GUEST ARTIST AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

I am thrilled that I will be the Guest Artist Master Class Clinician at George Mason University as part of the Fall 2019 Vocal Studies/Opera Division Master Class Series.

I will be conducting master classes on November 19 and November 21, 2019 at 3 pm at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall at the George Mason Fairfax Campus.

I am grateful to Dr. Patricia Miller, Director of Vocal Studies, for this lovely opportunity!

BBC/Royal Philharmonic Society commission for soprano Katharina Konradi

I am thrilled to announce that the BBC and The Royal Philharmonic Society have commissioned a song cycle for their "New Generation Artist" Katharina Konradi. The work will center around the themes of parenthood and childhood, and will feature the poetry of A.E. Stallings and another well-known female poet, whose name I will release after permissions are received. 

The work is due to premiere at Wigmore Hall in London in October of 2020.

Steamboat Opera to present The Three Feathers in August 2020

I am thrilled to announce that Steamboat Opera, under the Artistic Direction of Maestro Andres Cladera, will present The Three Feathers from August 7-9, 2020 in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Based on a little known tale by the Brothers Grimm, with a libretto by Dana Gioia, this magical opera presents a young female protagonist, Princess Dora, as its hero. A magic feather leads the shy, self-doubting princess to an enchanted Underworld ruled by a giant Frog King. Here she summons her courage and compassion to face a series of mysterious and comic adventures that change her life. Completing her quest, she saves her father's kingdom from the plots of her selfish sisters and earns her right to the crown.

The work was commissioned by The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech and the world premiere took place in October 2014 at The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, in collaboration with Opera Roanoke and Blacksburg Children’s Chorale. The premiere was directed by Beth Greenberg and conducted by Scott Williamson.

The Steamboat Opera production marks the first professional production of the work.

For more information, please click here.

Below: Dora meets the Frog King in the Underworld

Indianapolis Opera to present Vedem with Brundibar in April 2020

UPDATE: This production will be postponed to spring 2021, due to the Coronavirus. Indianapolis Opera will present a semi-staged version of my Holocaust-themed oratorio Vedem in a double bill with Hans Krasa's Brundibar from April 24-26, 2020. Vedem tells the story of the boys imprisoned in the infamous Terezin Concentration Camp during WWII, and their secret magazine entitled Vedem (Czech for "in the Lead"). All 800 pages of the magazine were buried by the last remaining child at Terezin — Sidney Taussig —  who retrieved the papers after the war. This treasure trove gives us an unvarnished glimpse into the daily lives of the boys. My long-time collaborator, poet David Mason, wrote the libretto and entwined six of the original Vedem poems within. The work is scored for boychoir, tenor and mezzo-soprano soloists, accompanied by an instrumental quartet comprised of clarinet, violin, cello and piano.

This production marks several firsts for Indianapolis Opera: Vedem is the first piece by a woman composer to be performed by their company, and the production marks the first mainstage collaboration between the opera company and the Indianapolis Children's Choir.

The oratorio was commissioned by Mina Miller and Music of Remembrance and premiered in May 2010. Four of the then-six survivors traveled to Seattle for the premiere. Naxos released the CD in May 2011, and Fanfare Magazine wrote: "A most touching experience, and one that further confirms Laitman's status as one of the most talented and intriguing of living composers."

For more information, please click here. 

Opera at UC Irvine to present THE SCARLET LETTER in MAY 2020

POSTPONED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR INFO ON RESCHEDULED DATES.

I am thrilled to announce that The Opera Department at UC Irvine in California will present The Scarlet Letter May 9-10, 2020. The presentation will be under the artistic direction of Dr. Darryl Taylor with Dr. Stephen Tucker conducting.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.