Yelena Dyachek wins Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Soprano Yelena Dyachek, a Graduate Certificate candidate in the USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera program, was selected as a winner at the Grand Finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in New York City this past weekend. The Grand Finals are widely considered to be among nation’s most prestigious vocal competitions, regularly launching… Continue reading Yelena Dyachek wins Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
USC Thornton Opera’s “La clemenza di Tito” receives positive reviews
The USC Thornton Opera‘s November production of W.A. Mozart’s rarely-performed opera, La clemenza di Tito, was warmly reviewed by both the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Trojan newspapers. Mark Swed, arts reviewer for the Times, drew parallels between Vocal Arts and Opera chair Ken Kazan‘s “simple but effective production” of Mozart’s “unconscionably neglected” opera… Continue reading USC Thornton Opera’s “La clemenza di Tito” receives positive reviews
Hui Jin and Aram Arakelyan perform at the USC Global Conference in Shanghai
Tenor Hui Jin, an International Artist Fellow and doctoral candidate of the USC Thornton Vocal Arts and Opera program, performed for attendees of the USC Global Conference in Shanghai last week, accompanied on piano by Keyboard Studies DMA candidate Aram Arakelyan. Jin is a highly-regarded tenor from Beijing who has appeared in numerous opera productions… Continue reading Hui Jin and Aram Arakelyan perform at the USC Global Conference in Shanghai
La clemenza di Tito
See the full photo gallery for La clemenza di Tito The Roman emperor Titus’ choice of a woman to marry sets off a dangerous turn of events. How does he prevent a love quadrangle, attempted murder and a capitol in flames from leading to his demise? The Thornton Opera Program and the Thornton Symphony bring to life… Continue reading La clemenza di Tito
Frau Schindler
With the advent of scholarly research into the lives of Oskar and Emilie Schindler, additional insight has come to light. As an ordinary couple who became increasingly immersed in extraordinary circumstances, the Schindlers found themselves faced with the ultimate moral decision. Told from Emilie Schindler’s perspective, Frau Schindler is a serious, poignant opera. It examines… Continue reading Frau Schindler
Ariadne auf Naxos
What is a serious opera singer to do when she is playing a character who awaits death on a desert island and is continually interrupted by an underground cabaret comedy troupe, all performing at the whim of a spoiled wealthy Viennese nobleman in the Weimar era?! This is the confusing and hilarious premise of Richard… Continue reading Ariadne auf Naxos
Thornton Opera’s “Iphigénie en Tauride” reviewed in LA Times
The USC Thornton Opera Program‘s recent production of Gluck’s “Iphigénie en Tauride” received a positive review in the Los Angeles Times. Writer Mark Swed noted that “The USC production by Ken Cazan brought some of the underlying violence to the surface but without compromising the refined beauty of Gluck’s near-perfect score.” Swed went on to… Continue reading Thornton Opera’s “Iphigénie en Tauride” reviewed in LA Times
The USC Thornton Opera Program presents Gluck’s “Iphigenie en Tauride”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leh6jhODiI0
Ken Cazan’s production of “Thérèse Raquin” reviewed in Chicago
Ken Cazan, chair of the Vocal Arts and Opera department and resident stage director of USC Thornton Opera, received great reviews in Chicago for his direction of the Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Thérèse Raquin. Aaron Hunt of Newcity Stage reviewed the production as “the all-around finest production I have had the pleasure to enjoy… Continue reading Ken Cazan’s production of “Thérèse Raquin” reviewed in Chicago
Ken Cazan reviewed in Los Angeles Times for revival of Tobias Picker’s “Therese Raquin”
USC Thornton faculty Ken Cazan, chair of the Vocal Arts program and resident stage director of USC Thornton Opera, revived Tobias Picker’s Therese Raquin last weekend at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro with the Long Beach Opera. A Los Angeles Times article praised Cazan’s production for being “naturalistic, focused and unfussy, true to… Continue reading Ken Cazan reviewed in Los Angeles Times for revival of Tobias Picker’s “Therese Raquin”