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News

Deutsche Grammophon to Stream ‘Parsifal’

https://operawire.com/deutsche-grammophon-to-stream-parsifal/

Deutsche Grammophon has announced that it will continue as the global media partner with the Bayreuth Festival. In 2022, the label launched its ground-breaking classical music platform, STAGE+, which hosted the international premiere screenings of Valentin Schwarz’s thought-provoking new production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” The collaboration will open with Jay Scheib’s highly anticipated “Parsifal” from the Festspielhaus on STAGE+ one day after {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Iréne Theorin, Clay Hilley & Katharina Kammerloher Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/irene-theorin-clay-hilley-katharina-kammerloher-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

This week audiences are in for rarely performed works by unknown composers as well as a complete recording of Wagner’s final installment of the Ring Cycle. Here is a look: Nikolay Myaskovsky: Vocal Works, Volume Two: Complete Songs for Baritone and Piano Ilya Kuzmin and Dzambolat Dulaev perform the works of Nikolay Myaskovsky alongside pianist Olga Solovieva. The new album {…}

Special Features

Best of 2022: OperaWire’s Top 11 Singers of 2022

https://operawire.com/best-of-2022-operawires-top-11-singers-of-2022/

After a bumpy 2021, which still had numerous COVID cancelations, 2022 saw opera companies almost return to normalcy. There were setbacks like cyberattacks, a war that has destroyed a country, and companies losing funds from government agencies. But in all, it also showed how opera companies could unite through benefit concerts and through sheer artistry. And after releasing our favorite {…}

News

Germany’s Culture Minister Calls for Reform at Bayreuth Festival

https://operawire.com/germanys-culture-minister-calls-for-reform-at-bayreuth-festival/

The German Minister of State for Culture has called on the Bayreuth Festival to reform. Per BR Klassik, Claudia Roth, who holds the position, did not specify what she meant when she called for reform but did note that festival management had to “design the general conditions of the festival in such a way that artistic excellence can be achieved.” {…}

News

Irene Theorin Gives Middle Finger to Booing Audience at Bayreuth Festival

https://operawire.com/irene-theorin-gives-middle-finger-to-booing-audience-at-bayreuth-festival/

The final performance of “Götterdämmerung” at the Bayreuth Festival saw Irene Theorin stick up her middle finger to the audience after boos erupted during her final curtain call. According to reports, “first there were some boos for her and then pointing to people in the audience with a finger. She then raised her middle finger and the whole house booed {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Bayreuth Festival 2022 Review: Götterdämmerung

https://operawire.com/bayreuth-festival-2022-review-gotterdammerung/

(Credit: Enrico Nawrath) With “Götterdämmerung,” any chance of Valentin Schwarz giving an understandable meaning to his production went nowhere. For the first time in the tetralogy, Schwarz presented paranormal elements like the three Norns (represented as three faceless woman wearing  sparkling costumes and makeup) or the transformation, thanks to the magic helmet, of Siegfried into Gunther for the last scene {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Bayreuth Festival 2022 Review: Siegfried

https://operawire.com/bayreuth-festival-2022-review-siegfried/

(Credit: Enrico Nawrath) And now we have entered the realm of the absurd. Those who read my reviews for “Das Rheingold” and “Die Walküre,” know that I was quite critical of director Valentin Schwarz’s approach, which proved hostile to the original libretto in most of his “creative” choices. But this production of “Siegfried” somehow managed to push beyond those limits {…}

News

Bayreuth Festival Announces Cast Change for ‘Götterdämmerung’ Premiere

https://operawire.com/bayreuth-festival-announces-cast-change-for-gotterdammerung-premiere/

The Bayreuth Festival has announced a cast change for the premiere of “Götterdämmerung” on August 5, 2022. The company said, “To his greatest regret, Stephen Gould has to cancel his participation as Siegfried in the premiere of ‘Götterdämmerung’ due to illness. The festival management would like to thank Clay Hilley, who will also take on the role today.” Hilley has {…}