Thomas Michael Allen
Lyric Tenor Thomas Michael Allen has enjoyed an international singing career that has spanned over two decades. Allen has performed at Théatre des Champs-Élyées in Paris, Zurich Opera, Staatsoper Berlin, La Monnaie in Brussels, Grand Théatre de Genève, Baden-Baden Easter Festival, Opéra de Lyon, Opéra de Monte Carlo, de Nederlandse Opera, Stuttgart Opera, Cincinnati Opera,… Continue reading Thomas Michael Allen
Kenneth Cazan directs “Frau Schindler” opera in Munich
USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera chair Kenneth Cazan is currently in Munich to stage direct the opera Frau Schindler, which premieres this coming March. The opera, which received a concert reading at USC Thornton last year, follows the life of Emilie Schindler, wife of the well known Oskar, and explores her contributions during the… Continue reading Kenneth Cazan directs “Frau Schindler” opera in Munich
Béatrice et Bénédict
What happens when long suffering love suffers no more? Find out when the USC Thornton Opera Program, in collaboration with the USC Thornton Symphony, presents Hector Berlioz’s sparkling opera Béatrice et Bénédict. Based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Guest Director and video designer Joachim Schamberger updates this charming, romantic comedy with a contemporary, multimedia… Continue reading Béatrice et Bénédict
Gamble House to host USC Thornton student concert series
This season, the iconic Gamble House in Pasadena will collaborate with USC Thornton to present a four-part music series entitled “House Music.” The 1908 showpiece of American Arts and Crafts architecture, a National Historic Landmark, is currently deeded to the city of Pasadena and managed by the USC School of Architecture. The first of four… Continue reading Gamble House to host USC Thornton student concert series
Carrie St. Louis of “Wicked” performs at White House event
USC Thornton alumna Carrie St. Louis (‘12, vocal arts), who plays Glinda in the national touring production of Wicked, was invited to perform in New York for First Lady Michelle Obama’s event, Let Girls Learn. To celebrate strong female characters in entertainment, St. Louis and her co-star Jennifer DiNoia performed “For Good” from Wicked for… Continue reading Carrie St. Louis of “Wicked” performs at White House event
Soprano Jessica Rivera featured in Paola Prestini’s spectacular “Hubble Cantata”
Soprano and USC Thornton alumna Jessica Rivera (MM ’98) recently performed in the groundbreaking Hubble Cantata as part of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park. In celebration of the 26th anniversary of the Hubble Telescope, composer Paola Prestini and filmmaker Eliza McNitt engaged live performers and virtual-reality technology to bring festival audiences inside… Continue reading Soprano Jessica Rivera featured in Paola Prestini’s spectacular “Hubble Cantata”
Thornton musicians sweep Frances Walton Competition in Seattle
Mezzo-soprano and USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera graduate student Lesley Baird (MM ’15) was a winner of the 2016 Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, where she was accompanied by pianist and Keyboard Collaborative Arts DMA candidate Jasper Jimenez (MM ’13, GCRT ’15). Since winning the competition in July, the duo has presented several area… Continue reading Thornton musicians sweep Frances Walton Competition in Seattle
Ainadamar
USC Thornton Opera, together with the USC Thornton Symphony and flamenco guitarist and faculty member Adam del Monte, presents Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar. With a Spanish-language libretto by David Henry Hwang, Ainadamar (Arabic for “Fountain of Tears”) imagines the final hours of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca through the eyes of Catalan actress Margarita Xirgu.… Continue reading Ainadamar
Rod Gilfry sings Don Alfonso in back-to-back European productions
Baritone Rod Gilfry, a member of USC Thornton’s Vocal Arts & Opera faculty, recently performed the role of Don Alfonso in back-to-back runs of Mozart’s Così fan tutte in the UK and France. The co-production, directed by Christophe Honoré and conducted by Louis Langrée and Jérémie Rhorer, was first presented at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in… Continue reading Rod Gilfry sings Don Alfonso in back-to-back European productions
Marilyn Horne celebrated at Music Academy gala
USC Thornton alumna Marilyn Horne was honored at a gala concert on June 4, 2016 at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where she is director of the Voice Program. The concert, which opened the Academy’s 2016 Summer School and Festival, featured performances by vocalists Simone Osborne, Isabel Leonard, Ben Bliss, and… Continue reading Marilyn Horne celebrated at Music Academy gala