Alyson Cambridge Sings At 2014 Soul Train Awards In Las Vegas

Fresh from performances as Musetta in Puccini's La bohème at Washington National Opera, soprano Alyson Cambridge was in Las Vegas last night to sing at the 2014 Soul Train Awards along such luminaries as Chris Brown, Missy Elliot, Lil' Kim, Bobby Brown, and more. The singer announced the news yesterday on Facebook stating: "Trying to duo [sic] the opera world proud! Bringing legit opera to primetime and then fusing it with hip hop too!" Press release "Chris Brown is set to kick off the 2014 Soul Train Awards, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. The musician, who leads this year's nominees list with seven nods, will take the Orleans Arena stage in Las Vegas on Nov. 7. Also slated to sing at the annual ceremony are Aloe Blacc, Nico & Vinz, Lisa Stansfield, Kem, Jeremih and Liv Warfield. Jodeci are also set to

Alyson Cambridge on the red carpet

reunite for a medley of their hits. Wendy Williams will host the event, airing Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. on Centric and BET networks. The 2014 show will celebrate the history of dance with choreographer Fatima Robinson and her seasoned troupe, as well as producers 1500 or Nothin’ on board as music directors. 'This slate of performances is another example that Soul Train Awards 2014 is the only place where soul music lovers can find the diverse combination of current chart-topping performers and reunions from their favorite hit-making groups,' said Paxton Baker, general manager and executive vp, Centric, in a statement. 'We are pulling out all the stops this year and are thrilled to have Chris Brown and Jodeci lead the big surprises we have in store.' The 2014 Soul Train Awards is directed by Tony McCuin and produced by BET Event Productions and Sunseeker Media. Executive producers include Centric's Baker, Tami Arasli and Derek Lewis; Sunseeker's Bart Phillips; Soul Train Holdings' David Koff and Jerry Letter; Doug E. Fresh and Wendy Williams Productions' Williams and Kevin Hunter." [Source] Read more about the singer on the event's website by clicking here. A photo of Alyson Cambridge in rehearsal for the event is after the jump.

Washington National Opera Throws Japanese Themed Ball

"On June 7, the Washington National Opera held its annual fete, The Opera Ball, at the residence of Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae and his wife, Nobuko Sasae. More than 500 guests, including the District’s biggest opera fan, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Newt and Callista Gingrich, were treated to four opera performances and then dinner prepared by the Japanese embassy chefs under a custom-made chandelier of 1,000 origami paper cranes — a symbol of eternal good luck." [Source]

Norman Garrett, one of the evening's performers, sings to honored
and distinguished guests. Click image to enlarge. (Photo: Yassine El Mansouri)

Anne Midgette Breaks News of Scheppelmann Leaving Post

"The other shoe has dropped at the Washington National Opera: Christina Scheppelmann, the company’s director of artistic operations, announced Thursday that she will step down at the end of November. She is taking on a new position, although she cannot announce what it is until her new employer makes it official at the end of the month." [Source]

Patricia Racette Takes Tosca to Center Field in Washington, D.C.

"Join Washington National Opera for the fourth-annual Opera in the Outfield, a free, live opera broadcast of Puccini's Tosca on Thursday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.). Arrive early to the ballpark to enjoy entertainment and activities including:
- Performances by community youth groups including the Greenbelt S.I.T.Y. Stars double-dutch team of Greenbelt, MD, the award-winning Yorktown High School Marching Band from Arlington, VA, and the DC-based Taratibu Pan-African Step Team.
- A screening of the Warner Bros. cartoon "What's Opera, Doc?," starring Bugs Bunny and his nemesis Elmer Fudd.
- Chances to win prizes, including a VIP suite for a Nationals Game and tickets to Kennedy Center performances.
Register now for a reserved seating section at the park and be automatically entered to win a full season subscription for two to Washington National Opera's 2011-2012 season! No purchase (or seating pass request) necessary to win. A purchase or reservation will not increase your chances of winning. For more information on the giveaway, please visit the Opera in the Outfield Registration Giveaway Official Rules page. By entering the giveaway you agree that you have reviewed the full contest rules and agree to be bound by all terms and conditions." [Source]

Details after the jump.

Are Domestic Opera Companies Beginning Their Final Descent?

How many are standing around watching the
collapse of opera houses across the United States?

Seems as though New York City Opera was the first company in the United States to really yell "Fire!" loud enough for people to start paying attention to their imminent collapse. Now other companies are following suit, beginning with Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera and Austin Lyric Opera.

Patricia Racette Excels in Title Role of Iphigénie For WNO

Racette in Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride at Washington National Opera (Photo: Scott Suchman)

"Without any daringly ornamented arias or anything extraneous that might divert attention from the story's dramatic continuity, a Gluck opera will succeed only with talented singing actors and compelling direction. There are almost none of the tried-and-true operatic clichés to fall back on, not even a romantic intrigue: the central relationship here is of brother and sister, who do not even recognize one another until the end. In the title role, soprano Patricia Racette was riveting, the searing strength of her voice underscoring the still intensity of her stage presence. This was certainly what one expected of Racette, after such satisfying turns here as Jenůfa in 2007 and Ellen Orford in 2009, but her bold and electrifying performance far exceeded my hopes. After some tentative notes at the top of her range in the first hour or so, Racette hit her stride, singing with lyrical abandon in the Act IV aria 'Je t'implore et je tremble.'" [Source]

More production photos after the jump.