Suzan Hanson News

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents the Chicago premiere of Ernest Bloch's provocative and rarely-performed "Macbeth" at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Drive) September 13-21, 2014. Conducted by Francesco Milioto and directed and designed by COT General Director Andreas Mitisek, "Macbeth" features the collective talents of COT, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Apollo Chorus under the direction of Stephen Alltop. Together they provide an expressive soundscape for this bone-chilling thriller based on themes of ambition, treachery and deception. The opera will be performed in English, maintaining much of Shakespeare's original text. For tickets and more information please visit: chicagooperatheater.org.

Perhaps the most controversial opera of the 20th century makes its Southern California debut when Long Beach Opera (LBO) stages John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer on March 16 and March 22 at the Terrace Theater in downtown Long Beach. This powerful and unsettling work chronicles the 1985 hijacking of the Mediterranean cruise ship Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists and the murder of disabled Jewish-American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer. LBO's production is a partner presentation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 'Minimalist Jukebox' Festival.

Chicago Opera Theater's Chicago Premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's Joan of Arc places the audience directly in the midst of a play within a play in a newly conceived production by 'avant-garde director for the masses' David Schweizer. With Suzan Hanson returning after her acclaimed COT debut as Madeleine in The Fall of the House of Usher to sing the title part in this opera, selected via poll by COT audiences to celebrate Verdi's 200th birthday. COT's production features Chicago's New Millennium Orchestra conducted by its artistic director Francesco Milioto. Performances are held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive tonight, Sept 21; Wednesday, Sept 25; Friday, Sept 27; and Sunday Matinee, Sept 29. Tickets are on sale now.

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) offers more opportunities to look inside its operas through its new initiative, “Viewpoints.” These collaborations with Chicago cultural institutions draw audiences even further into the passionate world of COT's 2013 Season, “Power of Love – Love of Power,” and offer new insight and perspective on the artistry and vision of upcoming productions.

Chicago Opera Theater's Chicago Premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's Joan of Arc places the audience directly in the midst of a play within a play in a newly conceived production by "avant-garde director for the masses" David Schweizer. With Suzan Hanson returning after her acclaimed COT debut as Madeleine in The Fall of the House of Usher to sing the title part in this opera, selected via poll by COT audiences to celebrate Verdi's 200th birthday. COT's production features Chicago's New Millennium Orchestra conducted by its artistic director Francesco Milioto. Performances are held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive:Saturday, Sept 21; Wednesday, Sept 25; Friday, Sept 27; and Sunday Matinee, Sept 29. Tickets are on sale now.

An overwhelming lust for power, a manipulative wife, and witches' prophecies spur a Scottish general onto a tragic path of betrayal, murder and madness. Long Beach Opera (LBO) closes its 2013 season with Macbeth, Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch's re-discovered powerhouse, sung in English. Performances at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, CA. began on June 15, 2013 and continue on June 22 and 23. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

An overwhelming lust for power, a manipulative wife, and witches' prophecies spur a Scottish general onto a tragic path of betrayal, murder and madness. Long Beach Opera (LBO) closes its 2013 season with Macbeth, Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch's re-discovered powerhouse, sung in English. Performances at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, CA. begin tonight, June 15, 2013 and continue on June 22 and 23.

An overwhelming lust for power, a manipulative wife, and witches' prophecies spur a Scottish general onto a tragic path of betrayal, murder and madness. Long Beach Opera (LBO) closes its 2013 season with Macbeth, Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch's re-discovered powerhouse, sung in English. Performances at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, CA. begin on June 15, 2013 and continue on June 22 and 23.

On Thursday, May 16, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) is celebrating their 39th Anniversary Gala at the West Loop's interactive restaurant and event space, City Winery (1200 W. Randolph) from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Long Beach Opera's new double bill explores creative minds on the border between genius and madness. Former rocker Stewart Copeland delves into the twisted psyche of Edgar Allan Poe's manic murderer in the US premiere of Tell-Tale Heart and Bang on a Can composer, Michael Gordon, observes the anguished spirit of a brilliant artist in the West Coast stage premiere of Van Gogh. Featuring music at the edge of rock, jazz and classical modernism, this double bill of delusion and illusion, paranoia and inspiration begins tonight, May 11 and continues on May 18 and 19, 2013 at theEXPO Art Center, 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

