March 16, 2020
Week of February 1: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more
We’ll begin our week with The Metropolitan Opera’s 2020 production of Porgy and Bess starring Eric Owens and Angel Blue, followed by a digital production from MasterVoices featuring Renée Fleming and Julia Bullock. The legendary 1987 production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites and a vivacious 2009 Cenerentola are available midweek from the Met.
On Friday we’ll head to Houston Grand Opera for their annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Finally, we’ll celebrate the weekend with a digital production from LA Opera and a recital in collaboration with our friends at 98.7WFMT/wfmt.com, featuring artists from the Ryan Opera Center.
Lyric Opera Commentaries discuss the synopses, music, and some historical insights into the creation of the world's most beloved operas, and musical masterpieces you might never have experienced.
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
Monday, February 1
The Metropolitan Opera
The Gershwins: Porgy and Bess
This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Eric Owens, Angel Blue, Golda Schultz, Latonia Moore, Denyce Graves, Frederick Ballentine, Alfred Walker, and Donovan Singletary, and was directed by James Robinson. Porgy and Bess was conducted by David Robertson on February 1, 2020. This stream is available until 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 2.
Lyric Commentary from the 2014/15 Season is by Nicholas Ivor Martin.
Porgy and Bess
By George Gershwin
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
© 2014/15 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Classics. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board.
Commentary by Nicholas Ivor Martin
Tuesday, February 2
MasterVoices
Guettel:Myths and Hymns: Chapter 1 - Flight
This virtual production from MasterVoices stars Mykal Kilgore, Norm Lewis, Renée Fleming, Kelli O’Hara, and Julia Bullock. Flight is the first chapter in a four-part virtual production from award-winning composer Adam Guettel’s Myths and Hymns. This stream will be available through June 30.
Wednesday, February 3
The Metropolitan Opera
Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmélites
This legendary production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Maria Ewing, Jessye Norman, Betsy Norden, Régine Crespin, and Florence Quivar, and was directed by John Dexter. Dialogues des Carmélites was conducted by Manuel Rosenthal on April 4, 1987. This stream is available until 6:30pm on Thursday, February 4.
Lyric Commentary from the 2006/07 Season is by Roger Pines.
Dialogues des Carmélites
By Francis Poulenc
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
© 2006/07 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Classics. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board.
Commentary by Roger Pines, Dramaturg
Thursday, February 4
The Metropolitan Opera
Rossini: La Cenerentola
This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Elina Garanča, Lawrence Brownlee, Simone Alberghini, Alessandro Corbelli, and John Relyea, and was directed by Cesare Lievi. La Cenerentola was conducted by Maurizio Benini on May 9, 2009. This stream is available until 6:30pm on Friday, February 5.
Lyric Commentary from the 2015/16 Season is by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman.
Cinderella
by Gioachino Rossini
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
© 2015/16 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Classics. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board.
Commentary by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman
Friday, February 5
Houston Grand Opera
Concert of Arias
HGO’s Concert of Arias is the final round of the annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Acclaimed soprano Tamara Wilson will host the event, and the judging panel will be led by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers and HGO Artistic Advisor Ana María Martínez, with guest judge OPERA San Antonio General Director E. Loren Meeker. This stream is available through Thursday, March 4.
Saturday, February 6
LA Opera
Reid: p r i s m
This digital production of Ellen Reid's Pultizer Prize-winning 2018 opera exploring PTSD and sexual assault from LA Opera stars Rebecca Jo Loeb and Anna Schubert, and was directed by James Darrah. p r i s m was conducted by Julian Wachner, and is available for streaming through Monday, February 8.
Sunday, February 7
WFMT
Ryan Opera Center Series
On February 7 at 7pm CT, Ryan Opera Center artists Leroy Davis and Chris Reynolds will perform on 98.7WFMT and WFMT.com. This is part of WFMT and Ryan Opera Center's ongoing monthly series.
The Ryan Opera Center series on WFMT is generously sponsored by Julie and Roger Baskes.
Pasión Latina
Pasión Latina
Celebrate music of the Spanish-speaking world with a free virtual concert starring and hosted by renowned soprano and Lyric favorite Ana María Martínez, and featuring prominent Ryan Opera Center artists and alumni.
These engaging artists will perform a dynamic selection of some of their favorite music from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, and Spain, with piano accompaniment by Ryan Opera Center music director Craig Terry and current Ensemble pianist Chris Reynolds.
AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING THROUGH JANUARY 31
Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter
Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter
Lyric's Ryan Opera Center presents a free virtual concert celebrating the depth and breadth of Black artistry, hosted by world-renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who also serves as artistic advisor for the event. The concert also features prominent Ryan Opera Center alumni — soprano Whitney Morrison, mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and baritone Will Liverman — and three current 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members — tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam, and baritone Leroy Davis.