(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor,” like the vast majority of Singspiele, is not well-known outside the German-speaking world. Even in its native Germany, it’s mounted infrequently. Its story, however, is almost universally known. Like Verdi’s “Falstaff,” it’s closely based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” A few details are Germanized: Alice Ford becomes Frau Fluth, and her {…}
It is the first weekend of October, which means that it is one filled with opening nights, new productions, contemporary works, classics, and baroque works. Let’s have a go. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Lawrence Zazzo, Erin Morley, Théo Touvet, Peter Kellner, Szilvia Vörös, Josh Lovell, Rafael Fingerlos, Rachel Frenkel, Valentina, Naforniţa, Peter Rose, Benjamin Hulett, Wolfgang {…}
The Vienna State Opera will showcase Verdi’s “Don Carlo” as part of its live streaming service on Sept. 12, 2019. The performance, the second of the current run, will feature Fabio Sartori, René Pape, Anja Harteros, Simon Keenlyside, and Elena Zhidkova. Jonathan Darlington conducts the four-act version of the opera. The stream kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time. That’s {…}
(Credits: Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) Verdi’s “Don Carlo” is one of the staples of the repertoire, best-known for its lush ensembles, vocal writing, and impactful drama. It requires six of the greatest voices in the opera world and also requires a conductor who knows how to pace the evening; both are essential to fulfill the work’s masterful potential. On {…}
(Credit: SF/Ruth Walz /Metropolitan Opera / Rossini Opera Festival) Stars, season finales, and some of the greatest operas in the standard repertoire are set to take over your weekend. Here are our picks for the operas to see this weekend. Luisa Miller – Salzburg Festival, Austria Plácido Domingo returns to the Salzburg stage in a concert performance of one of his {…}
(Credit: SF/ Ruth Walz) On August 20, 2019 medici.tv is set to stream Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” from the Salzburg Festival. The new production by Andreas Kriegenburg, is set to be conducted by Valery Gergiev and will star Luca Salsi as Simon Boccanegra, Marina Rebeka as Amelia Grimaldi, René Pape as Jacopo Fiesco, Charles Castronovo as Gabriele Adorno. The production marks the return {…}
The Orchestra National de France and the Choeur and Maîtrise de Radio France will present a free Bastille Day concert on Sunday, Jul. 14, 2019. The concert will take place “at the foot of the Eiffel Tower . . . [and] will be followed by the very famous fireworks,” according to SortiraParis. Alain Altinoglu will lead the orchestra. The event {…}
The Vienna State Opera will present Wagner’s final masterpiece “Parsifal” on April 21, 2019. Those not able to make it to Vienna can still check out the performance via the company’s live stream service. Simon O’Neill will appear as the title character with René Pape in his signature role of Gurnemanz. Meanwhile Matthias Goerne, Boaz Daniel, and Elena Zhidkova will {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2019-20 season, featuring seven new productions and a number of stars. Here is a look at what the season will offer. New Production Patrick Lange conducts a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” by Uwe Eric Laufenberg. Lena Belkina stars in the title role with tenors Sebastien Gueze, Aaron Cawley, and {…}
The Vienna State Opera has announced its 2019-20 season, which includes six new productions and a whopping 58 operas overall. There are also a plethora of concert performances as well featuring some of the greatest opera stars on the planet. New Productions The new season kicks off with a new production of Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Directed by Irina {…}
The Staatsoper Berlin has announced its 2019-20 season, which will feature 10 new productions in addition to numerous revivals. Production premieres It all starts with Otto Nicolai’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” with Daniel Barenboim conducting and David Bösch. René Pape will interpret the role of Falstaff with the remaining cast members including Michael Full, Wilhelm Schwinghammer, Pavol Breslik, Linard {…}