Sydney Mancasola, Nicole Chevalier, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Scott Hendricks, Annette Dasch, Francesca Dotto Lead Komische Oper Berlin’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: LA Opera official website / Jan Windszus Photography / Lena Kern / Mark Janssen / Georg Schlosser / In Art Management official website) The Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera – Premieres Enescu’s rarely performed masterwork “Œdipe” opens the season. The opera features Jens Larsen, Joachim {…}

May 29, 2021

Nicole Chevalier, Günter Papendell & Anne Sofie von Otter Headline Theater Basel’s 2021-22 Season

The Theater Basel has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on opera productions only. Here is a look: Mozart‘s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte” will open the season. The opera stars Kai Kluge and Alex Banfield in the role of Tamino, Kali Hardwick as Pamina, Rainelle Krause as Die Königin der Nacht, and Patrick Zielke {…}

Feb 16, 2021

Sara Jakubiak, Aleš Briscein and Günter Papendell Headline Stream of ‘Die Tote Stadt’ from Komische Oper Berlin

(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, {…}

Jan 25, 2021

Komische Oper Berlin Announces Changes To 2020-21 Season

( Credit: Gunnar Geller) The Komische Oper Berlin has announced that it will remain shut down until at least Easter 2021, due to continued concerns over the spread of COVID-19. The opera house has officially stated that the productions of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Les Boréades,” George Enescu’ s “Œdipe,” and Jacques Offenbach’s opera “Orphée aux enfers” will be postponed until future {…}

Oct 3, 2020

Christian Gerhaher, Ailyn Pérez, Matthew Polenzani, Marlis Petersen Highlight Bayerische Staatsoper 2020-21 Free Streaming Season

(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony / Chris Singer / Rebecca Fay / Artists Management Zürich official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the full slate for its 2020-21 free streaming season. Here is the look. Walter Braunfels’ “Die Vögel” will feature Wolfgang Koch, Günter Papendell, Caroline Wettergreen, Emily Pogorelc, Yajie Zhang, Eliza Boom, Bálint Szabó, Theodore Platt, George Vîrban, Charles Workman, and {…}

Jun 24, 2020

Ailyn Pérez, Golda Schultz, Étienne Dupuis, Adela Zaharia Headline New Productions Added to Bayerische 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Askonas Holt /Gregor Röhrig / Julien Fauguere / Chris Singer) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a major change to its 2020-21 season, adding several productions to the slate. New Productions The company will world premiere “7 Deaths of Maria Callas” on Sept. 1, 2020. The opera had previously been slated to have its first performances at the tail-end of {…}

Apr 29, 2020

Eva-Maria Westbroek, Asmik Grigorian Headline OperaVision’s Russian Program in May

(Credit: Iko Freese / Operavision) OperaVision has announced that its May streaming slate will be dedicated to Russian opera. On May 1, the company will stream the Komische Oper Berlin’s production of “Eugene Onegin.” The opera stars Asmik Grigorian, Karolina Gumos, Ales Briscein, and Günter Papendell under the musical direction of Henrik Nánási. The performance will be available for repeat {…}

Oct 20, 2019

Komische Oper Berlin 2019-20 Review: The Bassarids

Written after Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy “The Bacchae,” “The Bassarids” is essentially a one-act opera with intermezzo. It was composed by Hans Werner Henze to an English libretto by Wystan Hugh Auden and Chester Kallman (who also jointly wrote the libretto for opera “The Rake’s Progress” by Igor Stravinsky). The opera had its world premiere in Salzburg on August 6, {…}

Apr 18, 2019

Sean Panikkar, Anne Sofie von Otter & Leonardo Capalbo Lead Komische Oper Berlin’s 2019-20 Season

Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2019-20 season. This season will celebrate Dionysus, the forefather and protagonist of Greek theatre, with new productions reflecting the entire spectrum of musical theatre. Chief Director Barrie Kosky comments, “. . . [O]nce we believe in the power of theatre and music, believe in their intoxicating, seductive, physical, emotional, and ultimately community-building impacts, once {…}

May 21, 2018

Komische Oper Berlin 2017-18 Review – Eugene Onegin: Barrie Kosky’s Rendition of Tchaikovsky Masterwork Destined to Be Remembered Forever

The Komische Oper in Berlin has soared in reputation under the leadership of Barrie Kosky for its innovative programming. It is regarded as the destination in town for rarely-performed opera works. Scheduling an opera trip in Berlin is full of challenges and my maiden journey to the Komische was for the altogether familiar “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky on Saturday night {…}

Gunter Papendell