On Nov. 28, 2022, a model lawsuit was filed against the Salzburg Festival at the Arbeits und Sozialgericht in Vienna, Austria. Per a press statement issued by Austrian tenor and activist Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, “The lawsuit in its core is about the ‘letter of commitment’ that the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus has issued over decades. The real {…}
Days after Jonas Kaufmann issued a statement about his position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and artists’ role in it, tenor Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke has issued a statement firing back at the tenor. In a statement sent via email to OperaWire and other publications, Ablinger-Sperrhache took Kaufmann’s initial statement to task point by point. “Of course artists are never unpolitical {…}
(Credit: Bayerische Staatsoper official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the cancellation of its performance of Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” on April 3, and a presentations of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on April 9, 11 & 15, 2021. Per an official statement on the company’s website, the opera house was forced to cancel the performances due to the worsened epidemiological situation {…}
Audiences who crave seeing opera’s biggest stars on the small screen will have a lot to enjoy. From a Jonas Kaufmann triumph at the Met to a new role for Marlis Petersen and a video showcase for Kristine Opolais, this week’s selection should certainly fulfill a lot of operatic wishes. But there are also two world premieres – one in {…}
This week’s streaming slate features a number of major operatic gems from the romantic and modern repertory. There is also a unique recital experience courtesy of one of the U.S.’s most renowned opera companies. Without further ado, here we are the top 10 operas to stream this week. Tosca – Royal Swedish Opera (NOW) For those who want some star {…}
(Credits: Fabien Monthubert / Opera Online / Opéra National de Paris official website / Opéra National de Paris official website) The Opéra National de Paris will stream Jean-Philippe Rameau and Louis Fuzelier’s opera “Les Indes Galantes,” and Dmitri Shostakovich and Alexander Preis’ “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” on MEZZO TV. “Les Indes Galantes” stars Sabine Devieilhe in the roles of Hébé {…}
( Credit: Gunnar Geller) The Komische Oper Berlin has announced that it will remain shut down until at least Easter 2021, due to continued concerns over the spread of COVID-19. The opera house has officially stated that the productions of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Les Boréades,” George Enescu’ s “Œdipe,” and Jacques Offenbach’s opera “Orphée aux enfers” will be postponed until future {…}
(Credit: Sony / Gregor Hohenberg) Famed baritone Christian Gerhaher will lead a group of prominent singers and artists that will take a legal action against closures of theaters, concert halls and opera houses in Bavaria, Germany. This closure is the result of a decision by the authorities of Bavaria led by CSU President Markus Söder to close theaters until the {…}
(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony / Chris Singer / Rebecca Fay / Artists Management Zürich official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the full slate for its 2020-21 free streaming season. Here is the look. Walter Braunfels’ “Die Vögel” will feature Wolfgang Koch, Günter Papendell, Caroline Wettergreen, Emily Pogorelc, Yajie Zhang, Eliza Boom, Bálint Szabó, Theodore Platt, George Vîrban, Charles Workman, and {…}
Boleslaw Barlog and Jürgen Rose’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Salome” was first performed in 1972, under the direction of Karl Böhm, with Leonie Rysanek in the title role. It has now notched-up well over 200 performances and is still going strong. After 45 years you would be forgiven for thinking that it may have lost some of its sheen, that {…}