Music by: Damien Geter Libretto by: Jarrod Lee Duration: 45 mins - 60 mins Commissioned by: IN Series Premiere: November 2025 Robert Johnson, the future Delta King of Blues, runs with embarrassment after a failed attempt to impress Willie, Son and Virginia with his playing of a steel stringed guitar named Stella. Robert seeks God’s help but with no response to his desperate plea for revenge, the Devil suddenly appears and offers Robert guitar lessons. Robert is at a crossroad and is offered a choice to leave the Devil and be a mediocre guitarist or accept the offer for the cost of his soul. With a desire to be seen and remembered, Robert accepts the Devil’s guitar lessons and returns as the best player of the steel stringed guitar. FORCES Characters are intended to be Black. Devil may be of any race. Singers: Willie - Baritone Son - Tenor Robert Johnson - Tenor The Devi l - Bass Virginia - Soprano Orchestra: Chamber orchestra: String quartet, saxophone, bass, drums, piano, and guitar. Project Statement: The Delta King’s Blues plays on the traditional conflicts found in works like Faust, Little Mermaid, etc…  What would you give to have something you desire?  Would you make a deal with the Devil in order to experience that desire?  Robert Johnson, the Delta King of Blues, supposedly made a deal with the Devil.  His soul was given in exchange for the ability to play the guitar.  This is often referenced in different forms of media around the subject “crossroads.” My goal is to lean into the myth while showing something we all want… a better life. Reviews: " Who knew that a Faustian story would work so well in an American setting? All I can say after seeing this version by Damien Geter and Jarrod Lee is: Eat your heart out, Gounod." --Opera Today "...an exquisite jewel.... If Geter’s music is a luscious stew in which unfamiliar and sharp ingredients occasionally surface, then Librettist Jarrod Lee ’s words are mounds of cornbread that allow us to soak up this meal without missing a drop." --DC Theater Arts

Aria Nouveau transports audiences on a journey through crossover hits, Broadway blockbusters, mainstream opera favorites and popular music in an elegant and artful evening perfect for music lovers of all ages. Featuring the world-class talents of soprano Laura Auer and tenor John Riesen . Artists like Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli pioneered the “classical crossover” genre, where elements of pop and opera seamlessly blend into a lush landscape of soaring vocals, rich orchestrations, and unbridled emotion. John and Laura bring the form to new heights with their classical training, sensitive musicality, and undeniable chemistry. Check out the sizzle reel: Forces Available in full orchestra line-up and reduced economy line-up. Run Time - Flexible Available in a Holiday Version! Catch Aria Nouveau on Tour! Aria Nouveau will be touring PAC spaces throughout the US (with piano) from October-March 2026. Recent Dates Oct 20     Williston Concert Association -  Williston, ND Oct 21   Heart of America Concert Series -  Rugby, ND Oct 23   Crookston Civic Music League - Crookston, MN Oct 24   Heartland Concert Association -  Park Rapids, MN Oct 25   Arrowhead Concert Association -  Virginia, MN Oct 28   Watertown Concert Series -  Watertown, WI Oct 29   Maple Lead Community Concert Series -  Monmouth, IL Oct 30   Ottawa Concert Association -  Ottawa, IL Nov 2   Mitchell Area Performing Arts Center -  Mitchell, SD Nov 4   Broadway Theatre -  Rock Springs, WY Nov 6   Burkley Fine Arts Center -  Fairbury, NE Nov 8   Windom Concert Association - Windom, MN Nov 9   Twin Town Artist Series -  Wahpeton, ND And More to Come! Dec 31   Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc -  Jupiter, FL Jan 2 Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc -  Jupiter, FL Jan 2   Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc -  Jupiter, FL Jan 3   Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc -  Jupiter, FL Jan 3   Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc - Jupiter, FL Jan 4 Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc -  Jupiter, FL Jan 27 ARIA NOUVEAU at John W Engeman Theater - Northport, NY Feb 19   Warroad RiverPlace -  Warroad, MN Feb 20   Central Lakes Concert Association -  Alexandria, MN Feb 21   Chautauqua Community Concert Association - Milbank, SD Feb 23   Beier Auditorium -  Dillon, MT Feb 25   Delta County Center for the Arts -  Delta, CO Feb 27   Community Concerts of Liberal -  Liberal, KS Mar 1   Yankton Community Concerts -  Yankton, SD Mar 2   Life Church Fergus Falls - Fergus Falls, MN Mar 3   Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts CenterCedar - Fergus Falls, IA Mar 5   Concerts in the Park - Menominee, MI Mar 6 Lakeland Performing Arts Association -  Minocqua, WI Mar 8   W.D. Packard Music Hall - Warren, OH Jun 6 Taylor Theater at the Kenan Center - South Lockport, NY Jun 15   ARIA NOUVEAU at THE FORUM at Lees-McRae College SUMMER SERIES - Banner Elk, NC Jun 15   ARIA NOUVEAU at THE FORUM at Lees-McRae College SUMMER SERIES - Banner Elk, NC Acclaim/Audience Testimonials : “Yesterday was pure magic as we celebrated the stunning debut of ARIA NOUVEAU! Laura Auer and John Riesen captivated us all with their breathtaking performances, blending world-class vocals with unforgettable emotion. The energy in the room was electric, and this debut was nothing short of spectacular. Here’s to the beginning of something truly extraordinary!” - Spokesperson for Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center “The word ENCHANTED does not aptly describe my experience, for I was also mesmerized, captivated, and enthralled as I watched Laura Auer and John Riesen perform some of the most beautiful songs I ever heard!” - Lyceum Music Hall, Burlington NJ "Everyone seemed to really enjoy the concert and we're in awe of the performance." - Mitchell Area Performing Arts Center, Mitchell SD "Very impressed with the high level of talent and skill in vocal performance and also accompaniment. Powerful voices and a great show!" - Heart of America Concert Series, Rugby ND Coming Soon... The official Aria Nouveau Album! Listen to exclusive unreleased tracks!

