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A major opera star is under the spotlight at the Detroit Opera this weekend. 

Anthony Roth Costanzo is a decorated counter-tenor singer who will play the lead in “Rinaldo.” The 18th century opera by Handel is getting a contemporary update, told through the lens of a child’s fantasy in a contemporary pediatric ward. 

It follows a trend at Detroit Opera to find new ways to present old operas. The last two shows of “Rinaldo” are on Friday and Sunday. 

WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of In The Groove weekdays noon to 3 p.m.) spoke with Costanzo about the story behind “Rinaldo” and the power of opera in 2025. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

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The Michigan Senate has passed a bill that bans the sales and possession of “ghost guns.” Ghost guns are guns that are put together by an individual, not a manufacturer, using parts from a kit or using separate pieces. Because of how these guns are assembled, they don’t have serial numbers and are, therefore, very difficult to identify and track.

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3D-printed guns are also banned in similar bills that were passed the same day. There were more than 45,000 suspected ghost guns reported to the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from 2016 to 2021, according to the agency.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), stated that the weapon used to kill the United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson in New York was likely a ghost gun, according to law enforcement.

These bills are part of a multitude of bills the Michigan Legislature is working on in overtime as their lame duck session comes to a close soon.

Other headlines for Friday, Dec. 13, 2024:

• Another set of bills being considered in Lansing would establish a “duty to intervene” law, restrict no-knock warrants, make it a felony to tamper with body cameras and require law enforcement agencies to create policies about the use of force. The duty to intervene law would require police departments to check if prospective hires had been previously fired for poor conduct, which has happened numerous times, according to a 7 Action News investigation.
• The City of Detroit is reminding residents that there are warming centers and respite locations to provide relief from these frigid temperatures. For more information, contact the Detroit Housing Services Helpline at (866) 313-2520.
• The Detroit Opera Youth Chorus is having their Winter Fantasy performance on Sunday, Dec. 15. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for the 2 p.m. concert. The concert will showcase various musical styles including folk tunes, holiday classics, highlights from ‘The Sound of Music’ and more. For tickets, go to detroitopera.org

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

This week, we’ve got holiday markets for every niche, including ceramics, beauty products, books and more.

Plus, a chance to mingle with your favorite WDET hosts! Read on to learn more.

Warm up with WDET

Stop by the WDET station in Midtown Detroit to warm up this weekend during Noel Night! Our doors will be open on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 3-9 p.m., and we’ll have hot chocolate, studio tours, meet & greets with our hosts and opportunities to shop vintage WDET merch at discounted prices. Plus, new this year, we’ll have Detroit trivia hosted by Ryan Patrick Hooper and Amanda LeClaire! For more information, visit our events page. See you there!

Holiday markets

Check out the 47th Annual Potters Market in Southfield between Thursday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 8. Shop from over 30,000 unique ceramic pieces made by local artists, including mugs, jewelry, garden art and more, for as low as $5. All proceeds made this year will benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind. Parking and admission are free, and guests are asked not to bring strollers into the market. For more information, visit thepottersmarket.com. 

Then, head to Shain Park in Downtown Birmingham for their annual Winter Markt from Friday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be displays from local artists and vendors, European cuisine, holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, complimentary carriage rides and more. There will also be a children’s activity area and warming stations so all visitors feel comfortable. For more information, visit allinbirmingham.com.

Eastern Market is also having a Holiday Market this weekend on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Michigan-made gift options including clothing, art, jewelry, beauty products and more. Plus, stop by Shed 5 for free holiday portrait sessions by Social N’ the City Events between noon and 2 p.m. There will also be Christmas tree vendors in the parking lot outside Sheds 5 and 6. For more information, visit easternmarket.org.

And for the book lovers out there, Detroit Book City is hosting their 5th Annual Holiday Book Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center in Highland Park. From noon to 5 p.m., visitors can meet and shop from over 40 local Black indie authors. There will also be Santa selfies, an ugly sweater contest, Kwanzaa decorations and a food truck. This event is free and open to the public, and the first 100 arrivals will receive a free holiday swag bag. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Holiday classics

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the historic Redford Theatre is screening two Christmas classics: ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992) at 2 p.m. and ‘Home Alone’ (1990) at 8 p.m. Tickets for each are $7 for adults or $5 for seniors and kids. For more information, visit redfordtheatre.com.

Live performances

Complexions Contemporary Ballet makes their Detroit Opera House debut this weekend with a 30th Anniversary performance. Featuring live music from the Detroit Opera Orchestra, the first act features Beethoven, Vivaldi and Helbig, a vocal performance of Ave Maria, plus a spoken word poem by Aaron Dworkin set to the music of Michael Abels. The second act features the music of U2, drawing on the grit and honesty of their iconic songs stripped down to their acoustic best. Performances take place on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, visit detroitopera.org.

Community exhibits

The 16th Annual Community Group Art Exhibition opens at the DIA on Friday, Dec. 6 and will be on display in the museum’s Learning Center until Jan. 5, 2025. The exhibition will feature over 100 projects made in partnership with human services agencies in the Detroit area over the past year, including paintings, prints, sculptures and more. This year’s participating groups are ACCESS Hope House, CARE of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Recovery Project, Hannan Center, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Mariners Inn, Macomb County Community Mental Health, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency and Soul Studio, a division of Friendship Circle. For more information, visit dia.org.