The New York Times 2:15 pm on May 29, 2021
Tags: Black People ( 1,973 ), Cabell, Nicole, Gibbs, Christian Mark (1991- ), Highway 1, USA (Play), Himes, Ron, Liverman, Will ( 2 ), Opera, Opera Theater of St Louis, Slatkin, Leonard ( 2 ), Still, William Grant ( 3 )

A Black Composer’s Intense Opera Gets a Rare Staging

William Grant Still’s one-act “Highway 1, U.S.A.” runs in St. Louis through June 17.

#black-people, #cabell-nicole, #gibbs-christian-mark-1991, #highway-1-usa-play, #himes-ron, #liverman-will, #opera, #opera-theater-of-st-louis, #slatkin-leonard, #still-william-grant

The New York Times 9:00 am on May 27, 2021
Tags: Bryan, Courtney (Composer) ( 5 ), Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center ( 4 ), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ( 3 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra ( 9 ), Escher String Quartet, Glass, Philip ( 5 ), Kronos Quartet, Luisi, Fabio ( 2 ), Mazzoli, Missy, Nagano, Kent, Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 ), Salonen, Esa-Pekka ( 4 )

10 Classical Concerts to Stream in June

The Met Orchestra’s return, an opera from Paris and a Philip Glass circus work are among the highlights.

#bryan-courtney-composer, #chamber-music-society-of-lincoln-center, #chicago-symphony-orchestra, #classical-music, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #dallas-symphony, #detroit-symphony-orchestra, #escher-string-quartet, #glass-philip, #kronos-quartet, #luisi-fabio, #mazzoli-missy, #nagano-kent, #opera, #paris-opera, #salonen-esa-pekka

TechCrunch 5:00 pm on May 26, 2021
Tags: africa ( 275 ), China ( 1,488 ), Egypt ( 81 ), finance ( 811 ), financial technology ( 82 ), Funding ( 1,218 ), kenya ( 99 ), Lagos ( 26 ), Nigeria ( 111 ), North Africa ( 8 ), Opay ( 3 ), Opera, Oride, Payments ( 165 ), Sequoia Capital China ( 6 ), SoftBank Group ( 37 ), Startups ( 4,126 ), TC ( 8,401 ), worldremit ( 3 )

African fintech OPay is reportedly raising $400M at over $1.5B valuation

Chinese-backed and Africa-focused fintech platform OPay is in talks to raise up to $400 million, The Information reported today. The fundraising will be coming two years after OPay announced two funding rounds in 2019 — $50 million in June and $120 million Series B in November.

The $170 million raised so far comes from mainly Chinese investors who have begun to bet big on Africa over the past few years. Some of them include SoftBank, Sequoia Capital China, IDG Capital, SoftBank Ventures Asia, GSR Ventures, Source Code Capital.

In 2018, Opera, popularly known for its internet search engine and browser, launched the OPay mobile money platform in Lagos. It didn’t take long for the company to expand aggressively within the city using ORide, a now-defunct ride-hailing service, as an entry point to the array of services it wanted to offer. The company has tested several verticals — OBus, a bus-booking platform (also defunct); OExpress, a logistics delivery service; OTrade, a B2B e-commerce platform; OFood, a food delivery service, among others.

Opera’s Africa fintech startup OPay gains $120M from Chinese investors

While none of these services has significantly scaled, OPay’s fintech and mobile money arm (which is its main play) is thriving. This year, its parent company Opera reported that OPay’s monthly transactions grew 4.5x last year to over $2 billion in December. OPay also claims to process about 80% of bank transfers among mobile money operators in Nigeria and 20% of the country’s non-merchant point of sales transactions.Last year, the company also said it acquired an international money transfer license with a partnership with WorldRemit also in the works.

It’s quite surprising that none of OPay’s plans to expand to South Africa and Kenya (countries it expressed interest in during its Series B) has come to fruition despite its large raises. The company blamed the pandemic for these shortcomings. However, earlier this year, the country set up shop in North Africa by expanding to Egypt. This next raise, likely a Series C, will be instrumental in the company’s quest for expansion, both geographically and product offerings. Per The Information, OPay’s valuation will increase to about $1.5 billion, three times its valuation in 2019.

We reached out to OPay, but they declined to comment on the story.

#africa, #china, #egypt, #finance, #financial-technology, #funding, #kenya, #lagos, #nigeria, #north-africa, #opay, #opera, #oride, #payments, #sequoia-capital-china, #softbank-group, #startups, #tc, #worldremit

The New York Times 2:14 pm on May 25, 2021
Tags: Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Culture (Arts) ( 112 ), Dancing ( 230 ), Disease Rates ( 469 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Quarantines ( 1,267 ), Shutdowns (Institutional) ( 873 ), Taipei (Taiwan) ( 14 ), taiwan ( 136 ), Theater ( 520 )

Taiwan Was a Covid Haven for Performers. Then Cases Flared.