Long Beach Opera's new double bill explores creative minds on the border between genius and madness. Former rocker Stewart Copeland delves into the twisted psyche of Edgar Allan Poe's manic murderer in the US premiere of Tell-Tale Heart and Bang on a Can composer, Michael Gordon, observes the anguished spirit of a brilliant artist in the West Coast stage premiere of Van Gogh. Featuring music at the edge of rock, jazz and classical modernism, this double bill of delusion and illusion, paranoia and inspiration begins May 11 and continues on May 18 and 19, 2013 at theEXPO Art Center, 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, a gothic horror story which blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, opens Long Beach Opera's 2013 BORDERLINE Season. Glass' haunting 1987 score for Edgar Allan Poe's macabre masterpiece provides the perfect backdrop for this nightmarish journey to the edge of madness.

Once upon a midnight dreary (sorry, 'Raven'), Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' was perhaps the favorite of his short stories adapted as horror films for mid-20th century audiences. These days, 'Usher' may be more familiar as the subject and title of the Philip Glass-Arthur Yorinks opera, which takes a more psychological but nonetheless chilling approach to the story. A new production opens at Chicago Opera Theatre (COT) on February 23, after a premiere at the Long Beach Opera (LBO) on January 27, and marks the start of Andreas Mitisek's tenure as COT's General Director. Not surprisingly, Vienna-born Mitisek, who also conducts the opera, heads both companies.

Two American artistic pioneers - Edgar Allan Poe, the 'father of the modern mystery' and Philip Glass, the face and sound of 21st century American music - meet at 1:00 PM today January 19, 2013, when Long Beach Opera (LBO) presents Deep into the Darkness at the Art Theater of Long Beach. Deep into the Darkness is the perfect introduction to LBO's 2013 season opener, Glass' THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. Based on Poe's classic horror story, this haunting opera explores the dark places nightmares begin.

Two American artistic pioneers - Edgar Allan Poe, the 'father of the modern mystery' and Philip Glass, the face and sound of 21st century American music - meet at 1:00 PM on Saturday January 19, 2013, when Long Beach Opera (LBO) presents Deep into the Darkness at the Art Theater of Long Beach. Deep into the Darkness is the perfect introduction to LBO's 2013 season opener, Glass' THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. Based on Poe's classic horror story, this haunting opera explores the dark places nightmares begin.

Philip Glass' The Fall of the House of Usher, a gothic horror story which blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, opens Chicago Opera Theater's 2013 Season, titled "Power of Love, Love of Power." This is Andreas Mitisek's inaugural season as General Director of Chicago Opera Theater since assuming the position in June 2012. Glass' haunting 1987 score for Edgar Allan Poe's macabre masterpiece, with lyrics by Arthur Yorinks, provides the perfect backdrop for this nightmarish journey to the edge of madness. The Fall of the House of Usher, taking place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, runs for four performances only: Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, February 24 at 3 p.m., Wednesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. Single tickets go on sale Monday, January 21.

Philip Glass' The Fall of the House of Usher, a gothic horror story which blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, opens Chicago Opera Theater's 2013 Season, titled "Power of Love, Love of Power."

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, a gothic horror story which blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, opens Long Beach Opera's 2013 BORDERLINE Season. Glass' haunting 1987 score for Edgar Allan Poe's macabre masterpiece provides the perfect backdrop for this nightmarish journey to the edge of madness.

Professional singer and music professor Dr. P tries to shake hands with a parking meter and describes a rose as'a convoluted red form with a linear green attachment.' A man who sees, but does not see, Dr. P suffers from visual agnosia. Unable to recognize objects and faces (including his wife's), he finds a way to make sense of his world through music. LBO goes site-specific again with four performances of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat between today, June 16 and June 24, 2012 at the EXPO Warehouse in Long Beach, CA.

Professional singer and music professor Dr. P tries to shake hands with a parking meter and describes a rose as'a convoluted red form with a linear green attachment.' A man who sees, but does not see, Dr. P suffers from visual agnosia. Unable to recognize objects and faces (including his wife's), he finds a way to make sense of his world through music. LBO goes site-specific again with four performances of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat between June 16 and June 24, 2012 at the EXPO Warehouse in Long Beach, CA.