Opera
MAHLER and ME (Part 2)
I am thrilled to announce that I will be the alto soloist in Gustav Mahler’s iconic Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) on April 19 at 7:00 pm at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. This monumental symphony – requiring an orchestra of 100 and a full choir (preferably 100+) – is most likely on…
Read MoreThe Magic of Puccini
On Friday night, March 16, I once again found myself at the Metropolitan Opera. I was invited by my close friends, Kristen and Chris, to hear Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Hearing this glorious music brought back very fond memories of singing the role of Suzuki, Butterfly’s faithful servant/friend, in – as best as I can recall –…
Read MoreOld Songs Resung – Janice’s Labor of Love Concert
Hello, everyone – You are cordially invited to my concert on Sunday, November 12, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957). Many of you know that I have a passion for this composer’s vocal works. I am thrilled that my colleagues Martha Warren, Mark Andrew Cleveland, and Maxwell McGrath…
Read MoreUpdate: Tenor Maxwell McGrath
Max continues his climb to Local Tenor Stardom with his most recent success with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (www.portsmouthsymphony.org). On June 11 at the Music Hall (www.themusichall.org) in Portsmouth, Max made his debut with the PSO singing his signature aria, “Ah, la paterna mano” from Verdi’s Macbeth. It was thrilling to hear Max sing with a full…
Read MoreThe Next Best Job in Opera if You’re Not Onstage
Last weekend, I heard a very interesting piece on WNYC ‘s informative program, “On the Media”. This episode was part of their “Day Jobs” series. I tuned in halfway through the program and was entranced by a young woman’s beautiful voice speaking about opera. Thanks to online streaming (!), I was able to listen to the entire 9…
Read More“21 Years at the Met”
No, sadly I am not referring to myself. This is the title of a presentation by a former Met violinist, Erica Miner, which I heard on Sunday, March 19, at the Boston Public Library. The full title of the presentation was “21 Years at the Met: How I Learned to Love the Ring.” This event was…
Read MoreHow I Celebrate Black History Month
I have had a subscription to Opera News most of my life. This started back in the 1950s when my Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Ross, semi-pro classical singers and opera fans, initiated little Jan into the world of classical music and opera. I will be forever grateful for that. I have kept a few of…
Read MoreAn Important Wagnerian Date
On this day in 1883, Richard Wagner passed away at Ca’ Vendramin Calergi (currently referred to as Palazzo Vendramin) in Venice (see my earlier post about visiting this site in June of 2016). For those of us who love Wagner (count me in), this is a date to commemorate by listening to some of his sublime…
Read MoreMaking a Video in my Studio
On Saturday, February 11, Max MGrath recorded a video for use with upcoming competitions. He recorded 3 opera arias, 2 musical theatre pieces, and a song by Kurt Weill. We are so grateful that the wonderful Elizabeth Blood was on hand to accompany, and Debora Cote of Ave Productions was the talented videographer. You can find contact…
Read MoreJanice and Cindy’s Cultural Venetian Adventure
In June of 2016, I spent a glorious week in Venice with my close friend and colleague Cindy Sadler. We had met in the 1990s while performing in Arizona Opera’s Ring Cycle. Cindy was the only artist who had appeared in all four operas (as Erde, Schwertleite, and First Norn), while I sang the role of Fricka…
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