One of the few places where performances continued steadily for much of the pandemic has had to shut down theaters just as they are reopening elsewhere.

#coronavirus-2019-ncov, #culture-arts, #dancing, #disease-rates, #music, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #quarantines, #shutdowns-institutional, #taipei-taiwan, #taiwan, #theater

The New York Times 8:05 pm on May 17, 2021
Tags: Blanchard, Terence ( 4 ), Blue, Angel ( 4 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Knockdown Center (Maspeth, Queens) ( 2 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Nezet-Seguin, Yannick ( 2 ), Opera, Organized Labor ( 189 ), Shutdowns (Institutional) ( 873 )

Mixing Healing and Strife, the Met Opera Sings Again

The company’s continuing labor tensions hovered over two consoling concerts featuring its orchestra and chorus.

#blanchard-terence, #blue-angel, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #knockdown-center-maspeth-queens, #metropolitan-opera, #nezet-seguin-yannick, #opera, #organized-labor, #shutdowns-institutional

The New York Times 7:59 pm on May 13, 2021
Tags: American Federation of Musicians ( 7 ), American Guild of Musical Artists ( 5 ), Claffey, James J Jr, Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Coronavirus Reopenings ( 1,369 ), Gelb, Peter ( 12 ), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ( 6 ), Labor and Jobs ( 983 ), Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts ( 24 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), New York City ( 1,799 ), Opera, Organized Labor ( 189 ), Wages and Salaries ( 287 )

Met Opera Protest: Unions Rally Against Proposed Pay Cuts

The Metropolitan Opera hopes to reopen in September after its long pandemic closure, but simmering labor tensions have called that date into question.

#american-federation-of-musicians, #american-guild-of-musical-artists, #claffey-james-j-jr, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #coronavirus-reopenings, #gelb-peter, #international-alliance-of-theatrical-stage-employees, #labor-and-jobs, #lincoln-center-for-the-performing-arts, #metropolitan-opera, #new-york-city, #opera, #organized-labor, #wages-and-salaries

The New York Times 5:22 pm on May 12, 2021
Tags: American Federation of Musicians ( 7 ), Blue, Angel ( 4 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus Reopenings ( 1,369 ), Gelb, Peter ( 12 ), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ( 6 ), Knockdown Center (Maspeth, Queens) ( 2 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera, Owens, Eric (1970- ), Queens (NYC) ( 89 )

Met Opera Announces Its First Live Concerts Since Shutdown

Despite ongoing labor tensions, members of the company’s orchestra and chorus will perform with soloists and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

#american-federation-of-musicians, #blue-angel, #classical-music, #coronavirus-reopenings, #gelb-peter, #international-alliance-of-theatrical-stage-employees, #knockdown-center-maspeth-queens, #metropolitan-opera, #music, #opera, #owens-eric-1970, #queens-nyc

The New York Times 1:01 pm on May 7, 2021
Tags: Akhnaten (Opera), Audio Recordings, Downloads and Streaming ( 42 ), Einstein on the Beach (Opera), Glass, Philip ( 5 ), McDermott, Phelim ( 2 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Opera, Orange Mountain Music ( 2 ), Satyagraha (Opera) ( 3 ), Video Recordings, Downloads and Streaming ( 358 )

A Jaw-Dropping Philip Glass Opera Is Finally on Video

“Satyagraha,” one of the Metropolitan Opera’s greatest stagings of the 21st century, has been released on DVD and CD.

#akhnaten-opera, #audio-recordings-downloads-and-streaming, #einstein-on-the-beach-opera, #glass-philip, #mcdermott-phelim, #metropolitan-opera, #opera, #orange-mountain-music, #satyagraha-opera, #video-recordings-downloads-and-streaming

The New York Times 9:00 am on May 5, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Choral Music

Listen to the gorgeous sound of a mass of voices: ancient, contemporary, gospel, opera, sacred, romantic.

#classical-music, #music, #opera

The New York Times 2:56 pm on April 30, 2021
Tags: Cox, Roderick ( 2 ), Drive-in Theaters ( 9 ), Opera, Ozawa, Matthew, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), San Francisco (Calif) ( 103 ), San Francisco Opera, Shilvock, Matthew, The Barber of Seville (Opera), War Memorial Opera House

Rossini at the Drive-In, as San Francisco Opera Returns

Honks instead of applause: An open-air “Barber of Seville” brought the company back after 16 months.

