(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) Stage director Uwe Eric Laufenberg has stepped down as Intendant of the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden. He held the position for 10 years. Hesse art minister Timon Gremmels announced Laufenberg’s departure noting, “Both sides have decided to end their joint work after almost 10 years on January 22, 2024.” According to numerous sources, the reason for his {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced date changes for its May Festival performances of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company said that performances originally scheduled for May 9 and 12, will now be performed on May 4 and 8, 2024. The May performances are set to star Anna Netrebko in the title role, Yusif Eyvazov as Calaf, Erik Biegel {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) Following a massive protest on May 5, 2024, in regard to Anna Netrebko’s performances at the May Festival festival in Wiesbaden, orchestra members are speaking out regarding the soprano’s participation. In an interview with Van Magazine, Orchestra Director Jonas Finke, who also participated in the protest alongside 25 members of the orchestra said, “that Netrebko’s appearance {…}
The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2023-24 season featuring premieres, revivals, and recitals. Premieres Wagner’s “Lohengrin” will be conducted by Michael Güttler and directed by Henriette Hörnigk. The cast will be led by Mirko Roschkowski, Marco Jentzsch, Klaus Florian Vogt, Heather Engebretson, Khatuna Mikaberidze, KS Thomas de Vries, Egils Silins, Young Doo Park, and Timo Riihonen. Performance Dates: Sept. 16, 2023-May {…}
The Staatheater Wiesbaden has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The theater announced that on May 9 the role of Gilda will be sung by Anastasiya Taratorkina who replaces the originally scheduled Cristina Pasaroiu. Taratorkina is an ensemble member of the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and has performed such roles with the company as Sophie (“Der Rosenkavalier”), {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) The Pussy Riot has announced that it will appear in Wiesbaden after canceling its engagement at the International May Festival. The group said that it will perform at the Slaughterhouse and the concert will raise funds for Ukraine. The concert in part is being seen as a direct response to the Staatstheater Wiesbaden’s festival and its {…}
The Pussy Riot has canceled its participation at the International May Festival due to the participation of Anna Netrebko. The Russian group which is anti-Putin released a statement on Twitter stating, “We didn’t know that Anna Netrebko is also gonna participate in this particular festival. We had no idea that there is a discussion going on and that we’ve been {…}
The International May Festival has announced its 2023 season at the Staaststhater Wiesbaden. Opera Uwe Eric Laufenberg stars in “Flieg, Gedanke, auf goldenen Schwingen.” Performance Date: April 30, 2023 Elissa Huber, Aaron Cawley, Erik Biegel, and Fleuranne Brockway Leoš Janáček’s “Die Sache Makropulos” while Christopher Bolduc, Julian Habermann, Aaron Cawley, Ralf Rachbauer, and Darcy Carroll star in Janáček’s “Aus einem {…}
(Credit: tim osipov) Following the announcement that Anna Netrebko would make her role debut in “Nabucco” at the International May Festival in Wiesbaden, the city of Wiesbaden and the state of Hesse have spoken out against the performances. In a press release, the Staastheater Wiesbaden said, “The theme of the International May Festival 2023 is political prisoners. Anna Netrebko will {…}
The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2022-23 season featuring six new productions. Premieres Beethoven’s “Fidelio” will get a new production starring Barbara Haveman, Marco Jentzsch, Thomas de Vries, Dimitry Ivashchenko, Anastasiya Taratorkina, Anna El-Khashem, Ralf Rachbauer, Christopher Bolduc, and Benjamin Russell. Will Humburg conducts the production by Evelyn Herlitzius. Performance Dates: Oct. 16, 2022-Jan. 8 2023 Franz Lehár’s “The Merry {…}
(Credit: Staatstheater Wiesbaden) The Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced that coloratura soprano Aleksandra Jovanović will not be appearing in the role of Konstanze in the revival of Mozart’s “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” between Jan. 9 – May 15, 2022. As a result, coloratura soprano Gloria Rehm will take over the role for all performances in the run. Rehm joins {…}