The Economist -- which supported Israel's attack on Gaza from the start -- surveys all evidence and definitively declares: "catastrophic levels of hunger have been confirmed."
Famine now in every region. More than 15% of young children are severely malnourished. All worsening.
What’s happening in Gaza tonight is horrifying. Entire neighborhoods are being obliterated with families in them. Unidentified chemical agents are leaving civilians with severe burning sensations. How are we allowing this? How is the world still functioning after all this?
Famine has now been confirmed in Gaza.
Over half a million people are facing the most devastating form of hunger, warns @theIPCinfo.
An immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access is imperative to save lives.
https://www.wfp.org/news/famine-confirmed-first-time-gaza — via @WFP
I recently learned that the name “Appleby” has Viking etymological origins! This must explain why I feel so at home here in Oslo as I begin the new season preparing Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex.
Our new production of the neo-classical tragedy is a co-production with the ballet at Den Norske Opera & Ballett created by Sir Wayne McGregor and led from the podium by Koen Kessels. The design, dance, staging and music-making is all world class and I’m very proud to make my Den Norske Opera & Ballett debut with such brilliant colleagues.
5 days ago
It was a privilege to perform Matt Aucoin’s Music for New Bodies at the Tanglewood Music Festival this week. From its premiere at Rice University to performances at Brown University and the Lincoln Center Festival, this work—set to the remarkable poetry of Jorie Graham—has been shaped through the dedication and artistry of an exceptional team of collaborators.
Matthew Aucoin | composer & conductor
Peter Sellars | Stage Director
Ben Zamora | Lighting Design
Victoria Bek | Costume Stylist
Song Hee Lee | Soprano
Meryl Dominguez | Soprano
Megan Moore | Mezzo
Paul Appleby | Tenor
Evan Hughes | Bass-Baritone
Sandbox Percussion
Jonny Allen, Victor Caccese, lan Rosenbaum, Terry Sweeney
Emi Ferguson and Jessica Shand | flutes
Yasmina Spiegelberg | clarinet
Joe Jordan | oboe
Kara Lamoure | bassoon
Miranda Cuckson and Keir GoGwilt | violins
Carrie Frey | viola
Iva Casian-Lakos and Jesse Christeson | cellos
Maggie Cox | double bass
Jacqueline Kerrod | harp
Baron Fenwick | piano
Lucas Amory | keyboard
3 weeks ago
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And to close out American Modern Opera Company at Lincoln Center Festival: the echoing of tenses by Anthony Cheung, performed with the brilliant Miranda Cuckson and poets Arthur Sze, Victoria Chang, Monica Youn, and Jenny Xie.
It’s been a tremendous joy getting to know Anthony and his music through our echoing journey—from the world premiere at the Ojai Music Festival to Wednesday night’s performance at Alice Tully Hall, with a recording in between. It’s been an honor to collaborate with this fantastic group of artists.
Huge thanks to everyone behind the scenes who made this Lincoln Center Festival one to remember.
2 months ago
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I recently learned that the name “Appleby” has Viking etymological origins! This must explain why I feel so at home here in Oslo as I begin the new season preparing Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex.
Our new production of the neo-classical tragedy is a co-production with the ballet at @operaen_ created by Sir Wayne McGregor and led from the podium by @koen_kessels. The design, dance, staging and music-making is all world class and I’m very proud to make my @operaen_ debut with such brilliant colleagues.
#oslooperahouse #oslogram #norwaytravel #seasonopener #oedipusrex #stravinsky #dennorskeoperaogballett #collaborations #operasingersofinstagram #tenorlife #operasingers
It was a privilege to perform Matt Aucoin’s Music for New Bodies at the @tanglewoodmusicfestival this week. From its premiere at Rice University to performances at Brown University and the @lincolncenter Festival, this work—set to the remarkable poetry of Jorie Graham—has been shaped through the dedication and artistry of an exceptional team of collaborators.
Matthew @aucoincomposer | composer & conductor
Peter Sellars | Stage Director
@bbbenzamoraaa | Lighting Design
Victoria Bek | Costume Stylist
@SongHee_Lzy | High Soprano
Meryl Dominguez @ragazzavioletta |
Soprano
@MeganMooreMezzo | Mezzo
Paul Appleby | Tenor
@EvanBenHughes | Bass-Baritone
@Sandbox_Percussion @jonny_jonnyallen @victorcaccese @ianrosenbaum
@terrysweeney @mirandacmusic @keir_gogwilt @freyaviol @iva_cl
Jesse Christeson Maggie Cox @emiferguson @jessica.shand @yasminaspiegelberg Joe
Jordan @karalamoure @jacquikerrod @baronfenwick Lucas Amory @runningamoc
📷 2: Hilary Scott
#runningamoc #tanglewood #summerfestival #newmusic #contemporarymusic #classicalmusicians #collaborations
And to close out @runningamoc ’s @lincolncenter Festival: the echoing of tenses by @anthonyscheung, performed with the brilliant @mirandacmusic and poets Arthur Sze, @fattery12, @monsteryoun, and Jenny Xie.
It’s been a tremendous joy getting to know Anthony and his music through our echoing journey—from the world premiere at the @ojaimusicfestival to Wednesday night’s performance at Alice Tully Hall, with a recording in between. It’s been an honor to collaborate with this fantastic group of artists.
Huge thanks to everyone behind the scenes who made this Lincoln Center Festival one to remember.
