The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that American baritone Dean Murphy is set to take over the role of Prince Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky’s “Pique Dame” this November. He takes over for Stéphane Degout in the production that opens on Nov. 1, 2026. Murphy, who was previously an ensemble member with the company, previously sang the role with the company in {…}
On Oct. 24, 2026, Milo Rau’s production of Richard Wagner’s opera “The Flying Dutchman” will premiere at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. Rau’s new production will be staged as “road movie” through the history of Germany’s relationship with Israel, from the Holocaust to the present day. In preparation for the production Rau and his team conducted research in Israel, the {…}
(Photo: Nancy Jesse) Few works have suffered more persistently from the legacy of Orientalist fantasy than Handel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto.” Ever since Columbia University academic Edward Said published “Orientalism” in 1978, the intellectual foundations underpinning Europe’s imaginative construction of “the East” have been subjected to relentless and often persuasive scrutiny. Said demonstrated that Orientalism was never merely an artistic {…}
(Photo Credit: Bernd Uhlig) After a disappointing “Die Walküre” and a terrible “Siegfried,” my hopes for a stimulating ending of Stefan Herheim’s production of Deutsche Oper Berlin’s “Ring” were near non-existent. Fortunately, life is full of surprises; what started as a provocative, irreverent take on Wagner’s tetralogy in a first-rate staging of “Das Rheingold” and deteriorated into tedious attempts at {…}
(Photo Credit: Bernd Uhlig) Deutsche Oper’s Ring Cycle started promisingly with an original staging of “Das Rheingold,” with provocative ideas, irreverence and even humor. However, unfortunately it continued with a constant rehashing of ideas, which proved inadequate for the gigantic enterprise that is Wagner’s “Ring.” After a vocally satisfactory but scenically uninspired “Die Walküre,” matters deteriorated considerably on May 29 {…}
(Photo Credit: Bernd Uhlig) I had high expectations for this production, following the previous evening‘s “Das Rheingold,” as director Stefan Herheim had plenty of ideas for “The Ring‘s” first installment. Sadly, his ideas could not sustain the dramatic textures of “Die Walküre,” as it is replete with long narrative dialogues and less action. Herheim’s tools, the traveling refugees, the suitcases {…}
(Photo Credit: Bernd Uhlig) Stefan Herheim’s take on “The Ring” promises to be an interesting one: original, irreverential and, most of all, not trying to shock for the sake of it. This is my impression based on “The Ring’s” first installment. The imagery and the cultural references are approachable and familiar to the average German operagoer: Loge, who dominates this {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2026-27 season. Premieres “Mittwoch aus Licht” will be conducted by Maxime Pascal and directed by Susanne Kennedy. Performance Dates: Sept. 19-27, 2026 Wagner’s “Der fliegende Holländer” will be conducted by Anna Handler and Giedrė Šlekytė and directed by Milo Rau. The opera will star Tareq Nazmi, Aušrine Stundytė, Attilio Glaser, Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Omar {…}
(Credit: © Max Zerrahn) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has appointed Marco Medved as its new Chorus Master from the 26-27 season. The company said, “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Milanese Marco Medved as the new Chorus Master of the Deutsche Oper Berlin from August 2026.” In a statement Medved added, “It is a great honor to be {…}
Giovanni Conti has been named Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He will assume the position during the 2026-27 season. Conti is a prize winner at the 13th edition of the Premio Guido Cantelli and first prize at the CAMPUS Dirigieren competition. He has taken masterclasses with Riccardo Muti and Daniele Gatti and has conducted with the Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach where {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced various cast changes for its productions. The company said that Geon Kim takes over the role of Rodrigo from Andrè Schuen for performances on Jan. 11, 17, and 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Jordan Shanahan will sing the role of Wotan in “Die Walküre” on May 17 and 27, 2026. Finally for its production of “Madama Butterfly,” {…}