Brittany Renee as Bess, Metropolitan Opera | Photo: Richard Termine/Met Opera The Metropolitan Opera's production of Porgy and Bess opened Friday, December 2 to rave reviews, with critics especially noting the "superb" and "supremely versatile" cast, which includes tenor Errin Duane Brooks as Mingo, tenor Chauncey Packer as Robbins and Crabman, tenor Norman Shankle as Peter, soprano Adrienne Danrich as Lily, and soprano Brittany Renee in the title role of Bess. ( Porgy and Bess is also assistant directed by Kimille Howard .) " As Bess, soprano Brittany Renee navigated her role with heartbreaking finesse. The role calls for great emotional and musical complexity as Bess grapples with her relations to Crown, Porgy, Sportin’ Life, and ultimately herself. The wanton personality she entered with for the opening scene soon gave way to more affectionate and reflective tones as she tried to build a new life with Porgy and clear her image in the community. Her duet “Porgy, I is your Woman,” featured plush and rounded high notes from Renee as she swore her love. Her interactions with Crown and later Sportin’ Life displayed tremendous inner conflict and stunning musicality. Bess’ confrontation with the former on Kittiwah featured poignant hues from Renee as she painted the image of Porgy sadly waiting for her return and translated wonderfully into the ensuing, self-deprecating number “What You Want Wid Bess?” where her anguished high notes mixed with the lurching brass and snares to create a hypnotic sense of trying to fight the inevitable. While Bess’ arc is, in the end, a tragic one, Renee’s interpretation convincingly and captivatingly embodied the woman and the sense of frail humanity that makes her downfall come from a place almost anyone could understand and even relate to." Bess is a complicated role – a generous, beautiful woman whose addiction to drugs and the low-life are her ruination. We sympathize with her even as we watch her self-destruct. Brittany Renee used her handsome, lyrical voice and presence and held back nothing. Robinson seems to play up Bess’s flaws – she barely refuses both the “happy dust” and Crown’s advances; we root for her, but she’s an infuriating victim of her own weaknesses. "But the biggest promotion in this cast went to soprano Brittany Renee , elevated from the peripheral role of Annie to a worthy star turn as the protagonist Bess...Gershwin’s original Bess, Ann Brown, was a young Juilliard student with exceptional powers of empathy and imagination. If Brittany Renee has a tad more performing experience than Brown did, her casting as Bess seemed to be in a similar spirit. Although she had soprano power to spare, as when she led the chorus in the spiritual “O, de Train Is at de Station,” it had to be muted in her ambivalent responses to Crown and Porgy, so that “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” became more of a circling dance with her crippled lover than an ecstatic love duet. One imagines Gershwin would have approved of the contrast between Bess’s smoky reprise of “Summertime” after the fatal storm and the clarity of Clara’s original." "Alfred Walker and Brittany Renee topped a superb cast in this revival...Brittany Renee is a fascinating Bess, torn between animal lust and the lure of drugs versus her yearning for a decent life with Porgy. She glowed physically and vocally when joining Walker in ‘Bess, You Is my Woman Now’, but aged before one’s eyes as she attempted to fend off Crown in ‘What You Want wid Bess?’ However, ‘happy dust’ won in the end as she headed to New York with Frederick Ballentine’s honey-voiced and loose-limbed Sportin’ Life." "Her man was the hapless Robbins, portrayed by Chauncey Packer , who did double duty as the lively Crabman hawking his catch later in the opera." "Review: PORGY AND BESS Raises the Roof at the Metropolitan It was put across, sometimes sensationally, by a supremely versatile cast... Brittany Renee (a cocaine-besotted, weak-willed Bess)" Photo: Richard Termine/Met Opera PORGY AND BESS runs through January 24 at the The Metropolitan Opera - purchase tickets below!

