By James Sohre, Opera Today Published: Friday, August 8, 2014 Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre has gifted opera enthusiasts with a thrilling Barber, and I don’t mean . . . of Seville. At a time when few companies risk devoting resources to lesser-known lyric theatre, this enterprising operation has gambled, and won, with a … Continued

Reviews » A beautifully sung production of the ultra-popular “Les Misérables” tops the bill. By Robert Coleman, The Salt Lake Tribune Published: Saturday, August 2, 2014 Logan • Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre’s 22nd season includes four ambitious, superbly produced mainstage shows, with Schönberg’s and Boubil’s ultra-popular “Les Misérables” topping the bill. All four … Continued

By Ali Snow, Utah Public Radio Published: Thursday, July 31, 2014 Have you ever considered what an amazing act of faith it is, as a conductor, to do an upbeat and come down and expect sound to happen? We now introduce a fearless Karen Keltner, resident conductor of the San Diego Opera, who has helped … Continued

Congratulations to the winners of the 6th annual Michael Ballam Concorso Lirico International Opera Competition: Peter Scott Drackley – 1st Place Winner Jon Jurgens – Alternate Rachel Sparrow – Audience Favorite Thank you to all of the talented artists who gave their best in the competition, and a special thanks to our audience for your … Continued

By Maren Scriven, Utah Theatre Bloggers Posted: Monday, July 28, 2014 LOGAN — Oklahoma! was the first musical that the very popular team of Rodgers and Hammerstein created together, and through the years it has been the subject of critical acclaim, awards, and accolades. Because of this, the show is one that is done by … Continued

By Kevin Opsahl, The Herald Journal Published: Saturday, July 26, 2014 Stefan Espinosa of the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre was talking to patrons about fight choreography on Tuesday when one of the festival artists walked in and announced he had a beef with Espinosa. Samus Haddad said he had scheduled a time to … Continued

By Jay Wamsley, Deseret News Published: Saturday, July 19, 2014 It’s easy to see which of the four offerings of the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre season is considered the blockbuster, the one to see. Check out the schedule: “The Student Prince” is set for five showings, and “Vanessa” is scheduled for four. “Oklahoma!” … Continued

By Charlie Schill, The Herald Journal Published: Thursday, July 17, 2014 Three of the four offerings of the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre’s 2014 season comprise an enjoyable lesson in the evolution of Broadway shows in the 20th Century. “The Student Prince,” which opened July 11, is a prime example of an operetta, a … Continued

By Jennie Christensen, Cache Valley Daily Published: Thursday, July 17, 2014 Each year around the July 24th Pioneer Day holiday the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre presents a special Pioneers and Patriots concert. Founder and general director Michael Ballam says this year the concert will pay tribute to John Philip Sousa who came to … Continued

By Katie Roundy, Utah Theatre Bloggers Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 LOGAN — Every musical theatre fan has a list of our favorite shows—the ones they can watch over and over again, and each time experience all the emotion and passion as if for the first time. On my list is Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel … Continued

By Edward Reichel, Reichel Recommends Posted: Friday, July 11, 2014 Michael Ballam’s Utah Festival occasionally presents works not normally seen in Utah. In the past the festival has staged Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, both of which Utah Opera has yet to mount. This year, it’s Samuel Barber’s 1958 Pulitzer Prize … Continued