Maggie Smith's beloved characters have spanned generations. Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films Perhaps Maggie Smith's most iconic role of the 21st century is as Professor Minerva McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter films. California Suite Maggie Smith won her second Oscar, this time for best supporting actress, for her role as Diana Barrie in the 1978 film California …
Los Angeles Opera began last week with the Pulitzer Prize announcement that “Omar,” the acclaimed new opera by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, was being honored as the year’s best musical composition. This is already the third premiere by America’s youngest major opera company to be honored by the Pulitzers: Ellen Reid’s “prism” won in 2019 and Elliot Goldenthal’s “Grendel” …
PHILADELPHIA — Rossini’s “Otello” premiered in 1816, and the musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play was a hit for seven decades. All the big singers wanted to sing that opera.” With three tenor roles — Brownlee as Rodrigo, Khanyiso Gwenxane as Otello in his U.S. debut and Alek Shrader as Iago — Rossini’s version isn’t easy to cast. There is …
