Sondra Radvanovsky, Piotr Beczala, Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak Headline Vienna State Opera’s Streaming Options This Week

The Vienna State Opera has announced its streaming options over the next week. Here is a full rundown of what audiences can check out on the company’s official streaming platform. The week kicks off with Henze’s “Das Verratene Meer” in a live performance. Simone Young conducts a cast that includes Vera-Lotte Boecker, Bo Skovhus, Josh Lovell, Erik Van Heyningen, Kangmin {…}

Sep 19, 2020

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Cast Change for ‘Elektra’

(Credit: Wiener Staatsoper) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced the cast change for Richard Strauss’ opera “Elektra.” Tenor Thomas Ebenstein will take over the role of Aegisth for the presentations on Sep. 19 and Sep. 22, 2020., replacing Jörg Schneider. The opera house did not specify the reason for the cast change. Ebenstein will join a cast that includes Ricarda Merbeth {…}

Sep 8, 2020

Q & A: Bass-Baritone Derek Welton on ‘Elektra,’ Greek Tragedy, & the Salzburg Festival

Bass-baritone Derek Welton started his journey toward performing on the big stages in Australia when, after language studies and social work in 2004, he discovered his passion for singing. Then, an unexpected grant and a victory in the Australian Singing Competition helped Welton continue his path to Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Soon thereafter, the singer was {…}

Sep 5, 2020

Tenor Štefan Margita Tests Positive For COVID-19

(Credit: Dusíkovo divadlo official website) Famed Slovakian tenor Štefan Margita and his wife Hanka both tested positive for the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. Margita posted a message on his Facebook profile, stating “Our dear ones, we did not want to burden you with our worries. Yes, we both tested positive for COVID. So you don’t have to learn from the various {…}

Aug 21, 2020

Christian Gerhaher, Rachel Harnisch, Ramón Vargas & Marina Viotti Highlight Stadtcasino Basel 2020-21 Season

(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony / Rachel Harnisch official website / LA Opera official website / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website) Stadtcasino Basel has announced its 2020-21 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is the full rundown. Baritone Christian Gerhaher will perform works by Schoeck, Moser, and Schubert. Heinz Holliger conducts {…}

Jul 30, 2020

Salzburg Festival 2020 Preview: Franz Welser-Möst & Krzysztof Warlikowski Discuss ‘Elektra’

(Credit: Anne Zeuner / Salzburg Festival) Strauss’ opera “Elektra” will open this year’s Festival in Salzburg, in quite unique circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conductor Franz Welser-Möst and stage director Krzysztof Warlikowski discussed their views of the production in a recent press release from the Salzburg Festival. “The danger of becoming inebriated with the opulence of sound and losing {…}

Jul 29, 2020

Salzburg Festival to Broadcast ‘Elektra’ Starring Aušrinė Stundytė, Asmik Grigorian

(Credit: Official Website Aušrinė Stundytė / P Gasiunas) The Salzburg Festival has announced that it will record its production of Strauss’ “Elektra“ via ORF, 3sat, ZDF/ARTE and UNITEL in collaboration with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Salzburg Festival and will be broadcast as followed. The company will then stream the production over the course of several days via some a {…}

Jun 9, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Asmik Grigorian & Cecilia Bartoli Highlight Revised Salzburg Festival Season

(Image Source / Credit: Askonas Holt / Dario Acosta / Cecilia Bartoli Official Website) The Salzburg Festival has announced its revised edition. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Franz Welser-Möst Conducts R. Strauss’ “Elektra“ in a production by Krzysztof Warlikowski. The production stars Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Aušrine Stundyte, Asmik Grigorian, Michael Laurenz Aegisth, and Derek Welton. Performance Dates: August 1- {…}

Apr 9, 2020

Derek Welton, Pene Pati & Hilary Summers Lead Theater Dortmund’s 2020-21 Season

The Theater Dortmund in Germany has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of premieres from modern masterpieces to classics repertory staples. Premieres Bizet’s “Carmen“ gets a new production by Nikolaus Habjan with Montonori Kobayashi conducting. The production is set to star Marie Karall and Maria Boiko in the title role, James Lee and Young Woo Kim as Don Jose, {…}

Feb 28, 2020

Deutsche Oper Berlin 2019-20 Review: Le Prophète

(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin/Bettina Stöß) When Giacomo Meyerbeer died on May 2 in 1864 in Paris, he was one of the most performed composers of his time. However, in Berlin, where he was dubbed “the greatest Berlin composer,” Meyerbeer’s operas were seldom performed. And in the years since his death, his work has never quite managed to find a foothold {…}

Jan 31, 2020

John Fiore to Conduct Opening Night of ‘Parsifal’ at Deutsche Oper Berlin

(Credit: Opus 3 Artists) Conductor John Fiore will replace the General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin Donald C. Runnicles for the opening night of Wagner’s “Parsifal” on May 17, per the official statement on the company’s website. Fiore will lead the cast that includes Klaus Florian Vogt, Sir Simon Keenlyside, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Günther Groissböck, Andrew Harris, Derek {…}