(Credit: Národní divadlo official website) The entire 62-member chorus of the Opera of the National Theater in Prague has been sent into a two-week quarantine after it was revealed that several members of the ensemble had contracted COVID-19. As a result, the performance of the Bedřich Smetana’s opera “Libuše” has been canceled. Janáček’s opera “Jenůfa” and Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka” will {…}
In March Raehann Bryce-Davis was in Los Angeles performing “Roberto Devereux” when the COVID-19 Pandemic struck and all performances were canceled. The world changed and Bryce-Davis was left without work. The mezzo-soprano, who is one of today’s leading rising stars in the opera world, was forced to rethink her career like many other singers. In the midst of the pandemic, {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden has canceled all the planned performances until Sept. 5, 2020. The latest Decree by the authorities of the City of Wiesbaden explicitly prohibits all events with more than 50 participants, until at least Sept. 21, 2020. The opera house stated that it has received a special permission by the authorities so it can {…}
(Credit: Ashley Plante) When Berlin opera houses called off their performances in March due to the COVID 19 pandemic, one rarely performed opera was stopped dead in its track- the Komische Oper’s production of “Schwanda.” Among the artists set to star in that production was American soprano Sara Jakubiak. Jakubiak, who has appeared on the most important world stages, to {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin / Leo Seidel) UPDATE: Since the publication of this article, the Charité’s leadership has distanced itself from the statements made in this article. Here is the full update. Leading German epidemiologists from Berlin’s Clinic Charité have published a revised study suggesting that opera houses and concert halls should allow every seat in the audiences to be {…}
(Credits: © Algirdas Bakas / Julian Baumann) The Wiener Staatsoper has confirmed that it will reopen on September 7, 2020. Vienna’s operatic behemoth will restart its performances after a six-month hiatus with the production “Madama Butterfly.” The strict COVID-19 rules for the audiences will include mandatory facemasks at all times, except when seated during the performance, and at least one {…}
(Credit: Mariinsky Theatre official website) COVID-19 has struck the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Per the sources on the website Rosbalt.ru, over 50 members of the ballet and the orchestra fell sick as a result of the COVID-19 infection. Per the same sources, the number has more than doubled related to the previous day. The website reports that each day {…}
(Credits: Dragana Branković/Katarina Bradić) Known for her deep and diverse vocal versatility and also theatrical prowess, Katarina Bradić swiftly conquered the major European opera stages—Teatro Real, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper unter der Linden, Komische Oper Berlin, Theater Basel, Bolshoi Theater, Theater an der Wien, Den Norske Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Bayerische Staatsoper, La Monnaie, De Nationale Opera {…}
(Credit: Opus 3 Artists official website) The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has voiced its frustration over the inability to go back to the stage. Members of the IPO have played a concert in front of the residence of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, in a sign of protest over his managing of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera House / Sim Cannetty-Clarke) Arts Council England, the national development agency for creativity and culture, has announced that it will begin delivering the UK Government’s emergency funding package. Up to 500 million pound sterlings will be initially available for organizations in the form of the Grants program. The repayable Finance part of The Culture Recovery Fund, which {…}
(Credit: Rundfunkchor Berlin / Jonas Holthaus) The Senate of the City of Berlin has announced a decision to allow choral singing in closed spaces to resume, under very strict and precise regulation. In order to provide a safe environment for choral singing and to minimize the risk of infection with COVID-19, the Senate has announced a set of measures that {…}