(Photo credit: Klemens Renner) The upcoming concert at Semperoper Dresden will put the spotlight on works by Scandinavian composers. The “Semper Soirée Nordlichter” will celebrate the diverse musical voices of Scandinavia, taking listeners on an inspiring journey across Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. The program features lyrical songs from the 19th and 20th centuries by Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Hugo {…}
(Photo: K. Mystkowski) Now in its third year, the Baltic Opera Festival is hitting its stride, with founder and leading baritone Tomasz Konieczny omnipresent—tending to last-minute details and overseeing a courteous and attentive staff. The performances take place at the Forest Opera in Sopot, a seaside resort north of Gdańsk on the Polish Baltic coast. For many international opera lovers, {…}
The Cēsis Art Festival is set to present a concert production of Richard Wagner’s “Parsifal.” Tenor Michael Weinius takes on the title role. He is joined by mezzo-soprano Martina Dike as Kundry, Stephen Milling as Gurnemanz, bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee as Amfortas, bass-baritone Oleksandr Pushniak in the role of Klingsor, and bass Edgars Ošleja as Titurel. Marlēna Keine, Ilze Grēvele-Skaraine, Gunta {…}
(Credit: Ludwig Olah/Semperoper Dresden) This week the Berlin State Opera is set to open its production of Strauss’ epic opera “Die Frau Ohne Schatten.” The work is rarely performed because of the immense cast and orchestra it requires so it is always a special work to hear it when it is presented. With this revival, the Berlin State Opera has {…}
(Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski) The journey to Opera Lesna – literally translated as Forest Opera – is an experience in itself. From Gdansk by car, bike or bus, you arrive in the parking lot of the forest and have to make a a short pilgrimage to the site – yes, there is an unintended resemblance to approaching the hallowed halls of {…}
