(Credit: Ashley Plante) When Berlin opera houses called off their performances in March due to the COVID 19 pandemic, one rarely performed opera was stopped dead in its track- the Komische Oper’s production of “Schwanda.” Among the artists set to star in that production was American soprano Sara Jakubiak. Jakubiak, who has appeared on the most important world stages, to {…}
(Credits: Dragana Branković/Katarina Bradić) Known for her deep and diverse vocal versatility and also theatrical prowess, Katarina Bradić swiftly conquered the major European opera stages—Teatro Real, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper unter der Linden, Komische Oper Berlin, Theater Basel, Bolshoi Theater, Theater an der Wien, Den Norske Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Bayerische Staatsoper, La Monnaie, De Nationale Opera {…}
The Komische Oper Berlin has announced its plans for the 2020-21 season, which will include a revised gameplan for the time period between September and December. The company will present five premieres between September and December, including the operetta “The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein,” the choral project “Mondnacht” with songs by Robert Schumann, and Gluck’s “Iphigenie on Tauris.” Additionally, the {…}
In keeping with last week’s themes of dialogue regarding racial equality in the opera world, we highly recommend checking out the several online shows such as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and The Sitdown with LB,” hosted by Lawrence Brownlee. There is also a new conversation from Long Beach Opera regarding “Equity & Diversity in the Arts” that is {…}
(Credit: Jan Windszus Photography, 3 D Art: Sven Windszus) Komische Oper Berlin has unveiled its 2020-21 season. The first new production of the year will be “Katya Kabanova” will be directed by Jetske Mijnssen and will star Maria Bengtsson, Maria Fiselier, Magnus Vigilius, and Doris Lamprech, among others. Giedre Sleyte conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 26, 2020 -June 30, 2021 Paul {…}
OperaVision will present Weinberger’s “Spring Storms” on Jan. 25, 2020 live from the Komische Oper Berlin. The opera will star Stefan Kurt, Alma Sadé, Vera-Lotte Boecker, Dominik Köninger, and Tansel Akzeybek. Jordan de Souza will conduct a production that will be directed by Barrie Kosky. The opera, by the Jewish-Czech composer, premiered in Berlin just 10 days after the Nazi {…}
(Credits: Jan Windszusc) Barrie Kosky, General Music Director of the Komische Oper Berlin, will stage the last operetta of the Weimar Republic, “Spring Storms.” The work had its world premiere on January 20, 1933, exactly 10 days before Nazis seized power in Germany. Among the original cast members were Richard Tauber and a celebrated Czech actress and soprano Jarmila Novotná. {…}
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, {…}
OperaVision is set to stream “The Bassarids” from the Komische Oper Berlin on its channel on Oct. 13, 2019. The Henze opera will star Sean Panikkar, Günter Papandell, Jens Larsen, Ivan Turšić, Tom Erik Lie, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Vera-Lotte Böcker, and Margarita Nekrasova. Vladimir Jurowski conducts a production by Barrie Kosky. The stream kicks off at 6 p.m. local time. {…}
The Komische Oper Berlin’s production of “Roxy und ihr Wunderteam” will be showcased via live stream service on May 31, 2019. The “football operetta” by Paul Abraham will star such singers as Uwe Schönbeck, Christoph Marti, Johannes Dunz, Tobias Bonn, Andreja Scnheider, and Christoph Späth, among others. Kai Tietje conducts. The stream kicks off at 7:30 p.m. local time. That’s {…}
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 {…}
