Opera Santa Barbara presents a holiday concert featuring mezzo-soprano Diana Tash and pianist Armen Guzelimian on Wednesday, December 7 at 5:30 pm at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Part of our Opera on the Go! Series, this recital is Opera Santa Barbara’s holiday gift to YOU!...

Opera Santa Barbara's Chorus Master, Brent Wilson, will hear chorus auditions for Opera Santa Barbara's 2011-2012 Season, consisting of LA BOHÈME, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, and Gluck's ORPHÉE ET EURYDICE (performed in French). Auditions will take place on July 23 [Santa Barbara] and July 29 [Ventura]. From this audition, Opera Santa Barbara will be casting a core chorus to perform in all three operas, as well as supplemental and volunteer choristers as needed.
Opera Santa Barbara Studio Artist Alum, Micaele Oeste recently earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Créuse in Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s rarely heard “Médée” at Chicago Opera Theater - Brava, Mica!

Bernardo Bertolucci and Pier Paolo Pasolini So we've been looking at a lot of photos around here to use for our "Dolce Vita" Gala - Sadly, I have no place for this one, but is it not the coolest picture ever? Bernardo Bertolucci and Pier Paolo...

Trouble in Tahiti; Scene 1 Today we have a post from our double-bill's stage director, Lawrence Edelson, that he wrote for American Lyric Theater's blog, where he is Artistic Director: ------------------------------ Making Singers Cry No, I did not yell at anyone in rehearsal.  When working on an opera that strikes a deep emotional chord with the entire cast and creative team, it’s easy for emotions to get flowing!
Today's clip is Sam's aria "There's a law". A prototypical alpha-male, he gives his worldview on the natural selection amongst men - "There are men who can make it, and men who cannot." Some men are born winners, and those that aren't will never measure up - no matter how hard they try.
Love the look of this 2001 BBC film version of Trouble in Tahiti! Housewives tippling during the day?! Why, I never! Here Stephanie Novacek sings scene 6 - Dinah's aria "What a Movie!" (The aria mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack knocked out of the Park when she shared the stage with Patricia Racette this past November.)

Video producer Daniel Anderson is creating a series of weekly videos about the making of Opera Santa Barbara's new production of La Traviata. Click the links below to see each of the videos. The Studio Artists The Costumes of La Traviata...

Geoff Hahn Congratulations to local baritone Geoffrey Hahn. A senior at Santa Barbara High School, Geoff will sing the role of the messenger and in the chorus for our upcoming Traviata. He is one of two Grand Prize finalists in voice for the Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Awards and will sing for in the finals on April 30 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. More than a thousand students throughout California applied, which was narrowed down to 90 semi-finalists, and now just 16 Grand Prize finalists- 2 each in eight different disciplines. Last year Geoff was one of eight national finalists in the Classical Singer Competition in New York and is auditioning for universities this Spring. Go get 'em Geoff!
Malcolm MacKenzie Today's clip is of our Germont, baritone Malcolm MacKenzie singing "In Taberna" from Orff's Carmina Burana. Impressive!
L'Elisir d'Amore, March 2016, Photo by David Bazemore