(Photo: Geoffroy Schied) Martin Kušej’s 2010 production of “Rusalka” at the Bayerische Staatsoper has become a modern classic. It made a star of Kristine Opolais and in one way took the torch from David Pountney’s 1986 production at ENO, which revolutionized our view of Dvořák’s opera. Out went the traditional fairy tale and in came a psychoanalytic exploration of a {…}
(Photo: Herwig Prammer) Richard Wagner wrote the libretto of “Tannhäuser” drawing on medieval German mythology, although its protagonist was probably inspired by a real person who lived in the thirteenth century. Mythology functions as a mechanism of psychological externalization: it takes the abstract, often chaotic dynamics of the human subconscious—our conflicting impulses, fears, and cultural values—and projects them into tangible {…}
(Photo credit: Georg Aerni) Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich announces its 2026-27 season. Included in this article are vocal concerts. Christina Nilsson performs Brahms under the baton of Nathalie Stutzmann. Performance Dates: Oct. 21 & 22, 2026 Chen Reiss, pianist Yael Kareth, and clarinetist Sharon Kam perform works by Louis Spohr, Mahler, and Schubert. Performance Date: Oct. 25, 2026 Lisa Larsson and {…}
(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}
The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. Concert Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” will be conducted by David Afkham. Martin Winkler, Lise Lindström, Rodrigo Porras, Tansel Akzeybek, Jürgen Sacher, Stephen Milling, and Susana Gómez. Performance Dates: Oct. 3 & 5, 2025 Michael Laurenz, Christof Fischesser, Louise McClelland, Valentina Stadler, Tae Hwan Yun, {…}
(Credit: Toni Suter) In 1850, Richard Wagner premiered a new opera inspired by a figure from medieval German literature: Lohengrin, a member of the Grail Knights’ brotherhood and the son of Parsifal, its king. The story draws from the Legend of the Knight of the Swan, in which a mysterious knight arrives on a magical swan to rescue a damsel {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to present Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier,” with chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti conducting his first Strauss opera. The opera has long been on the conductor’s wish list since he became chief conductor of the Dutch National Opera. In a press release, the conductor said, “This opera gives him the perfect opportunity to show different sides of {…}
(Credit: Opernhaus Zürich official website) George Petean will replace Ludovic Tézier in the title role of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” at the Opernhaus Zürich on Dec. 30, 2021. Petean has already replaced Tézier for the performances on Dec. 22 & 26, 2021. No reason has been given for a cast change. Petean joins a cast that includes Jennifer Rowley as Amelia {…}
(Credit: Opernhaus Zürich official website) George Petean will replace Ludovic Tézier in the title role of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” at the Opernhaus Zürich for the performances on Dec. 22 & 26, 2021. Petean joins a cast that includes Jennifer Rowley as Amelia Grimaldi, Christof Fischesser as Jacopo Fiesco, Otar Jorjikia in the role of Gabriele Adorno, Nicholas Brownlee as Paolo {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta/Anna S./Chris Gonz) The Dresden Philharmonic in Germany has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal performances. Prof. Gunter Berger conducts the Philharmonischer Kinderchor. Performance Date: Sept. 5, 2021 Noa Frenkel and Michael Nagy lead a program dedicated to Salvatore Sciarrino. The concert will also feature Martina Schucan, Florian {…}
(Credit: Bayerische Staatsoper official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the cancellation of the performances of Puccini‘s “Turandot” and Wagner‘s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” that were scheduled for July 12, 15, and July 29, 2021, respectively. The two operas were slated to be performed as part of the Münchner Opernfestspiele. The opera house also announced that the production of Verdi’s {…}