Photo: Winslow Townson The first time my partner watched Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” he couldn’t believe that the composer ever thought a Stalinist regime would be pleased with the opera. The “in-your-face” power of the work made him—a (handsome) man whose political convictions ponder between socialism and cowboyism—find endearing that ‘Shosta’ could not see his censoring coming. Even today, {…}
Photo: © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton Normally, ‘heritage’ productions make me nervous. The established stagings summon to mind lumbering Zeffirelli-esque spectacles and unwieldy, moth-eaten costumes. Opera houses resting on their artistic laurels, unwilling take artistic risks. The ingrained conservatism in the opera business that could even prove fatal for the art form. But, Peter Hall’s production of Benjamin {…}
(Credit: Jonas Holthaus) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that it will not be able to present Verdi’s “Aida” as a fully staged production by Benedikt von Peter due to the pandemic. As a result, the opera house has canceled the second performance in the run on Jan. 24, 2022, and will present the opera on Jan. 22 & 29, {…}
(Credit: Klaus Frahm) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its upcoming December 2021 performances. Mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel will give a concert singing lieder by Gustav Mahler and Kurt Weill. Performance date: Dec. 2, 2021 Soprano Anja Harteros gives a concert featuring Wagner’s “Wesendonck-Lieder” and “Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde.” The orchestra will also present Richard Strauss’ “Tod und Verklärung” op. {…}
(Credits: Bettina Stöß / Bernd Uhlig) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced all the premieres of its 2021-22 season. Here is a look. The “Best of Carmen” concert will spotlight Valeriia Savinskaia, Arianna Manganello, Elena Tsallagova, Matthew Newlin, Joel Allison, and Ève-Maud Hubeaux in the title role. Daniel Carter conducts a production by Silke Sense. Performance dates: Aug. 21 – {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced the replacement of Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the role of Scarpia for a concert performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Oct. 23, 2020. Baritone Noel Bouley will perform in his stead. Bouley will join a cast that includes Fabio Sartori in the role of Mario Cavaradossi, and Malin {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat will sing the role of Scarpia in the concert performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Oct. 23, 2020. Enkhbat will replace Roman Burdenko. Enkhbat is currently performing the role of Amonasro in a series of concert performances of Verdi’s “Aida” at the Teatro alla {…}
(Credit: Daniil Rabovsky) Russian soprano Elena Stikhina has canceled the concert “The Best of Aida” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin,. As a result, Swedish soprano Christina Nilsson will perform in her stead. Nilsson recently took home the third prize at the Operalia competition and first prize at the Renata Tebaldi Vocal Competition. She has performed the role of Elsa von {…}
(Credits: Peter Knutson / Vicor Santiago / Andrey Uspensky) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced changes to its October 2020 schedule. The performances of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” slated for October 2, 2020; “Così fan tutte” scheduled for October 20 & 25, 2020; Verdi’s “La Traviata” scheduled for Oct. 10, 2020; Bizet’s “Carmen” slated for Oct. 16, 21 & 24, 2020; {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin/Bettina Stöß) Based on a comedy by William Shakespeare, Britten and Pears’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” had its world premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival on June 11, 1960, with the composer conducting. Britten and Pears tried to bring Shakespeare’s magical world onstage both as a play and as a vocal piece. Alas, the opera has since struggled {…}
(Credit: Staatstheater Wiesbaden) Soprano Gloria Rehm will replace Alexandra Hutton in the role of Blonde in the Mozart and Stephanie’s “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on Feb. 18, per an official statement on the company’s website. Rehm will join the cast for the final performance in the run that includes Annabelle Mandeng, Flurina Stucki, Matthew {…}