Best Bets: June 16th – June 22nd

This week’s Best Bets: June 16th – June 22nd features two new operas, one forgotten opera, a world premiere from an exciting Korean composer and a jazz festival on the West Coast.

Here are my Best Bets: June 16th – June 22nd

FREDERICK DOUGLASS – Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) with Odyssey Opera– Boston, MA – June 20^th

Ulysses Kay’s opera had its world premiere in 1991 in New Jesey. With a libretto by Donald Dorr, Frederick Douglass depicts Douglass late in life well after the Civil War had ended and he is on his second marriage.

This three-act opera is having its first full performance since 1991. This will be a concert performance by BOMP who will also be releasing a recording of the opera.

Kenneth Kellogg sings the role of Frederick Douglass. Melody Moore sings the role of his second wife, Helen. 

Gil Rose, founder of BMOP, conducts.

There is only one performance, so fans of contemporary opera will want to see and hear this performance. I don’t know a lot about Kay’s compositions, but I have been familiar with the 2007 album Works for Chamber Orchestra and remain mightily impressed.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

MASS FOR WOMEN IN BATHROOMS – Opera Saratoga – Saratoga Springs, NY – June 22^nd – June 29^th

Opera Saratoga began their 2025 season in May with Christopher Cerrone and Stephanie Fleischmann’s In a Grove. But the rest of the season takes place in the last 10 days of June and is anchored by, in my opinion, a work-in-progress presentation for A Mass For Women in Bathrooms.

This new work is by composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi O’Connell. The two had previously worked together on the one-act opera Mary Motorhead. O’Connell appeared in that work and was staggering.

When I interviewed O’Halloran in 2023, she told me about writing her first opera, “I definitely never imagined writing an opera. But funnily enough, I think it’s the one thing that I feel like I can do really well.”

A Mass For Women in Bathrooms tells the story of a mother (Anny Degange Holgate) and her three daughters (Brennan Martinez, Chase Snaders and Sadie Spivey). Annie Saunders directs.

I was so impressed with Mary Motorhead and its companion piece Trade, that I’d love to be in New York to see this new work.

Also being performed this week are Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne and the Bock/Harnick and Masteroff musical She Loves Me.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

STEELE ROOTS -Atlanta Opera – Atlanta, GA – June 20^th – June 22^nd

In 2023, composer David Ragland and librettist Selda Sahin were winners of Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Opera Project. They had one week to develop, with experts in opera, a ten-minute showcase for their work-in-progress.

Steele Roots is that project and now has its world premiere. The opera is based on the true story of Carrie Steele Logan. At one point she was a slave, but upon emancipation she spent her remaining years taking care of orphans in Atlanta.

Indra Thomas sings the role of Carrie Steele Logan. Amanda Sheriff sings the role of Ruth, one of the older kids in her care. Daniel Rich sings Raymond, the train station attendant who helps with the kids in Logan’s care. Martin Bakari sings the role of Michael, a man from the present-day in this time-shifting opera, that is a new parent.

Tazewell Thompson directs and Nicole Neely conducts.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

The 2025 96-Hour Opera Project presentations take place on June 21^st. For tickets, please go HERE.

TERRA STRING QUARTET – Caramoor  – Katonah, NY – June 22^nd

Caramoor opens their 80^th season on June 21^st with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 performed by Orchestra of St. Luke’s under the direction of Rafael Payare.

But the highlight for me in the opening week is this Sunday afternoon matinee featuring the Terra String Quartet.

The program features Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Hob III:70; Purcell’s Chacony in G Minor and Britten’s String Quartet No. 2 in C Major. Also included, and the reason this concert is on my list, is the world premiere of Juri Seo’s Strong Quartet No. 2 “Overgrown Paths.” This work was commissioned by Caramoor.

If you saw New In Music This Week: June 13^th, you’ll recognize Seo’s name. Her album Obsolete Music was on my list. She’s a incredibly diverse and wonderful inventive composer. 

The members of Terra String Quartet are Audrey Chen on cello; Chih-Ta Chen on viola; Amelia Dietrich on violin and Harriet Langley on violin.

For tickets and more information for this concert, please go HERE. To explore the Caramoor season, please go HERE.

STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL – Multiple Venues – Palo Alto, CA – June 22^nd – August 1^st

Though the official opening night of the Stanford Jazz Festival isn’t until June 27^th (with the Fred Hersch Trio), the first concert is on Sunday, June 22^nd featuring Mahesh Kale and George Brooks in a concert entitled Indian Jazz Journey.

Other highlights of this year’s festival are Jeremy Pelt Quintet on June 28^th, John Pizzarelli on July 12^th; Joel Ross on July 24^th; Lizz Wright on July 26^th; George Cables and Friends on July 29^th and Taylor Eigsti Quartet featuring Ben Wendel on July 31^st.

For tickets and more information for the full season, please go HERE.

Have a great week! Go see a show!

Main Photo: Composer Ulysses Kay (Courtesy BMOP)