(Photo: Ruth Walz) Like other fairytales, Richard Strauss’ opera, “Die Frau ohne Shatten,” with its cast of human and supernatural beings, otherworldly locations and a magical plot, makes use of symbols and metaphor to carry deeper messages and thus opens itself up to a wide range of interpretations. Katie Mitchell, the director for Dutch National Opera’s recent production, certainly took {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” will star Teona Todua, Karolina Bengtsson, Kelsey Lauritano, Taehan Kim, Sakhiwe Mkosana, Magnus Dietrich, Andrew Kim, Bianca Tognocchi, Elizabeth Reiter, Liviu Holender, and Sebastian Geyer. Thomas Guggeis conducts the production by Mariame Clément. Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2025-Jan. 17, 2026 Alexander Tsymbalyuk leads Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” with Karolina {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to present a new production of “Die Frau ohne Schatten.” The opera will be presented in a new production by Katie Mitchell and will be conducted by Marc Albrecht. In Mitchell’s production, she critically dissects the opera’s conservative ideals in her own fashion. The opera will star soprano Aušrinė Stundytė as the Dyer’s Wife, {…}
On Sept. 17, Oper Köln will kick off its 2023-24 season with the premiere of R. Strauss and Von Hoffmansthal’s “Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow).” Considered exceptionally demanding, and requiring a massive orchestra, the opera is a fairy tale that Strauss believed was his most important work. The story relates the tale of an ethereal Empress {…}
And we’re back for this week’s edition of the major CD and DVD releases on offer. Those looking for legendary performances will be thrilled by some of this week’s releases. But there are also two solo albums of great interest. Let’s check it out. Mahler Pioneers SOMM RECORDINGS announces “Mahler Pioneers,” a major addition to the Mahler catalog with the {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to hear a soundtrack from an anticipated film and the new album from one of the most interesting tenors in the industry. Ariadne auf Naxos Dynamic releases Strauss’ work in a production by Matthias Hartmann. The Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is led by Daniele Gatti and production from Florence stars Krassimira Stoyanova {…}
Italy’s Macerata Opera Festival has announced its 2022 season featuring three operatic productions. Here is a look at the season. Donato Renzetti conducts Valentina Carrasco’s production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” Carmen Giannattasio, Antonio Poli, and Claudio Sgura star. Performance Dates: July 24-31, 2022 The company will present the film “The Circus” by Charlie Chaplin alongside “Pagliacci.” The cast for Leoncavallo’s opera {…}
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced the LXXXIV Festival del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino which will run from April 12 to July 14, 2022. Here is a look at all the operatic and vocal performances. Gluck’s “Orphée et Euridice” is set to star Juan Francisco Gatell, Sara Blanch, and Anna Prohaska. Daniele Gatti conducts Pierre Audi’s production which will present the French version. {…}
(Credit: Det Kongelige Bibliotek) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced the upcoming premiere Rued Langgaard’s “Antikrist.” The opera is set to open on Jan. 30, and will last until Feb. 11, 2022, for a total of four performances. The opera will star Thomas Lehman as the Satan, Jonas Grundner-Culemann as Voice of God, Valeriia Savinskaia in the role of Echo {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2020-21 season. The German house will present 11 new productions and a number of revivals and recitals. New Productions Monika Buczkowska, Judita Nagyová, Peter Marsh, Simon Neil, and Alfred Reiter star in Ligeti’s “La Grand Macabre.” Sebastian Weigle conducts a production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Sept. 13-Oct. 17, 2020 Katharina Thoma will direct Offenbach’s {…}
This weekend two new productions open with some of the biggest stars in opera while a rarely performed work is set to open in Germany. Don Giovanni – Teatro Mayor, Colombia José Areán conducts Marcelo Lombardero’s production of Mozart and Da Ponte’s masterpiece. Acclaimed bass Nahuel di Pierro stars in the title role with a cast that also includes Hernán {…}