#cox-roderick, #drive-in-theaters, #opera, #ozawa-matthew, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #san-francisco-calif, #san-francisco-opera, #shilvock-matthew, #the-barber-of-seville-opera, #war-memorial-opera-house

The New York Times 9:39 pm on April 29, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Cooperstown (NY) ( 5 ), Deaths (Obituaries) ( 965 ), Glimmerglass Festival ( 6 ), Kellogg, Paul, New York City Opera ( 3 ), Opera, Theater ( 520 )

Paul Kellogg, New York City Opera Impresario, Dies at 84

He had no opera experience when he was chosen to run the Glimmerglass Opera in upstate New York; 17 years later, he took on City Opera during a difficult period.

#classical-music, #cooperstown-ny, #deaths-obituaries, #glimmerglass-festival, #kellogg-paul, #new-york-city-opera, #opera, #theater

The New York Times 3:55 pm on April 27, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Deaths (Obituaries) ( 965 ), Lambrinos, Theodore, Opera

Theodore Lambrinos, Baritone With a Zest for the Road, Dies at 85

Mr. Lambrinos sang performances at the Metropolitan Opera and was a stalwart of New York Grand Opera. He died of Covid-related pneumonia.

#classical-music, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #deaths-obituaries, #lambrinos-theodore, #opera

The New York Times 9:00 am on April 23, 2021
Tags: Kirschenbaum, Lois (1932-2021) ( 2 ), Memorabilia and Souvenirs ( 13 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), New York Public Library for the Performing Arts ( 2 ), Opera, Wills and Estates ( 47 )

Opera’s Biggest Fan Leaves Behind a Sprawling Time Capsule

Pavarotti, Domingo, Sills, Fleming and many more: Perhaps 200,000 autographs are piled in a vacant East Village apartment.

#kirschenbaum-lois-1932-2021, #memorabilia-and-souvenirs, #metropolitan-opera, #new-york-public-library-for-the-performing-arts, #opera, #wills-and-estates

The New York Times 7:34 pm on April 18, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Dudamel, Gustavo ( 3 ), Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 )

Gustavo Dudamel Hasn’t Conducted Much Opera. That’s OK.

This classical superstar, just named as the Paris Opera’s next music director, isn’t the first maestro to jump to the theater.

#classical-music, #dudamel-gustavo, #opera, #paris-opera

The New York Times 9:32 am on April 16, 2021
Tags: Appointments and Executive Changes ( 624 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Dudamel, Gustavo ( 3 ), Hiring and Promotion ( 104 ), Jordan, Philippe, Los Angeles Philharmonic ( 10 ), Neef, Alexander ( 2 ), Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 )

Gustavo Dudamel, Superstar Conductor, Is to Lead Paris Opera

In a coup, the venerable company has hired as its next music director the rare classical artist to have crossed into pop-culture celebrity.

#appointments-and-executive-changes, #classical-music, #dudamel-gustavo, #hiring-and-promotion, #jordan-philippe, #los-angeles-philharmonic, #neef-alexander, #opera, #paris-opera

TechCrunch 2:08 pm on April 15, 2021
Tags: Accel ( 69 ), banks ( 3 ), Brazil ( 243 ), ceo ( 452 ), CFO ( 22 ), Companies ( 167 ), e-commerce ( 472 ), finance ( 811 ), FJ Labs ( 18 ), Goldman Sachs ( 47 ), Kevin Efrusy ( 4 ), latin america ( 147 ), Olist, online shopping ( 76 ), Opera, redpoint ventures ( 8 ), sao paulo ( 23 ), series D ( 3 ), Softbank ( 105 ), TC ( 8,401 ), valor capital ( 3 )

Goldman Sachs leads $23M in funding for Brazilian e-commerce startup Olist

Olist, a Brazilian e-commerce marketplace integrator, has raised $23 million in a Series D round extension led by new investor Goldman Sachs Asset Management that brings its total Series D financing to $80 million.

Existing backer Redpoint Ventures, which first put money in Olist in 2015, also participated in the latest round. With this latest infusion, Olist has now raised over $126 million since its 2015 inception. This round is reportedly its last before the company plans to go public, according to Bloomberg.

SoftBank led the first tranch of Olist’s Series D in November as well as the company’s $46 million Series C in 2019. Valor Capital, Velt Partners, FJ Labs, Península and angel Kevin Efrusy had previously invested in the first tranche of the Series D.

Olist connects small businesses to larger product marketplaces to help entrepreneurs sell their products to a larger customer base. The company was founded with the mission of helping small merchants gain market share across the country through a SaaS licensing model to small brick and mortar businesses.