Superstar soprano Brittany Renee was recently featured by Classical Singer Magazine in their "Artist Spotlight" series. The release coincided with the December 2 opening of Brittany's highest-profile role yet: Bess in The Metropolitan Opera's Porgy and Bess. The article, written by Jonathan Blalock, features Brittany's meteoric rise at the Metropolitan Opera, from supplementary chorus to leading lady. As a young singer in New York City studying and auditioning, Brittany’s day job was in the finance industry. She landed a position in The Metropolitan Opera’s extra chorus and soon sang an audition for leading roles in its mainstage productions. Arts administrator Paul Hopper recalls that pivotal moment: “I was immediately taken by her sizable and distinct instrument that oozed with beauty and expression. Our conversations culminated in her returning to the Met for a six-production, season-long contract.”  Peter Gelb also heralded her stunning trajectory: “Brittany Renee has gone from a relatively small supporting role in the Met premiere of Fire Shut Up in My Bones in 2021 to singing one of the title roles in Porgy and Bess this season, a meteoric rise that is a result of her beautiful voice and stunning stage presence.” The feature also highlights Brittany's somewhat atypical path to stardom. Her path wasn’t always clear, however. “Right after finishing my grad degree at Peabody Conservatory, I realized, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do!’ I knew I wanted to keep singing, but I wasn’t ready to jump into this young artist audition circuit. I was still figuring out things with my voice.” Soprano Martile Rowland connected with Renee at a summer program and she invited her back the following year.  “When I returned, she helped me fall in love with my voice and find my joy again in singing. She helped me clear away the conflicting opinions that I was receiving in college and focus only on my voice. For a few years, I literally had a lesson with her every single week. My routine consisted of my temp job and just consistently going and singing with her. It was such a pleasure.” Also discussed is Brittany's approach to new roles and what it was like tackling the iconic role of Bess for the first time. Brittany Renee’s patience and consistent study laid the groundwork for her flourishing international career. Her European leading role debut in Porgy and Bess at Teatro Regio Torino stretched her physically and emotionally, requiring vulnerability and courage to connect deeply with audiences. “I often ask myself, ‘Am I ready? Can I embody all the emotional nuances?’” she says.    “Stepping into Bess’s shoes for the first time was daunting but also exhilarating. It was my first international leading role and the most physically demanding one I’ve done. I’d previously sung comedic and smaller parts, so commanding such intensity pushed me in new ways artistically and emotionally. It’s a process, and mindset matters immensely. It was a key learning experience in giving my all, without inhibitions. I had to dig deep, tap into my vulnerability, and let go of my fear to connect with the audience.” Roles with rich emotional arcs continually challenge and inspire her, and she approaches each opportunity with a willingness to stretch herself.  Check out the full article below to learn all about Brittany' incredible career! Brittany Renee as Bess, Metropolitan Opera | Photo: Richard Termine/Met Opera And don't miss her incredible performance as Bess, now through January 24 at the The Metropolitan Opera.

