Anja Kampe, Gatson Rivero & Karine Babajanyan Headline Oper Leipzig’s 2018-19 Season

By Francisco Salazar

The Oper Leipzig has announced its 2018-19 season with multiple new productions, concert performances, and revivals.

It will also feature a number of international stars, as well as ensemble singers, that will perform some of the greatest operatic masterpieces in the repertoire.

New Productions

Karine Babajanyan and Anja Kampe headline a new production of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” with Simon Neal and Tuomas Pursio sharing the role of Jack Rance. Gastón Rivero sings Dick Johnson with Ulf Schirmer conducting Cusch Jung’s production.

Performance Dates: Sep. 29-Dec.2,  2018

Lindy Hume directs a new production of Bizet’s beloved “Carmen.” Wallis Giunta and Kathrin Göring share the title role with rising star tenor Leonardo Caimi singing Don José. Micaëla is alternated by Gal James and Olena Tokar, while Gezim Myshketa and Kay Stiefermann share Escamillo. Matthias Foremny conducts the production.

Performance Dates: Nov. 30, 2018-March 23, 2019

Marius Felix Lange’s kinderoper “Schneewittchen” receives a new production with Sandra Janke, Martin Petzold, and Magdalena Hinterdobler. Patrick Rohbeck directs the new production.

Performance Dates: March 9-June 2, 2019

Iain Paterson sings the title role in Wagner’s “Die Fligende Holländer” with Christiane Libor as Senta. Ladislav Elgr sings Erik while Randall Jakobsh is Daland. Ulf Schirmer and Christoph Gedschold share conducting duties while Michiel Dijkema directs the new production.

Performance Dates: March 30-June 10, 2019

Smetana’s “Die Verkaufte Braut” receives a new production directed by Christian von Götz. Magdalena Hinterdobler and Olena Tokar share the role of Marie with Franz Xaver Schlecht, Sandra Maxheimer, Jean-Baptiste Mouret, and Patrick Vogel rounding out the cast. Christoph Gedschold conducts the new production.

Performance Dates: June 15-30, 2019

Revivals 

“Le Nozze di Figaro” opens the season with an international cast that includes Sejong Chang in the title role. Mathias Hausmann and Kay Stiefermann star as the count while Gal James is the Countess. Magdalena Hinterdobler is Susanna while Wallis Giunta and Sandra Maxheimer share the role of Cherubino.

Performance Dates: Sept. 9, 2018-Jan. 25, 2019

Humperdink’s “Hansel and Gretel” gets a revival with Sandra Maxheimer as Hansel and Magdalena Hinterdobler and Mirjam Neururer sharing the role of Gretel. Ulf Schirmer and Christoph Gedschold alternate in the pit.

Performance Date: Sept. 15, 2018-Jan. 27, 2019

Karine Babajanyan and Gastón Rivero lead a revival of Puccini’s “Tosca.” Tuomas Pursio rounds out the cast as Scarpia with Christoph Gedschold conducting the masterpiece.

Performance Dates: Sept. 28, 2018-March 17, 2019

Christoph Gedschold conducts a revival of Verdi’s’ “Rigoletto” with Kyungho Kim as the Duke, Devid Cecconi in the title role, and Bianca Tognocchi as Gilda.

Performance Dates: Oct. 5, 2018-May 25, 2019

Claus Guth’s production of Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” gets a revival with Sunnyboy Dladla and Siyabonga Maqungo as the Count. Jonathan Michie sings Figaro while Wallis Giunta is Rosina.

Performance Dates: Oct. 7, 2018-Jan. 26, 2019

Gal James, Thomas Mohr, Tilmann Unger, and Tuomas Pursio star in Weber’s rarely performed “Die Freischütz” with Felix Bender conducting.