#collaborations #classicalmusicians #poetsofinsta #poetryreading #lincolncenter #anthonycheung #summerfestival #singerslife #modernmusic #heartofpoets #fingerheart
▫️MUSIC FOR NEW BODIES
Music by Matthew @aucoincomposer
Based on poems by Jorie Graham
🗓️ July 10 & 11, 2025
David Geffen Hall
Matthew Aucoin | composer & conductor
Peter Sellars | Stage Director
@bbbenzamoraaa | Lighting Design
@MarkGreyMusic | Sound Design
@YibinBillWang | Assistant Director
Victoria Bek | Costume Stylist
@SongHee_Lzy | High Soprano
Meryl Dominguez @ragazzavioletta | Soprano
@MeganMooreMezzo | Mezzo
Paul Appleby | Tenor
@EvanBenHughes | Bass-Baritone
@Sandbox_Percussion @jonny_jonnyallen @victorcaccese @ianrosenbaum @terrysweeney @mirandacmusic @keir_gogwilt @freyaviol @iva_cl @colemanplayscello @dougballiett @emiferguson @catherineboyackflute @hunt.obrien @yasminaspiegelberg Joe Jordan @bradballiett @jacquikerrod @baronfenwick @ningyupiano @runningamoc
#runAMOCfestival #AMOC #newmusic #nycevent #whatshappening #operalife #classicalmusicians #operasinger #contemporarymusic #musicfestivals #collaborate
Blondes do have more fun.
#TBT to my first Don Ottavio with @SanDiegoOpera in 2015, pictured here with the radiant @EllieDehnSoprano as Donna Anna. Grateful for this debut and the incredible team behind it—and looking forward to bringing Ottavio back to the @MetOpera stage this fall.
📸: Cory Weaver Photography
#classicalmusic #dongiovanni #mozart #operalover #operalife #roledebut #operasingersofinstagram #blondesofinstagram #oldiebutgoodie #swords
Happy Birthday, Bobby! What would I do without you?!
You all know this song, no doubt, but I wanted to share it anyway because it’s such a perfect little gem. When I was a more-green singer, I took little perfections like this one for granted, but increasingly I savor little things like his emotionally precise chord-voicings heard played here with commensurate expertise by Schumann expert, Ken Noda from our performance of Dichterliebe with the @chambermusicsociety.
#classicalmusicians #robertschumann #otd #operasingers #liederabend #dichterliebe #tenor #pianistlife #collaborations #latergram #chambermusicsociety #artsong #lieder #happybirthday🎂 #songs🎶
Tonight’s final performance of the @metopera production of ANTONY & CLEOPATRA marks the end of a three-year adventure with Caesar. From @SFOpera to the @liceu_opera_barcelona, bringing it home to the Met has added so much meaning to this epic journey.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way—from the hardworking administrators, tech crew, stage managers, and music staff to the makeup and wardrobe teams. And of course, a special thank you to our creative team led by John Adams, who have created something truly extraordinary.
🎭 Cast and Creative
John Adams | conductor
@geraldfinleyofficial | Antony
@_juliabullock | Cleopatra
Paul Appleby | Caesar
@egdeshong | Octavia
@taylorelaineraven | Charmian
@brenton_ryan | Eros
@jarrettott | Agrippa
Alfred Walker | Enobarbus
@evegigliotti | Iras
Kevin Short @kshort111 | Lepidus
@michael.adams.opera | Scarus
@Elkhanahpulitzer | Direction
Mimi Lien @mi2lien | Set Designer
Constance Hoffman | Costume Designer
David Finn | Lighting Designer
Bill Morrison | Projection Designer
@MarkGreyMusic | Sound Designer
@AnnieBParson | Choreographer
@luciascheckner | Dramaturg
Caren Levine @photosfromthepromptbox Joseph Lawson @laurapoepiano @bryanwagorn and @timmy.long | Musical Preparation
Kathryn LaBouff | English Diction
Morgan Robinson, Christina Franklin, Sarah Meyers and @Marcus.Alexander.Shields | Assoc. & Assist. Stage Directors
@metopera @metoperaactors @metoperachorus @metorchestra @metoperaballet
📷: (2) Karen Almond / Metropolitan Opera
#antonyandcleopatra #johnadamscomposer #metopera #operalover #operalife #takesavillage #collaborations #caesar #fujix100v #backstagephoto #classicalmusicians #gratitudepost #operasingers #sword
#tbt Caesar at the @Guggenheim
Now that so many of you have come to see the opera at the @MetOpera or have heard it on a broadcast, I wanted to share more of the background on the creation of this great opera.
The Works & Process series offers a behind the scenes sneak peek of new works from around the globe. For ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, there was a discussion with our creative team (director @elkhanahpulitzer, set designer @milien, choreographer @anniebparson) moderated by Metropolitan Opera General Manager Peter Gelb with musical highlights performed by @_juliabullock, @geraldfinleyofficial and yours truly, accompanied by the luminous @laurapoepiano at the piano.
To watch the full program, visit the link in the bio
📷 : @e.mertz.photography and Nonesuch Records / Facebook
#worksandprocess #newmusic #modernmusic #collaborate #metopera #johnadamscomposer #caesar #operasingers #classicalmusicians #operalife #paneldiscussion #letstalkaboutit #shakespeare
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Photo Credit: Pascal Victor (Festival d’Aix)
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