(Photo: OMC Marco Borrelli) On Sunday March 2nd, 2025, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo presented a concert performance of Act two of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde.” The concert was billed as a prelude to the annual music festival Le Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, which will open on March 12th. The evening began with the {…}
The Orchestre National de France has appointed Philippe Jordan as the next Music Director. The conductor will take up the position in 2027 following his exit from the Wiener Staatsoper next year. He will succeed Romanian Cristian Macelaru, who will step down after seven years with the orchestra. In an interview with Le Monde the Swiss conductor said, “After two stints {…}
The current “Der Ring des Nibelungen” at Staatsoper Berlin came into being in October 2022 directed by Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov and due to be conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Sadly, though, Maestro Barenboim, had to pull out of the production because of severe health issues, a great blow to all, but so disappointing for Barenboim in his 80th year. {…}
The CD release of “Parsifal” under Philippe Jordan is not exactly news. The production dates from the 2021 season of the Vienna State Opera when the gritty, and no less controversial, staging of Kirill Serebrennikov received widespread attention. It was a secular “Parsifal,” highly politicized, and more akin to the oppressive climate of the Soviet Gulag than the Romantic exclusivity {…}
Photo credit: SF Bernd Uhlig In one of his literary excursions, the great Portuguese author Eça de Queiroz reviewed the premiere of Verdi’s “Macbeth” in Lisbon. He did not see the original Italian version of the opera, but the revised French one and quite likely with the same cast as in Paris. Eça insisted that Verdi was the greatest living {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced a conductor change for its production of Verdi’s “Macbeth.” In a press release the festival said, “With great regret, Franz Welser-Most must withdraw from conducting Macbeth due to acute orthopedic issues which require him to undergo medical treatment. However, he remains confident that he will be able to conduct his concerts at the Festival with {…}
The Musikverein Wien has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Günther Groissböck and Malcolm Martineau perform a recital of music by Bruckner, Schumann and Wolf. Performance Date: Sept. 16, 2023 Marie Jacquot will conduct the Wiener Symphoniker in a program that includes Olivier Messiaen’s Un sourire, Lili Boulanger’s D’un soir triste, {…}
Philippe Jordan will not renew his contract with the Wiener Staatsoper. The conductor, who was appointed the Music Director in 2020, told the Kurier that he believed that opera and the company were headed in the wrong direction. “In the past two years, I’ve come to the conclusion that that was probably not realistic and isn’t really desirable. As far {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced a farewell concert in honor of music director Philippe Jordan on July 2, 2021. Jordan will conduct the Orchestre et Choeurs de l’Opéra National de Paris in Liszt’s “Faust” Symphony as well as three songs featuring tenor Andreas Schager. The tenor will then join Peter Mattei, René Pape, and Ève-Maud Hubeaux in a {…}
(Credits: © Algirdas Bakas / Julian Baumann) The Wiener Staatsoper has confirmed that it will reopen on September 7, 2020. Vienna’s operatic behemoth will restart its performances after a six-month hiatus with the production “Madama Butterfly.” The strict COVID-19 rules for the audiences will include mandatory facemasks at all times, except when seated during the performance, and at least one {…}
The Musikverein Wien has announced its June schedule which will open June 5 to an audience of 100. The series at the famed Austrian concert hall will open with Daniel Barenboim leading the Wiener Philharmoniker in music of Mozart and Beethoven. Barenboim will also perform in two recitals of Beethoven sonatas. Riccardo Muti will conduct the Wiener Philharmoniker in a {…}