Music by: Ricky Ian Gordon Libretto by: Mark Campbell Duration: 85 minutes Commissioned: Virginia Arts Festival,Virginia Opera, the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, and Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. Premiered : Harrison Opera House, Norfolk, Virginia 2011 Personal Statment A theatrical song cycle grouped into five parts, Rappahannock County captures key emotional, sociological, and historical moments in the Civil War, focusing on more than two dozen fictional people who experience the consequences of the conflict, their stories told through both solo and ensemble numbers. Much of the text was inspired by actual events and drawn from diaries, letters, and other accounts. The narrative follows the lines of history, from secession by Southern states in 1861 to their defeat by the Union Army in 1865. Although the story is geographically centered in Virginia, its themes–including the struggle to create new beginnings from the ashes of a previous way of life–are universal to the Civil War. FORCES Singers: 5 principal singers (doubling various roles) 1 Soprano (African American) 1 Mezzo-soprano (Caucasian) 1 Tenor (Caucasian) 1 Baritone (African American) 1 Baritone (Caucasian) Orchestration: 1(dbl. Picc.) 1(dbl. E.H.) 2(2nd dbl. B.Cl .) 1 - 1 1(dbl. Flglhn.) 1 0; Timp Perc Pno.(dbl. Cel.) Str. Reviews Rappahannock County is a work of great economy, but immense emotional breadth — and depth. - Wes Blomster, Opera Today It is to the credit of composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Mark Campbell that their "Rappahannock County" succeeds so remarkably both musically and emotionally: it is not unlike Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in that, in a relatively brief time, it gets at the heart of an aspect of the collective American experience that has shaped all that has come after and, at its core, is both unique to America and unmistakably universal. – Joseph Newsome, Voix des Arts MEDIA Photos by Colin Howe, Nic Minetor, Jim Caldwell

Created by: Adrienne Danrich Commissioned by Cincinnati Opera, premiere 2008 Duration: 1 hour Mission Statement This Little Light of Mine , written and performed over 80 times by EMMY® Award Winning Soprano Adrienne Danrich, is an inventive one- woman musical tribute honoring the ground-breaking careers of Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. Danrich’s storytelling ability, the beauty of her voice, and poignant multi-media images creatively document the lives of these two internationally renowned artists who overcame many racial barriers from the Jim Crow era through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Two courageous women, two incredible voices and one unforgettable, hope filled story (2011 Midwest Emmy Winner-Adrienne Danrich for Outstanding Crafts Achievement for On-Camera Talent – Program Performer/Narrator’, Milwaukee Public Television; 2011 Midwest Emmy Nominee ‘Outstanding Achievement for Arts/Entertainment Programming’; Commissioned by Cincinnati Opera 2007). MEDIA Reviews She's Gonna Let It Shine (Urban Milwaukee) “Danrich’s spinto soprano is deep, expansive and powerful. She was stunning in arias from Puccini’s Turandot and Madame Butterfly, and she is a skilled interpreter of spirituals.” Adrienne Danrich can really sing. Danrich wrote This Little Light of Mine to tell the stories of Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price through their own recordings, quotes, pictures, and her own interpretations of the arias and spirituals that made them famous. Danrich focuses mostly on the racial barriers that these breached to lead the way for African Americans in this country and in the world of opera. Adrienne Danrich Shines Bright in "This Little Light of Mine" ( Operagasm.com ) “Adrienne Danrich is definitely on my soprano radar as of now. She needs to be on yours.” Baltimore Concert Opera’s “This Little Light of Mine” is a miracle to behold and a perfect way to recognize Black History Month through the arts this weekend! If you are able to attend tomorrow (Sunday, March 1st), GET THERE.Adrienne Danrich is not only a gifted singer, but also a beautifully articulate speaker on and off the proverbial cuff. The soprano essayed the groundbreaking careers of two towering pioneering black women in classical music: Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. What was most remarkable about the performance was the way in which she illuminated the determination and fruition of their careers alongside the very real racism that these singer faced on a daily basis. We forget how far we’ve come sometimes…