As of October 2019, Olist had more than 7,000 customers and used a drop-shipping model to send products directly from stores to clients around the country, allowing them to grow with a capital-light model.

Today, Olist says its platform provides tools that support “all the stages of an e-commerce operation” with the goal of helping merchants see “rapid increases in sales volume.” It currently has about 25,000 merchants on its platform.

The startup is no doubt benefiting from the pandemic-fueled e-commerce boom taking place all over the world as more people have turned to online shopping. Latin America, in general, has been home to increased e-commerce adoption. The region’s $85 billion e-commerce market is growing rapidly with projections of it reaching $116.2 billion in 2023.

As evidence of that, Olist says its revenue tripled to a record number in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the previous year, although it did not provide hard figures. It also reportedly doubled revenue in 2020, according to Bloomberg.

Olist Store, the company’s flagship product, gives merchants a way to manage product listings, logistics and store payments. It also offers “a unique sales experience” through channels such as Mercado Livre, B2W and Via Varejo. The product saw a record GMV in the first half of the year, which was up 2.5 times over the same period in the prior year, the company said.

Latin America’s digital transformation is making up for lost time

Last year, Olist launched a new product, Olist Shops, giving users the ability to create a virtual showcase “in less than 3 minutes” that also offers payment checkout tools and integration with logistics operators. Shops has interfaces in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and since its launch, it has attracted more than 200,000 users in 180 countries, according to Olist.

“The pandemic has accelerated digitalizing business processes around the world, thus spurring e-commerce growth in a surprising way,” said Tiago Dalvi, Olist’s founder and CEO, in a written statement.

The company plans to use its new capital to invest in technology and products, pursuing new mergers and acquisitions and boosting its internationalization process. This is on top of two acquisitions Olist made last year — Clickspace and Pax Logistica, which gave Olist entry into the heated logistics space with more than 4,000 registered drivers.

Specifically, CFO Eduardo Ferraz said the company is in preliminary discussions with ERPs, retailers, and companies with complementary solutions to its own.

“That is why we also decided to expand the investment in our Series D and bring Goldman Sachs as another relevant investor to our cap table,” he said.

David Castelblanco, managing director and head of Latin America Corporate and Growth Equity Investing for the Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said his firm was impressed with how Olist empowers SMBs to generate more revenue.

“Tiago and the Olist team are incredibly customer oriented and have created an innovative technological solution for their e-commerce clients,” he added.

Olist is operating in an increasingly crowded space. In March, we covered São Paulo-based Nuvemshop’s $90 million raise that was led by Silicon Valley venture firm Accel. That company has developed an e-commerce platform that aims to allow SMBs and merchants to connect more directly with their consumers.

#accel, #banks, #brazil, #ceo, #cfo, #companies, #e-commerce, #finance, #fj-labs, #goldman-sachs, #kevin-efrusy, #latin-america, #olist, #online-shopping, #opera, #redpoint-ventures, #sao-paulo, #series-d, #softbank, #tc, #valor-capital

The New York Times 1:48 pm on April 11, 2021
Tags: Boston (Mass) ( 44 ), Boston Modern Orchestra Project ( 3 ), Boston University ( 12 ), Brandeis University, Classical Music ( 242 ), Colleges and Universities ( 572 ), Harvard University ( 67 ), Jazz ( 112 ), Kirchner, Leon, New England Conservatory, Opera, Schuller, Gunther, Shapero, Harold (1920-2013), The Fisherman and His Wife (Opera)

When Boston Ruled the Music World

Three recent recordings conjure the mid-20th-century moment when the city was a center of innovative composition.

#boston-mass, #boston-modern-orchestra-project, #boston-university, #brandeis-university, #classical-music, #colleges-and-universities, #harvard-university, #jazz, #kirchner-leon, #new-england-conservatory, #opera, #schuller-gunther, #shapero-harold-1920-2013, #the-fisherman-and-his-wife-opera

The New York Times 9:02 pm on April 7, 2021
Tags: Deaths (Obituaries) ( 965 ), Kirschenbaum, Lois (1932-2021) ( 2 ), Memorabilia and Souvenirs ( 13 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), New York City Opera ( 3 ), Opera

Lois Kirschenbaum, the Ultimate Opera Superfan, Dies at 88

In New York opera circles, an autograph request from her, the mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade said, was considered “a special type of approval.”

#deaths-obituaries, #kirschenbaum-lois-1932-2021, #memorabilia-and-souvenirs, #metropolitan-opera, #new-york-city-opera, #opera

The New York Times 4:27 pm on March 30, 2021
Tags: Basso, Jose Luis, Chatenet, Nicolas, Classical Music ( 242 ), Colasante, Valentine, Dancing ( 230 ), Opera, Paris (France) ( 133 ), Paris Opera ( 9 ), Paris Opera Ballet ( 7 ), Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 )

Members of the Paris Opera Take Their Talents to a Different Stage

The singers, dancers and musicians played on, serenading their phones, pirouetting in masks and performing, faceless, on the radio.

