A report from the NOA conference in Salt Lake City

Op-Ed

Last week's National Opera Association conference in Salt Lake City was filled with informative sessions, vocal and scenes competitions, their biannual one act opera competition, and achievement awards for Harolyn Blackwell and Stephen Lord. 

Talking with singers: Jared Bybee

Interview

Bybee sings the Pilot, opposite 11-year-old Nitai Fluchel in the title role. We spoke with Bybee about working on this opera, and his unexpected path to a singing career.

Wolf in 2019: the latest from Roxanna Walitzki

Editorial

Shot in the salt flats of Utah by visual artist Redd Walitzki, Roxanna has created an original arrangement of Hugo Wolf's "Verborgenheit" ("Concealment").

Cantata Profana set to present "a total masterpiece" in Visions of Silence

Interview

"If you want to see our bucket list, there's about a hundred pages of endless Google docs of repertoire ideas that we've been marinating for years. Some pieces stay on the list because they are just waiting for the right venue, the right collaborators, the right concert."

The future of opera? Holograms & dream casts

Humour

Or! Don Carlo, with Plácido Domingo's hologram in the title role, and the real-life Plácido Domingo as Rodrigo? Add a little Jamie Barton as Eboli, and Nicolai Ghiaurov as Philip II? Delicious.

Holiday recap: forbiddens & traditions

Editorial

There's little wrong, though, with heading into a new year with good tunes in one's head, and an acute anticipation of good things to come.

Talking with singers: Eva-Maria Westbroek

Interview

"The audiences in Covent Garden are just unbelievable, so generous and warm! I am so grateful for this and absolutely love singing here."

2018 in review: a confession

Editorial

I guess that's my 2018 year-in-review: finding my way back to opera. It certainly helped to have, always bubbling in the background like happy reminders, the insatiable enthusiasm for opera of our writers and readers. So, thanks.

Counter/Culture

Review

There was literally something for everyone who enjoys culture. Though many elements tied together, in the end it had the same effect as a large, complex mosaic - no surprise since it was the result of a collaboration between many: Mr. Costanzo conceived the project in conjunction with the artistic directors of Visionaire and National Sawdust, which is known for its interdisciplinary productions.

"Pop-Up Opera"

Review

Menotti holds an unusual niche in musical history – he's one of the rare post-Puccini composers who continued in the romantic or verismo style while the opera world became mostly atonal and minimalist. He is also one of only a handful of composers – like Wagner – who wrote his own libretti.