“This year’s Opera Gala theme is Romeo & Juliet, a timeless love story. Our signature fundraising event begins with a concert featuring an outstanding cast of versatile opera artists performing scenes from Gounod’s beautiful Romeo & Juliet paired with exciting moments from Bernstein’s West Side Story in the superb acoustics of the spacious sanctuary at Bonita Presbyterian Church. The one hour concert on March 6th will be semi-staged, in costume with piano accompaniment.”

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Meet the Artists for Gulfshore Opera’s Gala Concert, > https://www.gulfshoreopera.org/meet-the-artists-go-gala-2022/

“…The Gulfshore Opera Season 8 Gala theme is Romeo & Juliet, a timeless love story… Featured artists are New York City Opera tenor Glenn Seven Allen as Romeo, and sparkling Miami native soprano Kyaunnee Richardson as Juliet…”

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To read the full article, > https://naples.floridaweekly.com/articles/gulfshore-opera-offers-inspiring-season-8-schedule/

Take a behind the scene look at how The Secret River was constructed.

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To watch the documentary, > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSEXquyBlWA

Bearded Lens Photography/Opera Orlando, 2021

Opera Orlando proudly premiered its first commissioned opera, The Secret River, this past December in the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at Dr. Phillips Center, and the Company is excited to once again partner with WUCF TV - PBS to broadcast an ENCORE! presentation of this ”…love letter to Central Florida,” Sunday, January 30th at 430P.

To Watch the performance,> https://video.wucftv.org/video/opera-orlando-presents-the-secret-river-ue8lwn/

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“There’s so much beauty in Opera Orlando’s The Secret River … a production bubbling with warmth and heart… everywhere you look, artistic ingenuity is being celebrated,” writes Matt Palm, and Opera Orlando is so pleased to be able to share the beauty of this production with WUCF audiences. Tune in Sunday, January 30 at 430P for a special “Making of…” featurette about the development of The Secret River from page to stage, followed by the ENCORE! presentation of the world-premiere production.

In case you missed yesterday evening’s performance, the live-stream link is located below:

https://www.savannahvoicefestival.org/nowshowing/

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Artists Chad Sonka, Kyaunnee Richardson, Sara Zoe Budnik and Maria Zouves are accompanied by Savannah VOICE Festival Composer-in-Residence, Michael Ching.

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If you are watching, be sure to use #SingKyaunnee to be featured on Ms. Richardson’s Instagram stories!

Ms. Richardson will be performing with the Savannah VOICE Festival in their upcoming recital on January 22nd at the Savannah African Art Museum. The performance will be live-streamed. Lastly, Kyaunnee will be making her role debut as Despina in the upcoming production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Opera Williamsburg, Summer 2022.

“…Kyaunnee Richardson as Calpurnia captured the wide-eyed innocence of a young girl on the cusp of discovering that things are not always what they seem. She gamboled giddily up and down the stage, bringing Rawlings’ winsome Black heroine to life with her cherubic soprano range…” ~Esteban Meneses, I Care if You Listen

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To read the full article, > https://icareifyoulisten.com/2022/01/the-secret-river-opera-orlando-writes-a-love-letter-to-central-florida/

The Secret River (Photo Curtsey of Opera Orlando/Bearded Lens Photography, 2021)

“…Calpurnia is an appealing role, thrillingly played here by soprano Kyaunnee Richardson, who was on stage for virtually the entire 65-minute opera… her girlish charm and accurate, colorful singing picked up momentum and presence as the story unfolded, and by the end her performance felt like a real star turn…” ~John Fleming, Musical America

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To read the rest of the article, > https://www.musicalamerica.com/firewall.cfm?request=%2Fnews%2Fnewsstory%2Ecfm%3Fstoryid%3D49264%26categoryid%3D4%26archived%3D0%26fbclid%3DIwAR1ExZZ%2D%2DMptw4W%2DTTKJHEuRqKXVyl%2DA7yFF%2DEssvzTbjW1ryqu7xPrP1qE&en=0

Ms. Richardson will be feature on the Holiday Virtual Concert 2021 presented by Black Women in Opera today at 12P on YouTube.

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To watch the concert, click here, > BWIO Holiday Virtual Concert 2021

“…A lot rests on the shoulders of Kyaunnee Richardson, who plays Calpurnia, and she succeeds marvelously in capturing childlike inquisitiveness and determination without overplaying…”

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To read the full article, click here, > https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/os-prem-opera-orlando-secret-river-review-20211218-tc45b7cnhra4hixcalbftbnm6u-story.html

Bearded Lens Photography, 2021

“Have you been to the opera in Orlando? It’s been on my “someday list” and I’m finally going to make it happen. Join me and find out why Opera Orlando’s The Secret River is a must-see this holiday season and learn more about its lead soprano Kyaunnee Richardson as I had a chance to chat with her about her inspiration, the importance of this role as well as a bit of movie, Disney and foodie fun because it wouldn’t be Go Epicurista without it! I hope you’re inspired, get tickets and go #MakeSomedayHappen”

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To read the full article, click here, > https://goepicurista.com/opera-orlando-world-premiere-of-the-secret-river-is-a-must-see/

Photo Curtsey of Opera Orlando

“…There’s a moment in ‘The Secret River’ where young Calpurnia is bravely looking for the waterway that could save her family. ‘I started crying’ when first rehearsing the segment, say performer Kyaunnee Richardson. ‘It was just so touching. It’s whimsical, it’s magical.’”

