The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that baritone Christian Gerhaher will not be singing the role of Wolfram von Eschenbach for the performance of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” on July 11, 2021. As a result, Sir Simon Keenlyside will take over the role. The company also announced that Elena Pankratova will replace Daniela Sindram in the role of Venus. Keenlyside recently performed at {…}
The first Act of “Die Walküre” is undeniably a grand love song. Wagner’s dramatization of the encounter between Siegmund and Sieglinde—the Walsüng twins—is a remarkable and thrilling experience; even when it is an abridged concert version, performed in a faraway opera house with half a live audience, socially distanced, without the theatrical panoply of full-site production, full costumes and full {…}
(© Semperoper Dresden/Matthias Creutziger) The Semperoper Dresden has announced that starting on May 18, the company will be presenting a virtual exhibition dedicated to Carl Maria von Weber’s “Der Freischütz.” The exhibition will showcase several prominent productions of the famed work, leading up to a stream of the company’s newest production of the opera on June 18, 2021, the anniversary {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that it will reopen on May 13. The theater announced that COVID-19 incidence levels are low enough to reopen and as a result, audiences will be able to experience the first act of “Die Walkure” live. The concert, which will also be streamed on the company’s streaming platform, will star Jonas Kaufmann, Lise Davidsen, and {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced programming for the 2021 season. The season will open with “Die Fliegende Hollander” with Oksana Lyniv becoming the first woman conductor to lead an opera at the festival. Dmitri Tcherniakov directs the new production, which will star Eric Cutler, Georg Zeppenfeld, Asmik Grigorian, and Marina Prudenskaya. Performance Dates: July 25 – August 20, 2021 The festival {…}
(Credits: Simon van Boxtel / Sasha Vasiljev / Berliner Festspiele official website) Conductor Jaap van Zweden will return to the Royal Concertgebouw in the famed NTR Saturday series to conduct Beethoven’s only opera “Fidelio.” Van Zweden, who turns 60 on Dec. 12, will lead the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dutch Radio Choir in the presentation of Beethoven’s operatic {…}
(Credits: Lourdes Balduque / Angel Blue Facebook page/ Cosmin Gogu) The Semperoper Dresden has announced a revised program for November and December 2020. The opera house will present three new productions, Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte,” Udo Zimmermann’s “Weiße Rose,” and Simone Fontanelli’s “Pinocchio.” Here is the look. Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte” will star René Pape, Nikola Hillebrand, Tuuli Takala, Sebastian {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced a revised schedule for its 2020-21 season. The German company announced that all productions between August through October 2020 will be replaced by small-format events under the title of “Semper Essenz.” The series will feature musical highlights from previously-scheduled operas with a reduced orchestra and cast of singers. Among the operas featured in this series {…}
The Grand Théâtre de Genève has announced the reopening of its theater with three programs starting on June 13. Sabine Devieilhe will open the hall in a recital with pianist Mathieu Pordoy. The program will feature music by Mozart and Richard Strauss. On June 19, Jonathan Nott will conduct a Verdi and Wagner program with soloists Andreas Schager, Georg Zeppenfeld, {…}
(Credit: Monarca Studios/Markus Tedeskino) The Staatskapelle Dresden has announced its 2020-21 season. For this article on the German orchestra, we will focus on the vocal concerts. Ingo Metzmacher conducts Angela Denoke in Schönberg’s “Erwartung.” The program also includes Ligeti’s Lontano and Schubert’s Symphony in C Major. Performance Dates: August 28, 2020 Christian Thielemann opens the season with Anja Kampe and Anja {…}
Another week in quarantine, but yet another week of exciting opera options. For those who have followed this series, you know that the 10 we usually recommend are a mixed bunch, with the intention of filling all diverse opera appetites with a wide-ranging menu. This week is no different and perhaps, because of the unique options on offer, it might {…}