#basso-jose-luis, #chatenet-nicolas, #classical-music, #colasante-valentine, #dancing, #opera, #paris-france, #paris-opera, #paris-opera-ballet, #quarantine-life-and-culture

The New York Times 9:00 am on March 30, 2021
Tags: de Beer, Lotte ( 2 ), Kaufmann, Jonas ( 4 ), Opera, Opera Bastille, Palais Garnier ( 2 ), Paris (France) ( 133 ), Paris Opera ( 9 ), Paris Opera Ballet ( 7 ), Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Radvanovsky, Sondra

The Paris Opera, Awaiting Normalcy, Forges Ahead

There’s no applause for these performers, but they’re working to be ready for live audiences when they return.

#de-beer-lotte, #kaufmann-jonas, #opera, #opera-bastille, #palais-garnier, #paris-france, #paris-opera, #paris-opera-ballet, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #radvanovsky-sondra

The New York Times 3:58 pm on March 29, 2021
Tags: Opera, Opera Philadelphia ( 6 ), Placek, Matthew, The Island We Made (Opera), Transvestism ( 4 ), Velour, Sasha, Williams, Sarah (1982- )

Drag Star Sasha Velour Lip-Syncs for Her Operatic Life

“The Island We Made,” Velour’s collaboration with the composer Angélica Negrón and the director Matthew Placek, is a meditation on motherhood.

#opera, #opera-philadelphia, #placek-matthew, #the-island-we-made-opera, #transvestism, #velour-sasha, #williams-sarah-1982

The New York Times 9:00 am on March 25, 2021
Tags: Berlin Philharmonic ( 6 ), Brecht, Bertolt ( 2 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Content Type: Personal Profile ( 979 ), Dutch National Opera, La Scala Opera House (Milan, Italy) ( 5 ), Opera, Theater ( 520 ), Weill, Kurt ( 3 )

Kurt Weill’s Path From Europe to Broadway Was a Straight Line

Weill’s early, Weimar-era works reveal the qualities that found a natural home in his golden age American musicals.

#berlin-philharmonic, #brecht-bertolt, #classical-music, #content-type-personal-profile, #dutch-national-opera, #la-scala-opera-house-milan-italy, #opera, #theater, #weill-kurt

The New York Times 2:18 pm on March 23, 2021
Tags: Appointments and Executive Changes ( 624 ), Blue (Opera) ( 2 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus Reopenings ( 1,369 ), Davis, Anthony (1951- ) ( 3 ), Goerke, Christine ( 3 ), Michigan Opera Theater ( 4 ), Opera, Sharon, Yuval (1979- ) ( 4 ), Tines, Davone ( 3 ), X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Opera)

A Malcolm X Opera Will Get a Rare Revival in Detroit

Michigan Opera Theater announced the return of indoor performances and named an associate artistic director: the star soprano Christine Goerke.

#appointments-and-executive-changes, #blue-opera, #classical-music, #coronavirus-reopenings, #davis-anthony-1951, #goerke-christine, #michigan-opera-theater, #opera, #sharon-yuval-1979, #tines-davone, #x-the-life-and-times-of-malcolm-x-opera

The New York Times 12:46 am on March 18, 2021
Tags: Levine, James ( 3 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra ( 6 ), Opera

Taking Stock of James Levine’s Tarnished Legacy

His career ended with allegations of sexual abuse and harassment. But the Metropolitan Opera’s longtime conductor, who has died at 77, changed that company in ways that will outlive him.

#levine-james, #metropolitan-opera, #metropolitan-opera-orchestra, #opera

The New York Times 2:43 pm on March 16, 2021
Tags: Boston Symphony Orchestra ( 6 ), Brooklyn Academy of Music ( 11 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Delacorte Theater ( 2 ), Glimmerglass Festival ( 6 ), Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts ( 24 ), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Santa Fe Opera, Shakespeare in the Park ( 9 ), Shutdowns (Institutional) ( 873 ), St Louis Shakespeare Festival ( 3 ), Summer (Season) ( 160 ), Tanglewood Music Festival (Lenox, Mass) ( 4 ), Theater ( 520 )

The Arts Are Coming Back This Summer. Just Step Outside.

The return of Shakespeare to Central Park is among the most visible signs that theaters, orchestras and opera companies aim to return to the stage — outdoors.

