Week of Events
SLSO Strings Tackle Avant-Garde Works
For the past 20 years, members of the St. Louis Symphony have participated in a series called Live at the Pulitzer. This year’s eclectic line-up of ensembles begins on Nov. 14 with string players of the SLSO playing daring and experimental works by Sky Macklay, Molly Joyce, Michael Gordon, Leilehua Lanzilotti, and Andy Akiho. Akiho’s […]
Pasolini Film Inspires New Opera
Relaunching the world premiere production from June 2023, Deutsche Oper Berlin presents Giorgio Battistelli’s Il teorema di Pasolini Nov. 16-28. Directed by Dead Centre, the opera is freely based on Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 novel and film Il teorema. Battistelli conducts a cast that includes Ángeles Blancas Gulin and Davide Damiani. https://deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/calendar/il-teorema-di-pasolini.17511836
Met Stages García Márquez Opera
In its first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera on Nov. 16-Dec. 14, Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, based on the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, will enjoy a new production by Mary Zimmerman, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Soprano Ailyn Pérez stars, along with Gabriella Reyes, Greer Grimsley, and Mattia Olivieri. https://www.metopera.org/season/2023-24-season/florencia-en-el-amazonas/
Seattle Explores ‘Nordic Passion’
Dalia Stasevska leads the Seattle Symphony on Nov. 16-18 in a program called Nordic Passion, featuring music from Scotland and Finland. To represent the 21st century, complementing Sibelius’ venerable Symphony No. 5, electric bassist Lauri Porra will play his own concerto, Entropia. The concert opens with Nautilus by Scottish composer Anna Meridith, in a 2021 […]
Legal Theme Unites Opera Pair
On Nov. 17-26, Pacific Opera Project will offer two one-act operas dealing with the law. The first is Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg about the unlikely friendship between those two Supreme Court Justices. That will be followed by Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury, with a new libretto by POP’s artistic director, Josh Shaw. https://www.pacificoperaproject.com/scalia-ginsburg-trial-by-jury
San Diego Premieres Tarnopolsky Work
Prepare for a night of wildness during the San Diego Symphony’s Nov. 17-18 program. Rafael Payare will conduct a line-up of high-energy music, including Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin Suite, Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (complete). The orchestra will also present the world premiere of Danse Macabre by Russian-Ukranian composer Vladimir Tarnopolsky. https://jacobsmusiccenter.org/archives/events/stravinskys-rite-of-spring
Wolfe’s ‘Pretty’ Gets US Premiere
Juraj Valčuha, music director of the Houston Symphony, will lead his orchestra in the U.S. premiere of Pretty by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe on Nov. 17-19. Two works by Ravel are included: his Piano Concerto in G, featuring Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and La valse. Bartók’s rousing Dance Suite, inspired by musical traditions from his native […]
Wind Concerto Commissioned in Indy
On Nov. 18, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra will play a 2022 work by their current composer in residence, Miguel del Aguila. His Concierto con brio will feature oboist Nancy Ambrose King and clarinetist Ryan King. Music director Matthew Kraemer conducts this concert, which also includes works by Saint-Saëns and Ibert. https://www.icomusic.org/concerts/suite-brilliance/
‘Frida & Diego’: Art As Opera
The LA Opera takes an operatic look at two of the most fascinating figures of the visual arts when they present Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida & Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) Nov. 18-Dec. 9. Daniela Mack and Alfredo Daza play the two title roles, while Lina González-Granados conducts. […]
Sellars Creates New ‘Médée’ in Berlin
Staatsoper Berlin will present a new production of Charpentier’s Médée conceived by legendary director Peter Sellars. Simon Rattle conducts, and Magdalena Kožená stars in the title role, with Reinoud Van Mechelen as Jason and Luca Tittoto as Creon. The production runs Nov. 19-Dec. 2. https://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstaltungen/medee.12155/#event-68663
Orchestral Tribute to Jazz Great Includes Premiere
The Philharmonia Orchestra will present the European premiere of highlights from Wayne Shorter’s Iphegenia on Nov. 19, in a program dedicated to the late saxophonist and composer’s symphonic works. With Clark Rundell on the podium, an ensemble of jazz masters will assist the orchestra: saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (son of the legendary John Coltrane), Esperanza Spalding […]
Focus On Louise Farrenc
The 19th-century Parisian composer Louise Farrenc has finally been gaining the reputation she deserves. On Nov. 19, in a program called Quintet Odyssey, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will play her Quintet in A minor, Op. 30. Alongside works by Dvořák, the CMS has programmed John Corigliano’s Soliloquy for clarinet and string quartet. […]
