(Credit: Klaus Frahm) The Culture Department of the Senate of Berlin has announced that it will begin the implementation of a pilot project for the safe reopening of theaters, concert venues, and opera houses. Audiences will be given SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests in order to assure safe admission. The tests supplement the hygiene and protective measures already specified by the organizers, {…}
(Credit: Suzanne Vinnik) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that the American heldentenor Clay Hilley will perform the title role in Wagner’s “Siegfried,” replacing Simon O’Neill. Hilley will join a cast that includes Iain Paterson in the role of Der Wanderer, Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde, Markus Brück in the role of Alberich, Tobias Kehrer as Fafner, Lindsay Ammann as Erda, and {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin / Simon Pauly) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that it will live stream Zandonai’s opera “Francesca da Rimini” on March 14. The opera house hoped that it would be allowed to present the opera for live audiences, but the German federal government is preparing to extend the majority of lockdown measures until March 28, 2021. The {…}
(Credit: Iko Freese/drama-berlin.de) Komische Oper Berlin has announced that it will stream a production of Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt.” The opera will star soprano Sara Jakubiak, tenor Aleš Briscein, and baritone Günter Papendell. The cast also includes Maria Fiselier, Georgina Melville, Adrian Strooper, and Ivan Turšić. Ainārs Rubiķis conducts the production by Robert Carsen, which was filmed on Sept. 30, {…}
Kevin McCutcheon had died at the age of 66 due to COVID-19. Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, McCutcheon studied conducting, piano, and composition at the Philadelphia Music Academy and went on to appear as a soloist and accompanist for well-known instrumentalists. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979 he conducted at the Opera of Philadelphia. In 1985 McCutcheon made his debut as a {…}
(Credit: Lauren Bloom) The Santa Fe Opera has announced the appointment of David Lomelí as its Chief Artistic Officer. Lomelí will be responsible for the artistic operations of the company including casting. “I could not be more thrilled to welcome David to the Santa Fe Opera. Not only is he one of the leading casting directors of his generation with {…}
(Credit: Martin Bubandt) The Berlin Philharmonic has announced that due to the travel restrictions, General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin Sir Donald Runnicles will not be able to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the online festival “The Golden Twenties” on February 20, 2021. As a result, Thomas Søndergård, the Music Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that it will stream the 2018 production of Korngold’s operatic masterwork “Das Wunder der Heliane” between Feb. 18 and Feb. 21, 2021, on its official website. The opera, which was recorded on the DVD on the NAXOS label, stars Brian Jagde, Josef Wagner, Okka von Damerau, Derek Welton, Gideon {…}
(Credit: © Pia Clodi) American tenor Charles Castronovo has been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19. Castronovo’s wife, soprano Ekaterina Siurina posted on social media that Castronovo has been sick for over two and a half weeks. “Charlie has been in the hospital in Vienna with coronavirus for a week now, but he’s getting better, we can’t put into words our experiences, {…}
(Credits: Salzburger Festspiele official website / Allegorica Opera Management official website / Askonas Holt official website) The Teatro Massimo di Palermo will livestream its concert on Jan. 31, 2021. Mezzosoprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, tenor Giulio Pelligra and bass Alexandros Stavrakakis will perform a program that includes Sergej Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D major op. 25, and Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella.” Gabriele {…}
Aerialist noun : one who performs feats in the air or above the ground, especially on the trapeze. Does singing “Der Hölle Rache,” the famous Queen of the Night aria, upside down while suspended by yards of silk count as a “feat?” If not, it should because that’s exactly what soprano Rainelle Krause does. Whether in the air or on the {…}