No Rubriks | Opera World

By David Salazar
The Hawai’i Opera Theatre has announced its 2022-23 season, which will include three operas.

First up will be Nolan Gasser and Carey Harrison’s “The Secret Garden.” Karen Tiller directs the opera which will star Laura Corina Sanders and Taka Komagata. Elizabeth Askren conducts.

Performance Dates: Oct. 14 & 16, 2022

Next up will be Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.” The opera will be presented in an English-language translation and will star Andrew Stetson, Efrain Solis, and Maria Todaro. Benjamin Makino conducts.

Performance Dates: Feb. 17 & 19, 2023

Ending the season will be Puccini’s lone comedy “Gianni Schicchi.” Blythe Kelsey, Leslie Goldman, Joshua Jeremiah, Toni Marie Palmertree, and Brian Vu will star in the one-act opera.

Performance Dates: April 28 & 30, 2023

By Francisco Salazar
Opera Colorado is set to present its annual gala, benefiting expanding artistic initiatives and Education and Community Engagement Programs.

The event, chaired by Robin and Eric Yaeger, will take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Friday, May 20.

In a statement Greg Carpenter, The Ellie Caulkins General & Artistic Director said, “It is so exciting to present Opera Colorado’s annual gala after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of this celebratory event for two years. There is so much to celebrate as we end our 39th season and approach an exciting 40th anniversary. We are deeply grateful to Robin and Eric Yaeger for their leadership and look forward to welcoming our community of supporters,”

The black-tie evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the main lobby with cocktails, casino-style gaming, a silent auction, and live music from Moments Notice. At 7:30 p.m., guests will then proceed to the Studio Loft for a multi-course dinner.

There will also be performances from Opera Colorado’s 2021-22 Artists in Residence, a live auction, and paddle raise. The festivities end with dessert, continued gaming, and post-dinner dancing to Moments Notice in the Chambers Grant Salon.

By Francisco Salazar
Following the announcement of the Bayerische Staatsoper, General Director Serge Dorny addressed the question of Anna Netrebko in future engagements.

The General Director said to BR Klassik, “I’ll wait and see. Also to be able to assess the contradictory statements made by these posts. So far, Anna Netrebko is not in our schedule. Let’s see how things develop. But I have certain reservations and I want to be clear about it and see how the action really is.”

Dorny’s comments follow his March 1 statement in which he canceled her contracts stating, “Due to Russia’s terrible war of aggression on Ukraine and a lack of sufficient distancing of Valery Gergiev and Anna Netrebko, the Bayerische Staatsoper will cancel the existing engagements. For the Bayerische Staatsoper, respect for each other and dialogue with each other are absolutely essential for peaceful and humanitarian coexistence.”

Netrebko has since distanced herself from Putin, condemned the war, and appeared under the Ukrainian at the Monte Carlo Opera. She also got many of her contracts in Russia canceled and has been called an enemy of the state by Russian politicians.

Dorny’s comments also come as many artists at the Bayerische Staatsoper continue to perform at the Mariinsky Theatre under Putin supporter Valery Gergiev. Last month Ekaterina Semenchuk sang at the Mariinsky Theatre in numerous productions and this week the mezzo was just awarded the Casta Diva Award. The Mariinsky Theatre is a State-run theater, which Putin has been supporting for many years.

OperaWire reached out to the Bayerische Staatsoper regarding performers on its roster continuing to sing in Russia and has yet to receive no response.