New York City Opera

Celebrate Juneteenth with City Opera, Manhattan School of Music, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning composer Anthony Davis! Join us for a happy hour toast honoring Anthony Davis and his indelible contributions to the operatic stage. Discussions will include his operas "X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X," which had its world premiere with New York City Opera in 1986, City Opera's upcoming New York premiere of "The Central Park Five," and cocktails. Hosted by MSM Chief of Staff and Asst. VP of Special Initiatives (and NYCO family) Alexa Smith. Bass-baritone Kevin Short and soprano Marsha Thompson also join in on the fun!

The entire New York City Opera community is very sad to learn of the passing of Paul Kellogg this morning in Cooperstown, NY. Paul was a visionary in the opera world who masterfully led City Opera from 1996 to 2007 during a period of incredible change for the company and the city. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Kellogg’s decision as General Director to continue as planned with the season-opening performance on September 15th was lauded by Anthony Tommasini of The Ne...w York Times as the most meaningful day of music in 2001. During his tenure as General Director, Paul oversaw several world premiere productions of American operas and 62 new productions total. Paul was also the General Director of Glimmerglass Opera from 1979-1996 and the Artistic Director for another decade. The opera world has lost a giant of the industry and his impact will be felt into perpetuity. We, along with the Glimmerglass Opera community and the entire opera world, mourn this considerable loss and will cherish his memory forever. Photo by Marty Umans.

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of internationally acclaimed conductor and pianist Constantine Orbelian as City Opera’s Music Director and Principal Conductor! Maestro Orbelian will conduct his first NYCO production this summer when the company performs a newly created version of Rigoletto on Sunday, August 29 at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice in Kingston, New York, followed by an encore performance on Friday, September 3 in Bryant Park.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow to see this exciting program of new works by the brilliant Mark Campbell, featuring NYCO’s own Jessica Fishenfeld and Brian James Myer. Register for tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyfosnext-mark-campbell-new-wo

(Free) tickets are going fast! Register for yours today!

For the first time in its history, New York Festival of Song will be spotlighting a librettist with the Wednesday premiere of a concert celebrating the works of Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Campbell. The concert will feature a wide selection of his works including an excerpt from STONEWALL and will feature two stars of the world premiere production, Jessica Fishenfeld and Brian James Myer. Click below to reserve your tickets to this exciting program!

Buona Pasqua a tutti! Whether or not you celebrate Easter, all opera lovers can celebrate Cavalleria Rusticana, the great Mascagni opera that takes place on Easter Sunday. Join me in a tradition and listen to this historic 1940 recording conducted by Mascagni himself (he also provides a spoken introduction) and featuring Lina Bruna Rasa, Beniamino Gigli, Gino Bechi, and Giulietta Simionato. My personal favorite.... Enjoy and stay safe, Michael Capasso, General Director

Read about Michigan Opera Theater’s new production of Anthony Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, which first premiered at New York City Opera in 1986.

Tickets are live now! Reserve your FREE tickets to NYCO’s Pride celebration in Bryant Park: *Pride in the Park* Friday June 18, 7pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bryant-park-picnic-performance

148 years ago today in Naples Italy, with the slap of a midwife’s hand, the greatest tenor voice the world has ever known rang out for the first time. Please enjoy these two recordings of arias from his most famous role, Canio in PAGLIACCI. There will never be another...... Michael Capasso, General Director

All of us at New York City Opera are incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Antoine Hodge after a long battle with COVID-19. Antoine was not only a beautiful singer, but also a beloved colleague and friend. His death leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of so many who loved him. Antoine lent his glorious instrument to NYCO many times including in productions of L’amore dei tre re and La Cenerentola. Our thoughts go out to his family and everyone who knew and loved Antoine. He will be truly and dearly missed.

Dear Friends of New York City Opera, I am sure each and every one of us is happy to say goodbye to 2020. We have been dark for an entire year, but we will be back next year in better times. In the meantime, please enjoy operatic goodbyes by some of our favorite singers.... Thank you again. Please view a message from the artists of New York City Opera here: https://youtu.be/U3NqHW1CPoc And again, goodbye 2020; hello 2021: https://youtu.be/rblYSKz_VnI Michael Capasso, General Director

Join these opera luminaries in their support for City Opera! Today is your last chance to give to New York City Opera in 2020. Don't miss your opportunity to make an end-of-year, fully tax-deductible donation that will help ensure we are able to bring two exciting premieres to the New York stage in the 2021/22 season the New York premiere of The Central Park Five, followed by the world premiere of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. Please support us in whatever way you can.... Your donation will go a long way in helping us make the 2021/22 season a reality. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and all of us at New York City Opera wish you a very happy New Year! https://my.nycopera.com/donate/q/1

A YEAR-END FUNDRAISER FOR NEW YORK CITY OPERA To make a donation, please visit nycopera.com. As the year 2020 draws to a close, stars past and present of New York City Opera (NYCO) have come to the aid of The People’s Opera by participating in 'Un Zoomo in Maschera,' a word from the artists of New York City Opera. ... Singers Anna Caterina Antonacci, Martina Arroyo, Jon Burton, Michael Chioldi, Lisa Chavez, Won Whi Choi, Mark Delavan, Alexander Birch Elliott, Elizabeth Futral, Latonia Moore, Meghan Picerno, Patricia Racette, Samuel Ramey, Mark Rucker, Kristin Sampson, Kevin Short, Diana Soviero, Brandie Sutton, Paulo Szot, Carol Vaness, Rolando Villazón and Frederica von Stade, were joined by composers Iain Bell, Anthony Davis, Carlisle Floyd, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Tobias Picker, and librettist Mark Campbell in this salute to City Opera which will raise funds for the company as it weathers the current shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Video produced and edited by Hilan Warshaw (Overtone Films).

