Heartbeat Opera in New York has a reputation for modern reimagining’s of classic operas. They did it earlier this year with their production of Manon by Jules Massenet. Now they’ve done something they’ve never done before. They called back the cast to record a cast album of the show. It was a revelation for the cast, especially for the two leads, Emma Grimsley and Matt Dengler.
Here are links to some of the items mentioned in the show.
Even though operas from long ago are still being performed, there’s a movement afoot to freshen them up or to do new 21st century operas.
In the case of the 1958 opera Vanessa, a production by Heartbeat Opera is doing a stripped-down version of the Pulitzer Prize winning work. It’s directed by RB Schlather.
At The Met, they are about to premiere a true 21st century opera by first-time opera composer and Grammy winner, Gabriela Lena Frank with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz.
Then there’s the big dispute between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its patrons over the firing of Music Director Andris Nelsons.
Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
