(Photo by Bernd Uhlig) I’m back in Berlin, a city I favor and enjoy so much, ready for yet another Ring cycle at Deutsche Oper, a large, comfortable 1850-seat theatre boldly designed in the Modernist style and simply ideal for large-scale productions. And none comes much larger than those penned by Giacomo Meyerbeer, Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner Therefore, with {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) Some people might be looking for a hero in these days of pandemic, especially locked down at home. Throughout the month of March, San Francisco Opera (SFO) is offering one such hero: the Virtual Ring Festival. You read that right: a “hero” in the form of a quest. It is the quest to retrieve a stolen golden {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that General Music Director Donald Runnicles’ contract has been extended through 2027. Sir Runnicles, recently knighted in October, has served with Deutsche Oper since 2009, with his former contract being set to expire in 2022 after being renewed again in 2016. The company also announced the extension of contracts for Commercial Director Thomas Fehrle {…}
(Credit: Miklos Szabo) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that the Danish bass-baritone Johan Reuter will replace John Lundgren in the role of Wotan in Wagner’s “Die Walküre” on Oct. 4, 2020. Per the opera house’s official statement, Lundgren will appear on stage, while Reuter will sing the role from the side of the stage. Reuter has performed the role of {…}
(Credits: Kristen Hoebermann / ©Neda Navaee / Ray Burmiston/Decca Classics/ Deutsche Oper Berlin official website / Annika Schlicht official website) In times of massive uncertainty and heightened risks, the Deutsche Oper Berlin is taking on the gargantuan effort of staging the second opera of the cycle, “Die Walküre,” directed by Stefan Herheim. Herheim’s production of the iconic Wagner’s opera is {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that bass Andrew Harris will take over the role of Hunding in the upcoming performances of Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” replacing Tobias Kehrer. Harris has performed the roles of Don Basilio in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” Sparafucile in Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Masetto in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” and Stefano Colonna in {…}
(Credit: Jonas Holthaus) “Nothing was produced for the bin.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hurricane hit the world in full force in March 2020, opera houses all over the world were struck badly. All of them were forced to cancel the rest of their 2019-20 seasons, and many new productions were taken off the stage. However, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the {…}
(Image Source: Donald Runnicles Official Website) The Grand Teton Music Festival has announced the 2020 Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition. The scholarship competition is open to high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana who intend to pursue degrees in music (classical, jazz, or other) at an accredited four-year college with a music program recognized by the National Association {…}
The week sees a number of high profile releases including a world premiere, an exciting role debut, a rarely performed gem, and an innovative production from one of the world’s greatest filmmakers. L’Invisible The world premiere recording of Albert Reimann’s new opera “L’Invisible” will be released by Oehms Classics from the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The new CD, which was recorded from {…}
This review is for the performance on Dec. 22, 2017. We’re going to change things up a bit for this review. I don’t enjoy writing in the first person for this kind of article, but “Hansel and Gretel” is an extremely personal experience for me. It was the first opera I ever saw in my life at the age of {…}
You’ve been working hard all week, so kick off your shoes and take a look at some of our weekend opera recommendations, from all around the globe. Austria The Vienna State Opera starts off the weekend by presenting Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” It will be followed by Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” featuring Linda Watson as the Marschallin and Peter Rose as Baron Ochs. {…}