Mary Elizabeth Williams Garners Major Success as Aida

Ethiopian Princess: Mary Elizabeth Williams

"And there was radiant soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams as Aida, who was probably the reason this company dared take on Aida in the first place. Williams is not actually an Aida; her voice is about two sizes too small for the part. She is, however, a consummate artist, who stood out with the company as Tosca (another ambitious assignment) in 2009, and who won more local attention as Adriana Lecouvreur at the Washington Concert Opera last fall. She has a soft bronze voice with a limpid quality, whether she is singing at her loudest or floating out a gentle little phrase that tamed the bombast of the big Act II ensemble. She is also a wonderful presence on stage, at once regal and human. As Aida, the Ethiopian princess captured by the Egyptians and enslaved to the princess Amneris, Williams seemed a true princess in disguise, whether she was going through the motions of a slave girl or standing up to Amneris and starting to snap at her that she was, indeed, her equal. She looked it, every inch." [Source]

Watch a brief video of the singer discussing Aida at the Virginia Opera, after the jump.

Kevin Newbury Takes "Hansel and Gretel" in a New Direction

For more information about the show at Virginia Opera click here.

Russell Allen New Chief Executive at Virginia Opera

Chief Executive:
Russell Allen

"A former manager of Virginia Opera, Russell Allen, is returning to take the top administrative post. Starting Sept. 19, Allen will be the chief executive of the statewide opera company. 'I’m absolutely thrilled. He is one of the very best,' said Alan Albert, president of the opera board, by phone on Thursday. Allen is a longtime arts manager who most recently served for three years as executive director of The Washington Ballet. He left that position in June. Other jobs he has had since he was general manager at Virginia Opera, from 1994 to 2000, include executive director of Orlando Ballet....On Thursday the company also launched searches for new artistic and music directors. Virginia Opera fired its longtime artistic director, Peter Mark, in

Artistic Advisor:
Robin Thompson

November. Since then, the company has relied on an artistic adviser, Robin Thompson, formerly with New York City Opera, to guide the season. He will remain in that role during the search. The company expects the search to take a year, and for the new artistic director to be in place for the 2013-2014 season. In the meantime, John Kennelly has been named interim artistic director. Kennelly has been producing director of the opera company since 2000." [Source] Check out profiles of Russell Allen by clicking here and here.

Contract Cancelled? Start a New Company!

Peter Mark, whose contract as artistic director of the Virginia Opera was terminated after 36 years in November, is taking his revenge. At a news conference Sunday, before an audience of people who expressed their support for him by e-mail after his ouster, he announced the creation of a new Lyric Opera of Virginia.

The company will perform at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, the Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, the