Photo credit: Daniel Boud We can be grateful that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor Simone Young has a passion for the music of Arnold Schoenberg in this, his 150th anniversary year. On Friday March 15th, it led to the first performance in Sydney of Schoenberg’s concert-drama “Gurrelieder,” a massive work that was first performed in Vienna 111 years ago, {…}
(Photo credit: SSO) Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Simone Young leads Schoenberg’s “Gurrelieder,” at Sydney Opera House in celebration of the composer’s 150 birthday. “Gurrelieder” make its Sydney debut with soloist soprano Ricarda Merbeth, mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble, tenors Simon O’Neill and Andrew Goodwin, and bass Sava Vemić. They are joined by a chorus of more than 200 and an orchestra of {…}
(Photo credit: Daniel Boud) Concert performances of “Das Rheingold” by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in the Opera House Concert Hall November 16-18 were the most recent events in what is shaping up to be a bit of a Wagner year in Australia. Next month sees Opera Australia’s much-awaited new “Ring cycle” in Brisbane, delayed twice previously by COVID. Back {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. In this edition, a leading Bel Canto interpreter delves into mad scenes with her new alum while a rarely performed opera by a female composer gets a new release. There is also a special Wagner recording out this week. Rheinberger & Mendelssohn Choral {…}
Richard Wagner fell in love with the story of Lohengrin. How could he not? A handsome knight, with a golden disposition of purity, nobility and generosity. The son of Parsifal. The leader of the Grail. Destined to rescue, save and uplift all who needed rescuing and salvation. With soaring and beauteous romantic melodies, rich choral support, dazzling duets between glorious {…}
Tenor Simon O’Neill has joined the roster of Arsis Artist Management. He will be managed by Michael Lewin. The tenor recently appeared alongside Gustavo Dudamel for a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and also performed in “Fidelio” with the Sydney Symphony.” He will also appear in a new recording of “Siegfried” under Sir Simon Rattle for BR Klassik; the {…}
LA Philharmonic has announced its 2023-24 season, which will celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary at Disney Hall. Special guest singers join Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil to celebrate iconic protest music by Latina artists with “Canto en resistencia.” Silvana Estrada is the soloist. Performance Dates: Nov. 9-12, 2023 Esa-Pekka Salonen leads Los Angeles Master Chorale in Salonen’s “Karawane” and {…}
Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2022 festival, which will run between July 1 through August 27, 2022. The season will include five new productions, 38 performances, one world premiere, one company premiere, and an international co-production. In sum, there will be 26 artists making their debuts and another 29 returning to the company. It all kicks off with “Carmen,” {…}
(Credit: © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Bill Cooper) Glyndebourne’s final production of this year’s festival is a semi-staged realization of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” conceived by Daniel Dooner and featuring Glyndebourne music director Robin Ticciati in the pit, accompanied by their resident orchestra the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a production that boldly sets out several role debuts, in Simon {…}
Oper Leipzig has announced its 2021-22 season featuring four new productions. Here is a look: New Productions Viktor Ullmann’s “The Fall of the Antichrist” will be conducted by Matthias Foremny and directed by Balázs Kovalik. The production will star Thomas Mohr, Dan Karlström, Kay Stiefermann, Stephan Rügamer, Sebastian Pilgrim, and Martin Petzold. Performance Dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 17, 2021 David Pountney {…}
(Credits: Bettina Stöß / Bernd Uhlig) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced all the premieres of its 2021-22 season. Here is a look. The “Best of Carmen” concert will spotlight Valeriia Savinskaia, Arianna Manganello, Elena Tsallagova, Matthew Newlin, Joel Allison, and Ève-Maud Hubeaux in the title role. Daniel Carter conducts a production by Silke Sense. Performance dates: Aug. 21 – {…}