Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA)

AVA Opera Theater And A Verdi Favorite! May 5th At 3 PM

Jack Moore — Sat, 04 May 2013 21:29:56 +0000

Join us on Sunday at 3 pm as Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) presents Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. Drama takes center stage in this opera of political intrigue, based on a true historical event: the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden. The king falls in love with the wife of his best friend and most trusted advisor. A love triangle turns deadly as jealousy leads to conspiracy, murder, and betrayal at a masked ball. Sunday, May 5, 3 to 6 pm.

Academy of Vocal Arts on WRTI: Massenet's DON QUICHOTTE, March 10th, 3 pm

Jessica Schultz — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:54:07 +0000

Join us on Sunday afternoon for an AVA Opera special broadcast! Jules Massenet's DON QUICHOTTE is a lyrical ode to the chivalrous idealist Don Quixote. Loosely based on the popular Cervantes novel, the opera is immediately inspired by Le chevalier de la Longue Figure, a play by the poet Jacques Le Lorrain. The tale of Don Quixote meets the music of Massenet, complete with Spanish serenades and a profoundly poignant finale.

Turkish Bass Burak Bilgili on Crossover

Joe Patti and Jill Pasternak — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:52:04 +0000

Last week's guest on Crossover was Turkish Bass Burak Bilgili. Turkish? Not necessarily the first nationality that comes to mind when you think "opera singer." But, wait till you hear that voice!

A 2004 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Bilgili made his international debut in 2002 - while still a student at AVA - as Duke Alfonso in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at La Scala. His Metropolitan Opera debut was May 7, 2004, when he sang Leporello without either a full-stage or orchestra rehearsal in the final performance of Don Giovanni that season. When he took his solo bow at the end of the performance, the audience roared in appreciation. He returned to the company in 2009 as Ferrando in Il trovatore.

Starting Saturday evening, March 2nd, Bilgili will appear in the lead role in the Academy of Vocal Arts' production of Don Quichotte. Performances run through March 9th at AVA, and March 12th and 14th at Haverford's Centennial Hall. The production will also be heard as a Sunday Opera Special on March 10th at 3 pm on WRTI and the all-classical stream at wrti.org.

JUBILATE! A Concert of Sacred Music and Oratorio Masterpieces

Jessica Schultz — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:05:12 +0000

Join us on Sunday, December 9th at 3 pm as the Academy of Vocal Arts presents its annual concert of sacred vocal music featuring time-honored favorites from the repertoire. One of the most eagerly awaited concerts of the season, JUBILATE! showcases AVA's talented Resident Artists. Together, they'll perform works by Saint-Saëns, Bach, Handel, Rossini, Mendelssohn, and more! David Antony Lofton conducts the AVA Opera Orchestra and Resident Artists.

Academy of Vocal Arts: Rossini's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Nov. 10th at 1 pm

WRTI Staff — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:37:49 +0000

Rossini’s melodies create the perfect atmosphere for the ever-popular comedy, Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). Based on the Beaumarchais play of the same name, this farce makes use of outrageous scheming, hilarious disguises, and the vocal talent of the Academy of Vocal Arts' award-winning resident artists. Don't miss this very special broadcast on Saturday, November 10th, 1 to 4 pm.

Rising Opera Star William Davenport

Jim Cotter — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Ahead of WRTI's broadcast of the Academy of Vocal Arts' 2012 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition on Sunday at 3 pm - with listeners having the opportunity to vote for their personal favorite at wrti.org. Many Giargiari Competition participants have gone on to stellar careers, and in recent years three in particular have also been awarded the prestigious Richard Tucker Foundation Award, including tenors James Valenti and Stephen Costello, and soprano Angela Meade.

Academy of Vocal Arts: L'elisir d'amore on May 6th at 2 pm

WRTI Staff — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:57:30 +0000

Tune in on for a special treat on Sunday, May 6th from 2 to 5 pm - Donizetti's lighthearted comedy The Elixir of Love, featuring the opera stars of the future singing this charming bel canto favorite - which includes the famous aria "Una furtiva lagrima."

AVA Resident Artist Michelle Johnson--Smartphone Public Art--Lenape Exhibition at Penn Museum

David Patrick Stearns, Eric Brannon and Susan Lewis — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:42:00 +0000

David Patrick Stearns profiles soprano Michelle Johnson. The Metropolitan Opera 2011 National Council Audition Winner sings Donna Anna in the Academy of Vocal Arts' production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, opening on Saturday, April 30th.

Eric Brannon considers a Philadelphia public art exhibition viewable only through the screens of smartphones.

Susan Lewis takes us to the Penn Museum's exhibition about generations of Pennsylvanians who kept their Lenape identity secret for two centuries.

Composer Margaret Garwood

Jill Pasternak — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Philadelphia composer Margaret Garwood is Jill Pasternak's guest this week on Crossover. Her opera The Scarlet Letter receives its world premiere by the Academy of Vocal Arts on November 19th, 2010 at the Merriam Theater. In this interview with Jill, Ms. Garwood shares highlights of her composing career, and insights into her musical style.

AVA Music Dir. Christofer Macatsoris--Jazz Composer Bill Cunliffe--Philagrafika--Artist Duke Riley

David Patrick Stearns, Jim Cotter and Susan Lewis — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:05:00 +0000

David Patrick Stearns profiles conductor Christofer Macatsoris, the music director of the Academy of Vocal Arts. AVA is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Jim Cotter speaks with Grammy Award-winning composer Bill Cunliffe. The Temple University Symphony Orchestra performs his fourth stream...La Banda at Lincoln Center on April 9, 2010.

Susan Lewis looks at Philagrafika 2010, a festival in multiple locations around Philadelphia celebrating the role of print in contemporary art.

We also speak with artist Duke Riley. His installation, Reclaiming the Lost Kingdom of Laird, is on view at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania until April 11, 2010, and is part of the Philagrafika festival.