#boston-symphony-orchestra, #brooklyn-academy-of-music, #classical-music, #delacorte-theater, #glimmerglass-festival, #lincoln-center-for-the-performing-arts, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #santa-fe-opera, #shakespeare-in-the-park, #shutdowns-institutional, #st-louis-shakespeare-festival, #summer-season, #tanglewood-music-festival-lenox-mass, #theater

The New York Times 6:47 pm on March 10, 2021
Tags: Aida (Opera) ( 3 ), de Beer, Lotte ( 2 ), Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 )

A New ‘Aida’ Lands in the Middle of France’s Culture Wars

The production, which examines the work’s colonial legacy, opened after the far right accused the Paris Opera of “antiracism gone mad.”

#aida-opera, #de-beer-lotte, #opera, #paris-opera

The New York Times 10:00 am on March 3, 2021
Tags: Bocelli, Andrea ( 2 ), Bostridge, Ian, Botha, Johan, Bridges, J'Nai ( 5 ), Brownlee, Lawrence ( 3 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Goerke, Christine ( 3 ), Groban, Josh, Kaufmann, Jonas ( 4 ), Little, David T ( 3 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera, Padmore, Mark, Pavarotti, Luciano ( 2 ), Wainwright, Rufus ( 2 ), Young, Simone

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Tenors

Rufus Wainwright, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and others choose opera’s most passionate, golden voices.

#bocelli-andrea, #bostridge-ian, #botha-johan, #bridges-jnai, #brownlee-lawrence, #classical-music, #goerke-christine, #groban-josh, #kaufmann-jonas, #little-david-t, #music, #opera, #padmore-mark, #pavarotti-luciano, #wainwright-rufus, #young-simone

The New York Times 5:21 pm on February 27, 2021
Tags: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Opera), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Deaths (Obituaries) ( 965 ), Hodge, Antoine (1982-2021), La Boheme (Opera) ( 3 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Opera, Porgy and Bess (Opera)

Antoine Hodge, Opera Singer With a Powerful Work Ethic, Dies at 38

Mr. Hodge, a bass-baritone, was recently a chorus member in “Porgy and Bess” at the Metropolitan Opera. He died of Covid-19.

#amahl-and-the-night-visitors-opera, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #deaths-obituaries, #hodge-antoine-1982-2021, #la-boheme-opera, #metropolitan-opera, #opera, #porgy-and-bess-opera

The New York Times 3:26 pm on February 16, 2021
Tags: Chronic Condition (Health) ( 34 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), English National Opera ( 2 ), National Health Service ( 51 ), Opera, Voice and Speech ( 20 )

Opera Singers Help Covid-19 Patients Learn to Breathe Again

A six-week program developed by the English National Opera and a London hospital offers customized vocal lessons to aid coronavirus recovery.

#chronic-condition-health, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #english-national-opera, #national-health-service, #opera, #voice-and-speech

The New York Times 8:25 pm on February 7, 2021
Tags: Layoffs and Job Reductions ( 411 ), Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Opera), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra ( 6 ), Netrebko, Anna ( 2 ), Nights of Delirium (Opera), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Shutdowns (Institutional) ( 873 ), Spanish Riding School, Turandot (Opera)

Its Musicians Are Out of Work, but the Met Is Streaming

Anna Netrebko sang a recital live from Vienna as the opera company and its unions remain in a standoff.

#layoffs-and-job-reductions, #les-contes-dhoffmann-opera, #metropolitan-opera, #metropolitan-opera-orchestra, #netrebko-anna, #nights-of-delirium-opera, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #shutdowns-institutional, #spanish-riding-school, #turandot-opera

The New York Times 1:53 pm on February 3, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Hamill, Mark ( 3 ), Music ( 513 ), Musical Instruments ( 24 ), New York Times ( 224 ), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 )

Times’s Five Minutes Series on Classical Music a Hit

Drawing on the passion of experts, a Culture desk series has doubled its audience for the genre.

#classical-music, #hamill-mark, #music, #musical-instruments, #new-york-times, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture

The New York Times 8:04 pm on February 1, 2021
Tags: Apartheid (Policy) ( 16 ), Deaths (Obituaries) ( 965 ), Jazz ( 112 ), Khumalo, Sibongile (1957-2021), Opera, Pop and Rock Music ( 363 ), South Africa ( 102 )

Sibongile Khumalo, South Africa’s ‘First Lady of Song,’ Dies at 63

Proficient across a range of genres, she had the hall-filling power of an operatic mezzo-soprano and the directness of a pop singer.

