2021-2022 Artistic Staff Announcement
After an exciting inaugural year, Opera NexGen releases their plans for the 2021-2022 season entitled, “Not Looking Back.” Featuring two mainstage performances and six webinars focused on artist education and discussions around changes in the industry. All events will be entirely virtual and remote.
“I’m excited to welcome such exciting new faces to the Opera NexGen team this season, and I know that their visions will be thrilling to audiences.” André Chiang, Artistic Director
The Fall production, Night Trip by Carlos Simon with libretto by Sandra Seaton will be conducted by Donald Allen Lee III and directed by Kimille Howard. Lee is a first-year Ryan Opera Center conductor/pianist currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the University of Cincinnati-CCM. Howard is a New York based director, deviser, writer and filmmaker who returns to the Metropolitan Opera this season as an Assistant Stage Director. She recently directed Joseph Bologne’s The Annonymous Lover (Wolf Trap Opera) and The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson (Glimmerglass Festival) starring Denyce Graves. This one-night-only performance premieres on Saturday, December 11 at 7:30pm ET and will be followed by a talkback featuring members of the cast and artistic team. Tickets go onsale November 1.
During International Women’s Month, the company will produce a women-led Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice conducted by Chelsea Gallo and directed by Lauren Lenz. Gallo is on the conducting staff for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and was selected as a Conducting Fellow for the Dallas Opera. She also serves as Assistant Conductor for the Orlando Opera and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and is Music Director of the Loyola Symphony Orchestra. Lenz returns to Opera NexGen after directing Così fan tutte during the 2020-2021 season. She is a Detroit-based director and stage manager who has worked with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Opera MODO, Opera Grand Rapids, and Toledo Opera. Performances run Friday, March 4 at 8pm ET and Sunday, March 6 at 4pm ET. Tickets go onsale February 1.
"It is important to us at Opera NexGen that representation is present not only onstage, but in all facets of our operation." Jaime Sharp, General Director
Audition information for the 2021-2022 season will be released in the coming weeks.
