Following planned arts budget cuts in Berlin, the three major Berlin opera houses, in collaboration with ballet and theater companies, released a statement. In the statement, the companies said, “We are dismayed by today’s cuts to the cultural budget. The Senate is taking the breath out of cultural life in the city. Berlin lives through its culture. The cuts that {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Luca Salsi and Anna Netrebko team up for Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Ivan Magrì, Marina Prudenskaya, and René Pape join them. Anastasia Bartoli also performs. Bertrand de Billy conducts the new production by Emma Dante. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-26, 2024 Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” receives a new production featuring multiple casts. {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has named Daniel Barenboim the Honorary Member of the opera house and Honorary Chief Conductor of the Staatskapelle Berlin. The company said, “Intendant Matthias Schulz and the orchestra board of the Staatskapelle Berlin are delighted to present their long-time former General Music Director Daniel Barenboim with a double award simultaneously and jointly: the Honorary Membership {…}
The Staatsoper Berlin has announced a cast change for its performance of “Lohengrin” on April 24, 2024. The company said, “For the second to last performance of Wagner’s ‘LOHENGRIN’ tonight, we are so grateful to Klaus Florian Vogt for jumping in spontaneously as the Lohengrin tonight- thank you!” He will replace Andreas Schager, who returns to the production on April {…}
The current “Der Ring des Nibelungen” at Staatsoper Berlin came into being in October 2022 directed by Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov and due to be conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Sadly, though, Maestro Barenboim, had to pull out of the production because of severe health issues, a great blow to all, but so disappointing for Barenboim in his 80th year. {…}
The Berlin State Opera has announced a cast change for its performance of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” on May 24, 2023. The company said that Antonio di Matteo will sing the role of Sparafucile stepping in for Grigory Shkarupa. Di Matteo is a an Italian bass who has performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Salzburg Festival, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro di San {…}
Nadine Sierra will sing Gilda in “Rigoletto” at the Berlin State Opera. The soprano took to social media to state, “It seems that I am coming to Berlin for ‘Rigoletto’!!!! I will not be performing on the 19th, but coming for the final four performances! I’m excited and glad that the Berlin State Opera has asked.” Sierra will sing the performances {…}
Nadine Sierra has canceled her upcoming performances of “Rigoletto” at the Staatsoper Berlin. Sierra took to social media and said that she was experiencing vocal and physical fatigue and needed to take a break. The soprano also noted that she had proposed singing the last few performances of the run but Berlin’s management did not accept. The soprano ended her {…}
Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2023-24 season. The season will showcase numerous revivals and new productions. Premieres Calixto Bieito directs a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” with Grigory Shkarupa, Elīna Garanča, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Marina Rebeka, María José Siri, Yusif Eyvazov, Ivan Magrì, René Pape, Erwin Schrott, Vladislav Sulimsky, and Alfredo Daza. Nicola Luisotti conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
(Credit: Julian Hargreaves) Berlin Staatsoper Unter Linden’s General Director is defending his choice to bring back Anna Netrebko in a fall production of “Macbeth.” In a recent statement, Matthias Schulz said, “Anna Netrebko is a great artist” and “she has now clearly positioned herself with her actions. As far as it was possible for her, she also showed character. I think {…}
Countertenor Jochen Kowalski has announced his retirement at the age of 68. In a statement Staatsoper Unter den Linden said, “the career of Berlin Kammersänger Jochen Kowalski began at the Komische Oper Berlin. His roles, many in productions by Harry Kupfer, made him popular worldwide and guest appearances have taken him to all the leading opera houses in Germany as {…}