyStations which will be projected onto the walls and ceilings of the catacombs.
The concert will kick off this portion of The Angel’s Share, the acclaimed opera and classical music series held at Green-Wood, curated by Andrew Ousley and Harry Weil. “Mass for the Endangered” will run for three nights, ending on June 16, and will have a discounted, dress rehearsal on June 13. Each concert will be opened with an hourlong whiskey and spirits tasting sponsored by Appalachian Gap Distillery, followed by a twilight walk through the cemetery to reach the performance venue.
By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: © Natalia Cornudella)
Spanish Serena Sáenz has joined Centre Artist Management.
The soprano took to social media to make the announcement noting, “I finally can say I joined CSAM for general management! Being part of their roster feels quite exciting. Cheers to the new beginnings!”
The soprano will join the prestigious company’s roster for general management.
Sáenz is a rising star in the opera having performed at the Staatsoper Berlin, Opera de Oviedo, Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier, and Gran Teatre del Liceu. In 2021, Serena Sáenz won first prize and the Audience Prize at the Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition and was honored with multiple prizes at both the Paris Opera Competition and the Francisco Viñas Competition Barcelona.
She closes out the 2021-22 season at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in a production of “The Magic Flute.” During the 2022-23 season, she is set to perform at the Liceu in “Don Pasquale.”
By Chris Ruel
New Opera West (NOW) has announced dates for its animation, film, and opera experience. The event, featuring three short films, a live performance, and conversations with the creators, will take place at Hudson Guild Theater in Los Angeles on June 17 and 19, 2022.
The films are “Pepito,” “Rain Will Come What May,” and “The Beginning of Everything: A Love Story.”
Composed by Nicolas Lell Benavides, to a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, “Pepito” is an animated short that follows a couple struggling to choose the right dog to adopt. The film features the voices of mezzo-soprano Alexandra Christoforakis as Angie; soprano Alexandra Nowakowski as Camilla; bass Samuel J. Weiser as Pepito, and tenor Joshua Blue as David.
“Rain Will Come What May,” composed by Jiyoun Chung, with text by José Faus, is a musical short dedicated to the City of Los Angeles. The film explores the perseverance and resilience of love using haiku and music and features the voice of soprano Janet Szepei with pianist Mark Lanz Weiser.
Composer Joshua Brown, librettist Brandy N. Caire, and animation director Ankita Panda will showcase their animated opera short, “The Beginning of Everything: A Love Story.” The film is a meditation on a new way of seeing things when “me” becomes “us.” The film will feature a live vocal performance.
While the event is free, RSVPs are required due to limited seating. Audiences will be required to show proof of vaccination and valid ID upon entry and wear masks appropriately for the performance duration.
By Francisco Salazar
The Opéra de Nice has announced its 2022-23 season featuring seven operatic productions and concert performances.
Opera
The season opens with Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” starring Adrian Sâmpetrean, Sara Blanch, and Edgardo Rocha. Giuliano Carella conducts the production by Rolando Villazón, which is set for the Metropolitan Opera.
Performance Date: Nov. 4-8, 2022
“Soirée comédie musicale” will feature Alexandra Cravero conducting and Camille Mesnard starring.
Performance Date: Nov. 13, 2022
“Fiancés en herbe” will be conducted by Joris Barcaroli.
Performance Date: Nov. 27, 2022
Léo Warynski conducts Offenbach’s “Orphée aux Enfers” in a production by Benoît Bénichou. Pierre-Antoine Chaumien, Perrine Madoeuf, Jéremy Duffaut, and Philippe Ermellier.
Performance Dates: Dec. 2-4, 2022
Birger Radde, Werner Van Mechelen, Gregory Kunde, Angélique Boudeville, Albert Dohmen, Jeanne Gérard, and Valentin Thill star in Beethoven’s “Fidelio” with Marko Letonja conducting and Cyril Teste directing.
Performance Dates: Jan. 20-26, 2023
Mario Cassi, Kathryn Lewek, Oreste Cosimo, and Philippe Kahn lead Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Andriy Yurkevych conducting. Stefano Vizioli directs.
Performance Dates: Feb. 17-23, 2023
Roberto De Candia leads Verdi’s “Falstaff” alongside Vladimir Stoyanov, Davide Giusti, Alexandra Marcellier, Agostina Smimmero, Rocío Pérez, and Marina Ogii. Daniele Callegari conducts the production by Daniel Benoin.
Performance Dates: March 31-April 6, 2023
Luciano Ganci, Cristina Pasaroiu, Serban Vasile, and Melody Louledjian lead Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Daniele Callegari conducting and Kristian Frédric directing.
Performance Dates: May 31-June 6, 2023
Britten’s “L’Arche de Noé” will be presented with Frédéric Deloche conducting and Éric Oberdorff directing.
Performance Dates: June 24 & 25, 2023
Concerts
Daniele Callegari conducts Rocío Pérez and Alejandro Roy in a night of Zarzuela.
Performance Date: Jan. 1, 2023
Gregory Kunde joins the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice for a concert entitled “carte blanche.”
Performance Date: Jan. 28, 2023
Jane Latron and Alain Duault join Julie Goussot for an evening of Johann Strauss.
Performance Date: March 19, 2023
By Logan Martell
MKI Artists has announced the addition of vocal ensemble Cantus into its roster of talent.
The low-voice ensemble, now in its 27th season, performs works ranging from the Renaissance to the current day. Working without a conductor, each artist contributes to the rehearsal and performance process.
Each year, Cantus performs over 60 concerts between its North American and international touring, as well as in their home in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Throughout the 2022-23 season the ensemble will present such programs as “Song of the Universal,” “Alone Together,” “Christmas With Cantus: Into the Light,” and “I Hear America Singing.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Cantus to help support and expand their touring career,” says MKI Artists Managing Director John Zion. “I’m inspired by their world-class music making, and equally so by their significant commitment to music education and social justice which align strongly with MKI’s values.”
By Francisco Salazar
Washington D.C.’s National Symphony Orchestra has extended its music director Gianandrea Noseda’s contract.
Noseda will continue with the orchestra for an additional two seasons, through the 2026-2027 season, his tenth at the helm of the NSO.
The conductor began his tenure in September 2017 when he conducted his inaugural gala concert as Music Director, featuring artists Yo-Yo Ma and Cynthia Erivo.
In a statement, Gary Ginstling, NSO Executive Director, said, “The National Symphony is overjoyed that Gianandrea has extended his tenure as Music Director through 2026-2027. Despite the pandemic interruption, Gianandrea and the NSO have made extraordinary artistic strides, and we look forward with tremendous anticipation and excitement to what the next five years will bring.”
Noseda added, “Coming to work every day at the Kennedy Center feels like a warm embrace. I adore this performing arts institution and the people who make it what it is. I adore the artists of this incredible orchestra, and I believe so powerfully in our work and our future together. Everything seems musically and artistically possible. There is an energy-a vivacity-that emanates from the musicians in this orchestra and our audiences throughout the community. This is an orchestra ready to take risks, they are eager to explore new repertoire together, and they bring and sustain such goodwill to both me and the audiences, night after night. The last five years with the NSO have been the most rewarding partnership I could have imagined. We faced challenges together during the pandemic era and persevered. I feel very fortunate to be leading this outstanding orchestra with a great management team for five years more.”
Noseda is also the Music Director of the Opernhaus Zürich and has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Regio di Torino, and Israel Philharmonic, among others.
