David DeVan News

Opera Philadelphia continues its 39th Season in February with the only U.S. appearance of a vivid new Spanish production ofAinadamar, the Grammy Award-winning first opera from Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov. On the heels of a three-year, three-city tour of Spain conducted by Corrado Rovaris, Opera Philadelphia's Jack Mulroney Music Director, the production will be presented in five performances at the Academy of Music,February 7-16, 2014.

Nominations for the 41st Annie Awards have been announced. Topping the list with 10 nominations each are Disney's Frozen and Monster's University.

After 12 years with the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the last 3 as President, Tom Kaiden will be stepping down at the end of July to accept a new position as the Chief Operating Officer of the Alexandria (Virginia) Conference & Visitors Association.

Dark Sisters is a suspenseful, emotional, and lyrical depiction of one woman's struggle with life and faith and the universal dilemma of whether to stay or leave. The opera opens a window into the lives of Eliza and her sister wives, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous sect based in the southwestern United States. Creators Muhly and Karam have drawn inspiration from the crush of media attention surrounding two of the many raids on FLDS compounds (the 2008 raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, TX and the 1953 raid at Short Creek, AZ), as well as from the stories of the more than 80 wives of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

The Dallas Opera will present the second 'General Director's Roundtable,' a timely and in-depth discussion of issues affecting opera, contemporary audiences, and the greater performing arts community today.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia announced the commission of a new American opera, DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, and directed by Rebecca Taichman at The Chelsea Art Museum on Thursday, October 28. The three organizations have co-commissioned and will co-produce the opera, which will have its World Premiere in November 2011 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC, one of the first works to be presented at the Theater following the creation of a new lobby at the space. The cast will be headed by Caitlin Lynch and Kevin Burdette, with Kristina Bachrach, Jennifer Check, Eve Gigliotti, Brenda Harris, and Jennifer Zetlan. Dark Sisters will also be presented in June 2012 as part of the Opera Company of Philadelphia's chamber opera series at the Perelman Theater.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and The Opera Company of Philadelphia will announce the commission of a new opera composed by Nico Muhly.