#apartheid-policy, #deaths-obituaries, #jazz, #khumalo-sibongile-1957-2021, #opera, #pop-and-rock-music, #south-africa

The New York Times 5:19 pm on January 26, 2021
Tags: 2020tbookclub ( 9 ), Books and Literature ( 1,524 ), Culture (Arts) ( 112 ), Dresses ( 25 ), Fashion and Apparel ( 426 ), Jewels and Jewelry ( 32 ), Opera, The Custom of the Country (Book) ( 2 ), Wharton, Edith ( 3 ), Women and Girls ( 1,040 )

Undine Spragg’s Life in Objects

Beauty, charm and luck all factor into the social ascent of Edith Wharton’s ambitious protagonist — but money, crucially, matters the most.

#2020tbookclub, #books-and-literature, #culture-arts, #dresses, #fashion-and-apparel, #jewels-and-jewelry, #opera, #the-custom-of-the-country-book, #wharton-edith, #women-and-girls

The New York Times 3:04 pm on January 22, 2021
Tags: Devan, David, Little, David T ( 3 ), McCullough, Johnathan (1992- ), Opera, Opera Philadelphia ( 6 ), Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Soldier Songs (Opera), Video Recordings, Downloads and Streaming ( 358 )

Prompted by the Pandemic, Opera Philadelphia Innovates Online

With its own streaming service and a string of premieres, this company is setting the pace for virtual performances.

#devan-david, #little-david-t, #mccullough-johnathan-1992, #opera, #opera-philadelphia, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #soldier-songs-opera, #video-recordings-downloads-and-streaming

The New York Times 10:03 pm on January 21, 2021
Tags: American Anthem (Song), Biden, Joseph R Jr ( 3,292 ), Burns, Ken ( 7 ), Graves, Denyce, Inaugurations ( 96 ), Jones, Norah ( 4 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera, Scheer, Gene, Speeches and Statements ( 65 ), United States Politics and Government ( 5,885 )

He Called His Song ‘American Anthem.’ It Actually Became One.

When President Biden quoted Gene Scheer’s song in his inaugural address, it solidified its transformation from art song to Norah Jones tune on a Ken Burns soundtrack to patriotic hymn.

#american-anthem-song, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #burns-ken, #graves-denyce, #inaugurations, #jones-norah, #music, #opera, #scheer-gene, #speeches-and-statements, #united-states-politics-and-government

The New York Times 5:23 pm on January 19, 2021
Tags: Opera, Opera Comique, Paris (France) ( 133 ), puppets ( 9 ), Theater ( 520 ), Twist, Basil ( 2 )

Basil Twist in Paris: When Puppets Meet Baroque Opera

Before his directorial debut in France, with Mondonville’s “Titon et l’Aurore” at the Opéra Comique, the virtuoso puppeteer discussed the challenges of working in a pandemic.

#opera, #opera-comique, #paris-france, #puppets, #theater, #twist-basil

The New York Times 10:00 am on January 13, 2021
Tags: Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), LaBrie, Steven, Opera, Ott, Jarrett, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 )

Two Friends, Two Continents, Very Different Pandemics

Steven LaBrie is a freelance baritone in New York. Jarrett Ott has a full-time job singing in Germany. As the coronavirus spread, that made all the difference.

#classical-music, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #labrie-steven, #opera, #ott-jarrett, #quarantine-life-and-culture

The New York Times 8:02 pm on January 11, 2021
Tags: Beth Morrison Projects ( 2 ), HERE Arts Center ( 5 ), Music ( 513 ), Opera, Prototype Festival ( 3 ), Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Theater ( 520 )

Forced Online, an Opera Festival Searches for Intimacy

Prototype, known for presenting visceral, chamber-scale new works, unveils an almost entirely streamed pandemic edition.

#beth-morrison-projects, #here-arts-center, #music, #opera, #prototype-festival, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #theater

The New York Times 4:31 pm on December 11, 2020
Tags: Christmas ( 89 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Terfel, Bryn

Bryn Terfel Returns to the Metropolitan Opera. (Sort Of.)

A holiday recital, streamed live from Wales, will be this star singer’s first headlining performance for the Met since 2012.

#christmas, #classical-music, #metropolitan-opera, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #terfel-bryn

The New York Times 5:27 pm on December 4, 2020
Tags: Appointments and Executive Changes ( 624 ), Content Type: Personal Profile ( 979 ), Italy ( 297 ), Lissner, Stephane, Naples (Italy) ( 5 ), Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 ), Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Teatro di San Carlo (Naples, Italy)

Stéphane Lissner on Guiding Italy’s Oldest Opera House Through a Pandemic and Beyond

After warring with powerful unions in Paris, Stéphane Lissner has moved to Naples to run the Teatro di San Carlo.