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To read the full article,> https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/os-prem-et-secret-river-opera-orlando-kyaunnee-richardson-20211212-zhp346xqbbg25pfthdys6celny-story.html

Photo curtsey of Opera Orlando

“Opera Orlando will mark a momentous occasion next weekend, December 17-19, with the world premiere of it’s very first commissioned opera, The Secret River, based on the book of the same name by Piltzer Prize-winning author and Central Florida resident, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.”

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To read the full article,>https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Opera-Orlando-to-Present-World-Premiere-of-THE-SECRET-RIVER-20211210

Kyaunnee Richardson, Soprano leads the cast of THE SECRET RIVER as Calpurnia, a bright and imaginative girl in Central Florida. Listen to Kyaunnee tell us about the process of creating her character, watch here> https://fb.watch/9NIy3ndKEG/

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Seating is limited. Purchase your tickets at> https://www.drphillipscenter.org/events/tickets/2021/opera-orlando-secret-river/?fbclid=IwAR2QEoNEzIFI-HKfBEN7F8CrGbpq65zrfdqk3YgaDeLlfBRIAQXwHPMEdKs

Photo curtsey of Opera Orlando

Ms. Richardson was feature in Modern Singer’s Monthly Artist Feature in November 2021.

To Read the Full Article,> https://modern-singer.com/?q=features-artists/kyaunnee-richardson-soprano

Kyaunnee's Social Media Links:
Website: kyaunneerichardson.com
Instagram: @kyaunneerichardson
Facebook: facebook.com/KyaunneeRichardsonSoprano
Twitter: @Kyaunnee_R
TikTok: @csopranodiva

“The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will bring the annual Young People's Concert virtually into homes and schools November 15-19, 2021.

The virtual format has been chosen for the 2nd year in a row due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school field trips. Throughout the 29-year history of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the annual presentation of the Young People's Concert has been a highlight for students and teachers alike, traditionally taking place through more than a dozen live performances over several weeks. 2020 marked the first virtual presentation of the concert, which reached over 75,000 grade 3-5 students across Florida and into Georgia.”

To Read the Full Article> https://www.broadwayworld.com/orlando/article/ORLANDO-PHILHARMONIC-ORCHESTRA-PRESENTS-2021-VIRTUAL-YOUNG-PEOPLES-CONCERT-20010101

Black Women in Opera concluded their 2021 Fest this past Saturday. The virtual event centered around the theme “Honoring Your Journey” and it focused on bringing educational resources and encouraging content to Black opera singers.

To view the BWIO Mini Concert, please visit > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVr6g9-ZtAI

To rewatch the conference, please visit> https://www.facebook.com/events/640407883621119?ref=newsfeed

For more information about Black Women in Opera, please visit> www.blackwomeninopera.com/support

“Opera Orlando’s ‘On the MainStage’ series continues this December with an orginal chamber opera adaptation of The Secret River, based on the book of the same name by Pultizer Prize-winning author and Central Florida resident, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.”

To read the full article> https://www.broadwayworld.com/orlando/article/Opera-Orlando-Will-Present-the-World-Premiere-of-THE-SECRET-RIVER-20211001?fbclid=IwAR2av-VlgSSdjbhdCNkkk1ojGM4B1IyOw7VFGv2AZzkGDp3DcDmlK4dIKVU

“…The company will premiere its first commissioned new work “The Secret River.” The opera by Mark Campbell and Stella Sung will star Kyaunnee Richardson, Benjamin Taylor, NaGuanda Nobles, Kimberly Martin, and Emily Pulley. Dennis Whitehead Darling will direct the piece, which will be conducted by Everett McCorvey…”

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To read the full article> https://operawire.com/cecilia-violetta-lopez-kirsten-chambers-kyaunnee-richardson-seunghyeon-baek-headline-opera-orlandos-2021-22-season/

Kyaunnee Richardson is excited for the upcoming 2021-2022 season. She returns to Opera Orlando in the role of Calpurnia in the World Premiere of The Secret River by Stella Sung and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Mark Campbell. In 2022, Kyaunnee will travel to D.C. where she will make another World Premiere the role of Sister 2 in Urban Arias’ production of Why I Live At The P.O. by Stephen Eddins. In concert, Ms. Richardson will be a featured guest soloist in the Virtual Young People’s Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Kicking off the New Year, she will be one of the featured soloists in the Live! At Lynn Concert Series. Then she will be joining the Gulfshore Opera in A Taste of Opera in February and the Gala Concert in Naples, Florida and the South Florida Symphony in April.

Dario Acosta Photography, 2019