Performance Dates: Oct. 19, 2018-April 20, 2019

Dario Solari takes on the title role in Verdi’s “Nabucco” with Anna-Maria Kalesidis and Mlada Khudoley sharing the role of Abigaille. Randall Jakobsh rounds out the cast as Ismael with Matthias Foremny conducting.

Performance Dates: Oct. 21, 2018-May 24, 2019

Puccini’s “Turandot” is revived with Mlada Khudoley in the title role and Leonardo Caimi and Gastón Rivero sharing the role of Calaf.  Magdalena Hinterdobler and Gal James alternate Liu, and Felix Bender conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 2, 2018-March 16, 2019

Ulf Schirmer conducts Strauss’ “Elektra” with Catherine Foster in the title role. Gal James, Karin Lovelius, Mathias Hausmann and Tuomas Pursio rounding out the cast.

Performance Dates: Nov. 3, 2018-April 28, 2019

Paul McNamara and Stefan Vinke share the title role of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” with Liene Kinca and Elisabet Strid alternating Elisabeth. Kathrin Göring takes on Venus while Patrick Vogel sings Walther. Felix Bender conducts the revival.

Performance Dates: Nov. 18-Dec. 9, 2018

Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” returns with Patrick Vogel, Danae Kontora, Hinterdobler, Olena Tokar, Jonathan Michie, and Franz Xaver Schlecht leading the cast. Christoph Gedschold conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 23, 2018-June 9, 2019

Gal James takes on the role of Mimi in Puccini’s iconic “La Bohème” with Magdalena Hinterdobler as Musetta, Kyungho Kim as Rodolfo, and Gezim Myshketa in the role of Marcello. Tobias Engeli and Christoph Gedschold alternate in the pit.

Performance Dates: Dec. 7-26, 2018

Ulf Schirmer conducts a revival of Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” Kathrin Göring and Simone Schneider sharing the role of the Marschallin. Karl-Heinz Lehnert, Wallis Giunta, Mathias Hausmann, and Olena Tokar round out the cast in Alfred Kirchner classic production.

Performance Dates: Jan. 6-April 26, 2019

Elisabet Strid and Manuela Uhl take on the title role in Strauss’ “Salome” with Tuomas Pursio as Johannes and Ulf Schirmer conducting.

Performance Dates: Jan. 13- Apr. 27, 2019

Verdi’s grand opera “Don Carlo” makes a return to the stage with Gastón Rivero in the title role. Felix Bender conducts the opera which is set to star Gal James as Elisabetta, Kathrin Göring as Eboli, Jevgen Orlov, and Riccardo Zanellato sharing the role of Phillip and Mathias Hausmann as Posa.

Performance Dates: Jan. 19-May 10, 2019

Christoph Gedschold conducts Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Olena Tokar in the title role and Patrick Vogel and  Kyungho Kim sharing the role of Alfredo.

Performance Dates: Jan. 20-June 7, 2019

Bianca Tognocchi sings the title role in Donizetti’s masterpiece “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Kyungho Kim, Sejong Chang, and Mathias Hausmann rounding the cast. Anthony Bramall conducts.

Performance Date: April 14-May 5, 2019

The season concludes with Dvorak’s “Rusalka” starring Olena Tokar and Patrick Vogel in the leading roles. Christoph Gedschold conducts the landmark piece.

Performance Dates: May 19-June 27, 2019

The Ring Cycle

Oper Leipzig will present Wagner’s tetralogy in two full cycles. The operas will have a number of international stars, as well as ensemble house members. The cast will include Simon O’Neill, Iain Patterson, Martin Winkler, Christiane Libor, Thomas Mohr,  Michael Weinius, and Irene Theorin.

Das Rheingold  April 6, 2019 & May 1 2019
Die Walküre Aprril 7, 2019 & May 2 2019 
Siegfried April 13 2019 & May 4, 2019
Götterdämmerung April 14, 2019 & May 5, 2019

Concert Performances

The season will include a New Year’s Eve gala as well as recitals, cabaret concert and Opera for all concerts.

Categories

News