City Opera joins the entire New York music and theater communities in mourning the loss of Angelo Di Loreto, a brilliantly talented pianist, conductor, and composer who was the pianist and assistant music director for NYCO’s world premiere production of Ted Rosenthal’s Dear Erich in 2019. Please take the time to read Ted's beautiful tribute below.

New York City Opera mourns the loss of celebrated American soprano Ruth Falcon. Ruth made her NYCO debut as Micaëla in Carmen in 1974. After a successful career on the world’s stages, Ruth became a well-respected pedagogue and taught for many years at Mannes School. She will be greatly missed.

All of us at New York City Opera mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.Her devotion to opera was only outdone by her devotion to the Constitution and her service to the American people. I had the great honor to meet Justice Ginsburg when she presided over the wedding of my friend and NYCO Composer-in-Residence, Tobias Picker to Dr. Aryeh Stollman. At the reception we were able to chat. She went on about how she was a frequent attendee at City Opera when she was liv...ing in New York and how much she loved the company. In the coming days, many words will be written about this great lady and her long and extraordinary career. However, the opera world will miss her as well. The opera world will also be jealous, for tonight, she gets to hear Caruso. Rest in peace. NYCO General Director, Michael Capasso

Celebrate Labor Day the Italian way with the next episode of Capasso in the Kitchen. General Director Michael Capasso shows us how to make the perfect Bistecca alla Fiorentina, known by some as grilled steak. So pour a glass of red wine and enjoy the three day weekend. Stay safe and mangiamo! Illustration by Joan Chiverton

Stars of New York City Opera with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony at The Freeman Stage

Tune in at 8pm EDT for a live broadcast of New York City Opera stars with Julien Benichou and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra at the Freeman Stage in Selbyville, DE!

City Opera is excited to announce two premieres for the spring 2021 season: the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, in collaboration with National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage; and the New York premiere of Anthony Davis and Richard Wesley’s The Central Park Five.

Meet the Artists of Starry Night Classics! New York City Opera is proud to partner with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra for Starry Night Classics, an enchanting evening of opera classics at The Freeman Stage, an open air performing arts venue located near Fenwick Island, DE. Join us on August 15 at 8pm for a concert featuring operatic masterpieces from Carmen, Faust, Rigoletto, La Bohème, and Turandot among many others. Conducted by MSO Music Director Maestro Julien Benichou ...and hosted by City Opera General Director Michael Capasso, Starry Night Classics will closely follow all local, state, and federal COVID-19 safety recommendations and guidelines. (Tickets will be sold in pods for up to four people, with proper social distancing between pods. Masks will be required for entry, exit, and movement around the venue.) Stars of the New York City Opera stage, including soprano Kristin Sampson, mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez, tenor Michael Butler, and bass-baritone Kevin Short will be accompanied by an ensemble of incredible musicians from the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Come enjoy live opera in a safe, open-air environment. There’s no better way to spend a summer evening. Go to nycopera.com for tickets!

New York City Opera is proud to partner with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra for Starry Night Classics, an enchanting evening of opera classics at The Freeman Stage, an open air performing arts venue located near Fenwick Island, DE. Join us on August 15 at 8pm for a concert featuring operatic masterpieces from Carmen, Faust, Rigoletto, La Bohème, and Turandot among many others. Conducted by MSO Music Director Maestro Julien Benichou and hosted by City Opera General Director M...ichael Capasso, Starry Night Classics will closely follow all local, state, and federal COVID-19 safety recommendations and guidelines. (Tickets will be sold in pods for up to four people, with proper social distancing between pods. Masks will be required for entry, exit, and movement around the venue.) Stars of the New York City Opera stage, including soprano Kristin Sampson, mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez, tenor Michael Butler, and bass-baritone Kevin Short will be accompanied by an ensemble of incredible musicians from the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Come enjoy live opera in a safe, open-air environment. There’s no better way to spend a summer evening. Sat, August 15, 2020, 8:00 PM EDT Doors open at 7:00 PM The Freeman Stage 31750 Lake View Drive Selbyville, DE 19975 Click below for more information and tickets!

Capasso in the Kitchen: Ep. 4 In his ongoing effort to keep us eating well at home, City Opera General Director Michael Capasso teaches us the secret to a perfect three course fish dinner. Antipasto: Grilled Polpo (octopus) ... Primo: Spaghetti alla Vongole (clam sauce) Secondo: Grilled Branzino with Greek Sauce Stay safe and mangiamo!

Trailblazing New York City Opera soprano Camilla Williams, one of the first black opera singers hired by a major opera company when City Opera hired her to sing Madama Butterfly in 1946, is being honored by her hometown of Danville, VA. Read more about her amazing life here.

In his ongoing effort to keep us eating well at home, City Opera General Director Michael Capasso teaches us the secret to perfect Pasta Fazool in the third episode of "Capasso in the Kitchen." Stay safe and mangiamo! Drawing by Joan Chiverton.