The most famous and successful American opera from the twentieth century, Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess is presented in a re-imagined concert version featuring a veteran cast. With a landmark score and a cast of up to 13 singers, we take you on a journey covering the complete story of love and loss on Catfish Row. This elegant concert presentation melds the dramatic breadth of the opera into an adaptable production that appeals to a variety of audiences. Choose from our 2, 4, or 13 artist variations which can easily be paired with Gershwin’s other masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue. UIAP acts as your one-stop shop for casting, staffing, and producing logistics for concert musicals done at the highest level. For one bundled fee you receive everything from the full cast and artistic team, company and production management, marketing partnership, and much more. Music by:  George Gershwin Lyrics by: Ira Gershwin Libretto by:  DuBose Heyward Original Production February 2015 - Jacksonville Symphony                                                                                                                                                                  2-4 soloists, a cast of up to 13, with piano to full orchestra Run Time: 30, 60, 150 minutes Projections available Available for opera companies, PACs, symphony orchestras, etc. ORIGINAL CAST Gordan Hawkins  - Porgy Laquita Mitchell - Bess Kenneth Overton  - Jake Bernard Holcomb  - Sportin' Life

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is a story to be shared with every generation! UIA Presents you with the charm and whimsicality of this timeless story performed live with a one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets, celebrity talent and all the best heart-warming moments from the classic Broadway production. The Music Man: In Concert premiered with Pacific Symphony this past season starring Broad-way’s Jeremy Stolle (The Phantom of the Opera) and Elena Shaddow (The Visit, Bridges of Madison County, The Sound of Music Live!/NBC) to tremendous acclaim! UIAP acts as your one-stop shop for casting, staffing, and producing logistics for concert musicals done at the highest level. For one bundled fee you receive everything from the full cast and artistic team, company and production management, marketing partnership, and much more. Music by:  Meredith Wilson Libretto by:  Franklin Lacey Original Production May 2019 - Pacific Symphony                                                                                                                                                                  10 adult vocalists with full orchestra Two 50-minute acts with intermission Optional local kids cast add on Optional projections and wagon add on ORIGINAL CAST Erich Bergen - Harold Hill Elena Shaddow - Marian Paroo Aaron Sanko  - Marcellus Washburn/Jacey Squires Jeff Mattsey  - Mayor Shinn/Oliver Hix Charlie Tingen - Tommy Djilas/Quartet/Ewart Dunlop/Winthrop Paroo Jessica Medoff  - Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn Emily Pulley  - Mrs. Paroo/ Ethel Toffelmier Olivia Mattsey  - Amaryllis/ Zaneeta Shinn/ Maud Dunlop Laura Heyhurst Compton  - Alma/ Marian Cover

UIA Presents: Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. Fresh from Broadway, this ten-time Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece features beloved songs like “Not While I’m Around,” "A Little Priest,” “Pretty Women,” and more. An electrifying musical thriller, SWEENEY TODD is guaranteed to serve audiences a full menu of unforgettable frights and delights. UIAP acts as your one-stop shop for casting, staffing, and producing logistics for concert musicals done at the highest level. For one bundled fee you receive everything from the full cast and artistic team, company and production management, marketing partnership, and much more. Music by:  Stephen Sondheim Libretto by:  Hugh Wheeler Original Production June 2024 - Pacific Symphony 10 vocalists with full orchestra 2.5 hour total running time including one 20-minute intermission ORIGINAL CAST Quentin Earl Darrington  - Sweeney Todd Liz Pearce - Mrs Lovett Daniel Sumegi  - Judge Turpin Francesca Mehrotra  - Johanna Dan Hoy - Anthony Hope Michael Kuhn  - Tobias Ragg Michele McConnell  - Beggar Woman Bernard Holcomb  - Beadle Bamford Glenn Seven Allen  - Pirelli/Fogg/Bird Seller

