(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 {…}
Ibermusica has announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the New York philharmonic and Orfeó Català in Prokofiev, Di Castri, and Adams. Performance Date: Oct. 13, 2026 Le Concert D’Astrée and Emmanuelle Haïm lead Handel’s Messiah with Lucy Crowe, Carlo Vistoli, Lunga Eric Hallam, and Ashley Riches Performance Date: Dec. 10, 2026 The Deutsche Radio {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana” will be conducted by Andrea Battistoni. Leoncavallo’s work will star Corinne Winters, Riccardo Massi, Roman Burdenko, and Hubert Zapiór while Mascagni’s will star Raehann Bryce-Davis, SeokJong Baek, Enkelejda Shkoza, Roman Burdenko, and Maria Warenberg. Performance Dates: Sept. 5 – 23, 2026 Shostakovich’s “Cherry Town” will {…}
On March 12 and 15, 2026, the Dresden Philharmonic will perform Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” in concert form at the Dresden Kulturpalast. The work will be conducted by chief conductor Sir Donald Runnicles, who has become an acclaimed interpreter of Strauss’ masterwork following performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, BBC Proms, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. {…}
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances. Gustavo Gimeno conducts María Toledo and Eric Abramovitz in a program of Falla, Stravinsky, and Jose Gonzalez Granero. Performance Dates: Oct. 1 & 3, 2026 Gustavo Gimeno and Rachel Willis-Sørensen team up for Strauss’ “Four Last Songs.” The program also includes Mahler and Beethoven. Performance Dates: Nov. 12 & 14, {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Detlev Glanert ‘s “Die drei Rätsel” will be conducted by Dominic Limburg and directed by Brigitte Dethier. The production will star Martina Baroni, Philipp Jekal, Chance Jonas-O’Toole, Joel Allison, Padraic Rowan, Maria Vasilevskaya, and Alexandra Oomens. Performance Dates: Oct. 11, 2025-Feb. 15, 2026 Sir Donald Runnicles will {…}
The Dresdner Philharmonie has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Gunter Berger conducts the Children’s Choir with Malte Arkona moderating. Performance Date: Sept. 28, 2025 Hans-Christoph Rademann conducts Bach’s Mass in B Minor with Christina Landshamer, Marie Henriette Reinhold, Patrick Grahl, and Matthias Winckhler. Performance Date: Oct. 3, 2025 The music of Astor Piazzolla, {…}
The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2024-25 Season. Premieres Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre” will be conducted by GMD Leo McFall with Pınar Karabulut directing. Seth Carico, Cornel Frey, Galina Benevich, Josefine Mindus, Sion Goronwy, Ariana Lucas, Aaron Cawley, Hovhannes Karapetyan, Inna Fedorii, Fleuranne Brockway, Wooseok Shim, James Young, and Fabian-Jakob Balkhausen starring. Premiere Date: Sept. 28, 2024 Christian Rohrbach conducts {…}
(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 {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr. The production will star Krzysztof Bączyk, Bekhzod Davronov, Marjukka Tepponen, and Martina Gedeck. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 24, 2024 Richard Strauss’s “Intermezzo” will be conducted by Patrick Hahn and directed by Axel Ranisch. The cast will include Maria {…}