Hans Werner Henze’s opera “The Bassarids” received its first performance at the Salzburg Festival on August 6, 1966. At the premiere, Christoph von Dohnanyi conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. English-American poet W.H. Auden and his partner Chester Kallman wrote the libretto based on Euripides’ “Bacchae,” one of the last tragedies of the great Greek dramatist. Within weeks, the opera was {…}
Aida Garifullina is perhaps one of the biggest opera singers in the world today. Since her win at the Operalia competition in 2013, her star has risen quickly and she has been able to perform at some of the highest profile events in the world. This year alone she appeared at the World Cup opera gala, the opening and closing {…}
Sean Panikkar has slowly been growing through the ranks of the opera world. His numerous engagements with the Metropolitan Opera have made him visible throughout the world and he has been able to make important debuts at the Festival Aix en Provence, Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Fort Worth Opera in recent years. He has also been an advocate for {…}
On Saturday, July 28, medici.tv will broadcast the sold-out premiere of Romeo Castellucci’s new production of Richard Strauss’s “Salome” from the Salzburg Festival. The production is set to star Asmik Grigorian in the title role with Franz Welser-Möst conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Alongside Grigorian, the production will star John Daszak as Herod, Anna Maria Chiuri as Herodias, and Gábor {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced that it will collaborate for the sixth year with Swarovski for three productions. The festival announced that Swarovski crystals will be used in productions of “Die Zauberflöte,” “The Queen of Spades,” and “L’incoronazione di Poppea.” In a press release, Nadja Swarovski, a member of the Executive Board stated, “We are proud to continue this partnership, which {…}
The Swiss actor Bruno Ganz has pulled out of Mozart’s “Zauberflöte.” The actor was expected to appear in the upcoming production of Mozart’s work at the Salzburg Festival, but had to pull out citing poor health. As a result, he will be replaced by actor, Klaus Maria Brandauer. Ganz is an award-winning actor who is acclaimed for his role in {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced that 13 singers from 12 European nations shall take part in the Young Singers Project. Per a press release, the ensemble hails from Great Britain, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Korea, France, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Romania and Poland. “The director of the Young Singers Project, Evamaria Wieser, a member of numerous juries herself, selects young {…}
UPDATE: Per our sources, the speculated production is just a rumor and it is the wrong information. Following is the article in its original form. Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann are set to perform Puccini’s “Turandot” at the Salzburg Festival in 2021. According to Platea Magazine and Forum Opera, the two superstars will star in a new production of Puccini’s final opera {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2018 summer festival. This season the festival will showcase eight operas in concert and staged performances. “Die Zauberflöte” will be the festival’s sole Mozart offering starring Matthias Goerne as Sarastro, Mauro Peter as Tamino, Albina Shagimuratova in the role of the Queen of the Night, Christiane Karg as Pamina, and Adam Plachetka as Papageno. Constantinos Carydis conducts Lydia Steier’s new production. {…}
BR Klassik will present Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia” from the Salzburg Festival. The opera will be presented at 7:30 CEST according to the broadcast company’s website. “Lucrezia Borgia” stars Krassimira Stoyanova, Juan Diego Florez and Ildar Abdrazakov. Marco Armiliato conducted the two performance run, which took place during the last week of the festival and was met with positive reviews. The run {…}
Salzburg Festival is about luxury. The audience is filled with celebrities, the casts are filled with stars, and the (relatively) higher priced tickets, all show its luxury. Yet, what defines its luxury, for me, is its long rehearsal period. When Anna Netrebko said in an interview how she wanted more rehearsals and Riccardo Muti said “preparing an opera the way {…}