Join us for a jaunt through one of America’s favorite musicals: My Fair Lady! In association with Chaplin Entertainment, UIA Presents you with the elegance and enchantment of this classic romantic story, performed live with a lush symphonic score, celebrity talent, and all the best show-stopping My Fair Lady moments. UIAP has packaged this concert for Utah Symphony, North Carolina Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony. Previous celebrity and Broadway cast has included Primetime Emmy Award winner Peter Scolari (Girls, Newhart, Polar Express) and Elena Shaddow (The Visit, Bridges of Madison County, The Sound of Music Live!/NBC). UIAP acts as your one-stop shop for casting, staffing, and producing logistics for concert musicals done at the highest level. For one bundled fee you receive everything from the full cast and artistic team, company and production management, marketing partnership, and much more. Music by:  Frederick Loewe Libretto by:  Alan Jay Lerner Original Production February 2018 - Milwaukee Symphony                                                                                                                                                                  6 vocalists with two pianos to full orchestra Two 50-minute acts with intermission ORIGINAL CAST Peter Scolari  - Henry Higgins Elena Shaddow - Eliza Do0little Charles Edward Hall  - Alfred Doolittle/Ensemble Charles Tingen  - Ensemble Jennifer DeDominici - Ensemble/Eliza u/s Michele McConnell  - Ensemble Curt Olds  - Musical Staging/Male Cover

Directed by: Mo Zhou Music by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by: Lorenzo Da Ponte Original Production July 2025 - Music Academy of the West DESIGNERS Charlie Corcoran - Scenic Designer Ruoxuan Li - Costume Designer Masha Tsimring  - Lighting Designer Berenice Gallegos  - Wig & Makeup Designer Kevin Williams - Prop Designer Adam Noble - Fight & Intimacy Director ORIGINAL CAST Don Giovanni : Joshua J. Klein Leporello : Irakli Pkhaladze Donna Anna : Xinshu Li Donna Elvira : Emily Margevich Zerlina : Roux Peng Don Ottavio : Joshua Berg Masetto : Jack Burrows Commendatore : David Kahng Reviews " I n all, this Don Giovanni, one of the finest overall Academy productions in recent years, amounted to a profound achievement, as director Mo Zhou logically tapped into the world of 'casting couch' paradigm, with Columbia Pictures founder Harry Cohn as the doppelgänger character embodied by the Don. " - Josef Woodard , Writer for Santa Barbara Independent MEDIA

The Rake's Progress | Photo: Kayleen Bertrand, courtesy of The Glimmerglass Festival It seems everyone is in agreement: The Rake's Progress at the Glimmerglass Festival, led by Maestro Joseph Colaneri , is a rousing success. Check out some of the incredible reviews below. "From the opening fanfares, music director Joseph Colaneri led a commanding performance on Saturday afternoon that showed his orchestra at its finest." Read the full Times Union review. "Stravinsky’s opera pays tribute to the long tradition of this multi-disciplinary art form and celebrates music especially, which Conductor Joseph Colaneri most triumphantly realizes in leading the Glimmerglass Orchestra. Right from the start, with Stravinsky’s nod to Monteverdi, there’s a “Listen up” fanfare, and, under Colaneri’s baton, we’re off and running." Read the full DC Theater Arts review. "Post-performance, I was sitting in the refreshment garden having a coffee with friends, trying to come down from Stravinsky’s Cloud 9. Maestro Colaneri hove into view, joined us and attempted an unsuccessful effort to descend back to planet earth. Stravinsky had obviously taken him beyond the stratosphere. He bubbled with enthusiasm. About his orchestra, the cast, the production. No celebration yet. Off for an immediate shower to effect a controlled re-entry. The conductor had given his all. It seemed almost gratuitous to express enthusiasm. Maestro Colaneri knew Glimmerglass’s The Rake’s Progress had capped this year’s 50-year Festival. And set a high barrier for the 50 yet to come." Read the full review on Reaction The Rake's Progress runs through August 15.