Arias
Looking for a contemporary aria for recital or audition? Here is a handy reference tool,
with durations, ranges, synopses and contexts for a selection of excerpts. Read more
latest news
if your interest is in operas for young people,
we’ve now pulled a list from the catalogue
to make things easier for you
My Friend's Story, a new opera by Martin Bresnick, premieres June 19th & 20th at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven, CT. Inspired by the short story, “Terror,” by Anton Chekov and with a libretto by J.D. McClatchy, My Friend’s Story moves the setting from Chekhov’s Russia to rural America, and deals with themes of combustible psychic intrigue, aching sexual longing, betrayal and human misunderstanding. Attraction, love and marriage give two friends much food for thought as the reality of their lives plays out.
Ricky Ian Gordon sees premieres of two operas next season. A Coffin in Egypt, based on the play by Horton Foote and with a libretto by Leonard Foglia, has been commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera and Opera Philadelphia, who will produce the opera in March and June, 2014, respectively.
With its title taken from the house number where Gertrude Stein lived in Paris, 27 is a commission from Opera Theatre of St. Louis. The libretto is by Royce Vavrek, and Stephanie Blythe has been cast as Stein.
We are pleased to welcome Mooch the Magnificent by Lauren Bernofsky to our catalogue. A children’s opera in one act with a libretto by Scott Russell Sanders (based on his novel “The Engineer of Beasts”), the story centers on Mooch, an orphan girl in future times, who works at a zoo populated by robots in animal form. She begins to reprogram the robots to become increasingly wild and go outdoors.
Mooch the Magnificent was commissioned and premiered in 2012 by Roundabout Opera for Kids, who have been performing it throughout the season in the Midwest. It won the OPERA PUPPETS Mainstage Award in the 2013 Contempo Festival of the Boston Metro Opera, and will receive a staged performance this May in Boston.
Abilene Opera presented The Hotel Casablanca by Thomas Pasatieri in March. Abilene’s production of the comedy, set on a Texas ranch and at the infamous Hotel, starred two guest artists, Oscar and Shine [photo right].
Victoria Woodhull ran for President again last election season (the first time was in 1872), when Mrs. President came to the stage at Anchorage Opera last October. The opera, by Victoria Bond and librettist Hilary Bell, was previewed in New York in July with piano accompaniment, before receiving its orchestral premiere in Alaska.
Photos at the NY preview: Valerie Bernhardt as Victoria Woodhull, Scott Ramsey as Henry Ward Beecher, and Katrina Thurman as Isabella Beecher.
Just released on Naxos – Ricky Ian Gordon’s “Rappahannock County” with libretto by Mark Campbell and featuring the cast from the 2011 premiere.
Inspired by actual events and drawn from diaries, letters, and other accounts, Rappahannock County is a song cycle forming a musical theatre work which captures key emotional, sociological and historical moments in the Civil War. The setting is near the Rappahannock River in Virginia, which was a border between North and South in the conflict. The five singers represent more than 30 roles as they portray their varying viewpoints on the progression of the War and its awful impact on individual citizens.
Mark Walters, Baritone
Faith Sherman, Mezzo-soprano
Matthew Tuell, Tenor
Kevin Moreno, Baritone
Aundi Marie Moore, Soprano
Virginia Arts Festival Orchestra, conducted by Rob Fisher
“…profound and poignant…” (Opera Today)
“The lyrical content is honest and true to the times ….
likely to be considered one of the best musical theater works of 2011.” (VEER magazine)
new operas from around the world
Thierry Escaich
CLAUDE [Billaudot]
Opera for soloists, choir and orchestra, after the short story Claude Gueux by Victor Hugo
Libretto by Robert Badinter
Dur.: 90'
March 27th, 2013
Opéra National de Lyon, Olivier Py (director), Pierre-André Weitz (stage sets and costumes), Lyon National Orchestra, conducted by Jérémie Rhorer.
Oscar Strasnoy
UN RETOUR [Billaudot]
Chamber opera for 7 voices and 6 instruments
Libretto in French, Spanish and Latin by Alberto Manguel, after his novel “El regreso”
January 21, 2012
Musicatreize; Quatuor Face à Face, conducted by Roland Hayrabedian
Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France
Graciane Finzi
FRÄULEIN ELSE [Billaudot]
Chamber opera for soprano voice and string quartet
Text by Arthur Schnitzler, adapted and translated by Heinz Schwarzinger
April 15th, 2013
Juliane Banse, soprano, Quatuor Voce
Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris, France
Oscar Strasnoy
SLUTCHAI [Billaudot]
Opera on a text by Daniil Harms, adapted by Christine Dormoy
Dur: 90'
November 26th, 2012
Choir and Orchestra of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, Oscar Strasnoy, conductor
Opéra Bordeaux, France
Roberta Vacca
WHO KIDNAPPED CONSTANZA THE MOUSE? (English version) [RAI Trade]
Comedy freely based on The Abduction from the Seraglio by C.F. Bretzner/W.A. Mozart
for soloists, chorus, actor, actress and instrumental ensemble
Libretto by Paola Campanini, English translation by Nicola Hawthorne
1st-4th February, 2013
Lille Konsertsal, Stavanger Bjergsted (1st-3rd); Nærbø Jadarheim (4th), Norway
Actors and Chorus: students from the Kulturskolene di Hå e Klepp, Katrine Immerslund and Anne Margrethe Svanes, Chorusmasters; student orchestra from the University of Stavanger, Morten Wensberg, conductor
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NEW - operas for younger audiences - see what we have for the younger demographic, including many which involve young performers
My Friend's Story, a new opera by 
Abilene Opera presented 
Victoria Woodhull ran for President again last election season (the first time was in 1872), when Mrs. President came to the stage at Anchorage Opera last October. The opera, by 
