Upcoming events & performances
American Rhapsody @ WNO
American spirit takes center stage.
Looking for the heart of America? Take a closer look at American opera—where every note captures the joys, struggles, and dreams of our nation.
Join us as opera luminaries take the stage to celebrate the heart and soul of American composers and their beloved works, weaving tales of struggle, triumph, and everything in between. With works by Samuel Barber to Leonard Bernstein to Margaret Bonds and more, this concert is a lively homage to the music that captures the American spirit.
With this concert, WNO continues its commitment to celebrating opera’s past and building its future.
Porgy and Bess @ WNO
WNO Revival
Love shines a light into the blues.
It’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy” in Catfish Row, a working-class fishing town in South Carolina. When a murder shakes the community and tempts Bess to return to her drug-filled past, Porgy becomes her unlikely refuge. As a hurricane descends and Bess’ violent old flame returns, she’ll find herself torn between Porgy’s steadfast love and the demons that tempt her.
Artistic Director Francesca Zambello’s adaptation of Gershwin’s landmark “folk opera” returns after playing to critical acclaim across renowned opera stages. Often considered the first great American opera, Porgy and Bess melds jazz, gospel, and folk styles. A new generation of talented singers assembles to take on Gershwin’s beloved music, from the gentle duet “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” to the instantly recognizable “Summertime” lullaby.
Themes of community resilience, acceptance, and redemption weave through this poignant story, ultimately asking if even the most unwavering love can drive out darkness.
Denyce Graves with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
The recently appointed artistic advisor of the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory, Graves is artistic director of The Denyce Graves Foundation, which she founded in 2021. Kicking off a week exploring “Art in Action: Building Community Through the Arts,” Graves joins the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Rossen Milanov for an evening of opera highlights.
Hall of Philosophy @ Chautauqua
Exploring the theme of “Art in Action: Building Community Through the Arts,” Graves will both open the week in concert with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, July 5, 2025, and then speak three days later in her Chautauqua Lecture Series debut. In that presentation, Graves will discuss her dedication to the singers of the next generation, and her work championing the hidden musical figures of the past while uplifting young artists of world-class talent from all backgrounds.
Lake Nona Impact Forum
Denyce Graves will be speaking with Brian Zeger at this year’s Lake Nona Impact Forum. The LNIF is an annual invitation-only that convenes a collection of the brightest minds from the health, wellness, and medical innovation ecosystem. This exclusive event serves as a catalyst for global health innovation in Lake Nona’s Smart City of the Future.
Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise
Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise is a one-hour PBS documentary that celebrates the sesquicentennial of this iconic institution while exploring the ever-evolving definition of democracy through powerful stories and performances that have unfolded there. Featuring appearances by Wynton Marsalis, Kathryn Hahn, Lewis Black, Denyce Graves Montgomery, Misty Copeland, Otis Moss III, Kwame Alexander, and many more, Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise artistically looks at the evolution of ongoing cultural issues, and the impact that Chautauqua Institution has had in providing a critical platform for some of the most thought-provoking, challenging, and often uplifting conversations in America and beyond.
The Golden Age of Black Opera: A conversation with Legendary African American Mezzo-Soprano Denyce Graves
In celebration of Black History Month, Dean Stephanie Shonekan invites you to an exclusive conversation with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as part of the Spring 2025 ARHU Dean’s Lecture Series. Denyce will share insights from her career, reflecting on her trailblazing journey as a Black woman in opera.