#appointments-and-executive-changes, #content-type-personal-profile, #italy, #lissner-stephane, #naples-italy, #opera, #paris-opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #teatro-di-san-carlo-naples-italy

The New York Times 3:38 pm on December 3, 2020
Tags: Berlin Philharmonic ( 6 ), Blythe, Stephanie, Bond, Justin Vivian ( 2 ), Bridges, J'Nai ( 5 ), Brooklyn Rider, Bullock, Julia ( 7 ), Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center ( 4 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Danish String Quartet, Fleming, Renee ( 6 ), Kaufmann, Jonas ( 4 ), Koh, Jennifer ( 5 ), Levit, Igor ( 6 ), Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Morley, Erin ( 2 ), Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), Sharon, Yuval (1979- ) ( 4 ), Trifonov, Daniil ( 4 ), Two Thousand Twenty ( 53 ), Video Recordings, Downloads and Streaming ( 358 )

Best Classical Music of 2020

A host of livestreamed concerts, the sounds of silence, time-hopping quartets and at-home divas were among the highlights.

#berlin-philharmonic, #blythe-stephanie, #bond-justin-vivian, #bridges-jnai, #brooklyn-rider, #bullock-julia, #chamber-music-society-of-lincoln-center, #classical-music, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #danish-string-quartet, #fleming-renee, #kaufmann-jonas, #koh-jennifer, #levit-igor, #metropolitan-opera, #morley-erin, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #sharon-yuval-1979, #trifonov-daniil, #two-thousand-twenty, #video-recordings-downloads-and-streaming

The New York Times 6:54 pm on November 25, 2020
Tags: A World Turned Upside Down (Musical Work), Argento, Dominick, Einhorn, Eric (Theater Director), From the Diary of Virginia Woolf (Musical Work), Hall, Juliana (1958- ), Janacek, Leos, On Site Opera, Opera, Quarantine (Life and Culture) ( 2,265 ), The Beauty That Still Remains: Diaries in Song (Opera), The Diary of One Who Disappeared (Musical Work)

How an Opera Can Fit in a Mailbox

In a year when everything seems deliverable, On Site Opera is presenting “The Beauty That Still Remains,” its first production by mail.

#a-world-turned-upside-down-musical-work, #argento-dominick, #einhorn-eric-theater-director, #from-the-diary-of-virginia-woolf-musical-work, #hall-juliana-1958, #janacek-leos, #on-site-opera, #opera, #quarantine-life-and-culture, #the-beauty-that-still-remains-diaries-in-song-opera, #the-diary-of-one-who-disappeared-musical-work

The New York Times 11:07 pm on November 23, 2020
Tags: Black Lives Matter Movement ( 935 ), Classical Music ( 242 ), Content Type: Personal Profile ( 979 ), Numinous (Music Group) ( 2 ), Opera, Phillips, Joseph C Jr ( 2 ), The Grey Land (Album)

In the Wake of Ferguson, a Style-Blurring Album

Protests over police brutality inspired the composer Joseph C. Phillips Jr. to write “The Grey Land,” a mono-opera.

#black-lives-matter-movement, #classical-music, #content-type-personal-profile, #numinous-music-group, #opera, #phillips-joseph-c-jr, #the-grey-land-album

The New York Times 10:00 am on November 18, 2020
Tags: Appointments and Executive Changes ( 624 ), Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) ( 10,790 ), Dupont, Aurelie (1973- ) ( 2 ), Neef, Alexander ( 2 ), Opera, Paris Opera ( 9 )

Running the Paris Opera Was Never Going to Be Easy. But Come On.

Alexander Neef has taken on one of the most prestigious jobs in culture amid a pandemic, labor strikes and internal unrest.

#appointments-and-executive-changes, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #dupont-aurelie-1973, #neef-alexander, #opera, #paris-opera

The New York Times 1:03 pm on November 15, 2020
Tags: Art ( 827 ), Auctions ( 71 ), Bonhams 1793 Ltd, Chagall, Marc, Metropolitan Opera ( 43 ), Opera, The Magic Flute (Opera)

A Chagall Curtain Needs a New Home With a Tall Ceiling

A 65-foot-tall stage curtain that the artist created for the Metropolitan Opera in the 1960s will go up for auction Tuesday at Bonhams.

#art, #auctions, #bonhams-1793-ltd, #chagall-marc, #metropolitan-opera, #opera, #the-magic-flute-opera

The New York Times 10:00 am on November 11, 2020
Tags: Bullock, Julia ( 7 ), Caballe, Montserrat, Callas, Maria, Classical Music ( 242 ), Fleming, Renee ( 6 ), Music ( 513 ), Norman, Jessye, Opera, Price, Leontyne, Voigt, Deborah