(Photo credit: © SF Marco Borrelli) Is it possible to be merciful with fascists? In Robert Carsen’s reading of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” the answer must be a reverberant “No”—otherwise, the moment one turns their back, they will not miss the opportunity to stab it. Robert Carsen often enjoys updating opera plots, making them reflections of current politics—often achieving {…}
(Photo credit: SF/Marco Borrelli) The ending of “Capriccio” has often been praised; less has been said out loud about how never ending the rest of the opera is. Performed in a concert version, with little to no theatrical movement, it lasts for almost an eternity. Perhaps I am being too harsh. Although “Capriccio” is far from a magnum opus, it is {…}
Composer Wolfgang Rihm passed away on July 27, at the age of 72. Rihm was born in Karlsruhe on March 13, 1952. He was an enthusiastic choir singer and began composing at age eleven. At the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, he studied music theory and composition. He went on to compose over 500 works including several operas. Rihm was a {…}
(Photo credit: SF/Marco Borrelli) Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre are pop. Young, synergetic, and talented, they exude a pop quality even when they are not singing the Beatles. It is a fresh thing that makes them desirable and somehow accessible. But how many people can play the lute like Thomas and sing like Lea? In their Salzburg recital, their pop-ness {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced that the Würth Group has become the festival’s next main sponsor. The Group takes on the role for three years, starting next season. “We are very grateful and honestly touched that Professor Reinhold Würth and the Würth Group have now more than doubled their contributions, which were already generous. Our intense conversations have shown that {…}
The Salzburg Festival is set to celebrate Plácido Domingo’s 50th anniversary with the festival. In a statement, the company said, “Plácido Domingo first appeared at the Salzburg Festival in 1975 and today we are celebrating half a century together. He has accompanied us in an incredible 17 opera productions and ten concert evenings. That’s why we can hardly wait for this {…}
The Salzburg Festival has selected the Young Singers for the 2024 season. The 16 participants were selected among more than 700 applicants and hail from ten nations: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Iran, Russia, Turkey, the USA and Uzbekistan. Led this year by Malcolm Martineau, Violeta Urmana, and Stéphane Degout, they said, “This format of advanced vocal education includes {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced that Markus Hinterhäuser will remain the company’s Artistic Director. In a statement the festival said, that the Board of Trustees of the Salzburg Festival made an important decision for the organization’s future and extended the contract of Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser for five years. As a result, he will remain in his position until 2031. {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced the keynote speaker for the 2024 opening ceremony, The festival said that Nina Khrushcheva will do the honors and will “address one of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s main premises that beauty will save the world. In the current political and cultural environment of war, crisis, animosity, and division, what is the role of art?” In a statement, {…}
(Credit: © SF/Marco Borrelli) The Salzburg Festival has announced that during a benefit gala, it raised revenues exceeding 186,000 Euros. The company noted that the revenue was raised during Daniel Barenboim’s 80th birthday gala which was presented for the Daniel Barenboim Foundation. The gala was held on May 29, 2023, and featured Cecilia Bartoli, Sonya Yoncheva, Rolando Villazón, Plácido Domingo, Martha {…}
(Credit: © SF / Peter Rigaud) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2024 Season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Strauss’ “Caprricio” is set to be performed in concert form with Elsa Dreisig and Bo Skovhus as Countess and Count. The cast also includes Sebastian Kohlhepp (Flamand), Konstantin Krimmel (Olivier), Mika Kares (La Roche), Ève-Maud Hubeaux (Clairon), {…}