(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 {…}
It has been 23 years since Daniel Barenboim offered three performances of Wagner’s comedy at Teatro Real. It was the first Laurent Pelly Wagner production, and therefore the expectations were high. And the result did not disappoint an enthusiastic audience which gave strong ovations at the curtain call. Pelly is a master in “comedy” and he recognizes that he doesn’t {…}
(Photo: SF/Monika Rittershaus) Bohuslav Martinů’s opera “The Greek Passion” is a work still in search of its audience. The opera, seldom performed, is considered to be one of Martinů’s finest compositions. This season’s Salzburg Festival tried hard to make “The Greek Passion” a rare and visually noteworthy production. But it didn’t quite work out. The opera’s political radicalness and musical accomplishments are {…}
(Credits: Johannes Ifkovits / © anna.s. / Hanna-Elisabeth Müller official website / LA Opera official website) The Staatskapelle Dresden has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article we will focus only on vocal performances. Baritone Matthias Goerne presents works by Richard Wagner alongside conductor Manfred Honeck and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. Performance date: Aug. 31, 2021 Soprano {…}
The Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain, has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will highlight the vocal and operatic performances. The season opens with Verdi’s “Requiem.” James Gaffigan conducts a production by Romeo Castellucci starring Elena Tsallgova, Sara Mingardo, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Nahuel Di Piero, and the Escolania Mare de Déu dels Desemparats. Performance {…}
(Credits: Jürgen Frank / Yiorgos Mavropoulos / @ Sony / Gregor Hohenberg / Lukasz Rajchert / Carsten Sander) The Konzerthaus Dortmund has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Sophie Karthäuser kicks off the season with a performance of Beethoven‘s “Pastorale.” Laurence Equilbey conducts the production by Carlus {…}
(Credits: Operabase official website / Jiyang Chen / Simon Pauly / Ray Burmiston / Opus 3 Artists official website) The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Baritone Matthias Goerne presents works by Richard Wagner alongside conductor Manfred Honeck. Performance date: Aug. 29, 2021 Soprano Diana {…}
(Credits: © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical / Jiyang Chen / Chris Singer / Paul Schirnhofer/DG / Opus 3 Artists official website) Philharmonie Essen has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Christine Goerke and Klaus Florian Vogt perform works by Richard Wagner. Andris Nelsons conducts the Bayreuther Festspielorchester. {…}
Radio France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is a look. Operas Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” spotlights Jodie Devos, Clara Guillon, Adèle Charvet, Marie Lenormand, Élodie Méchain, Antoine Normand, Régis Mengus, and Paul Gay. Mikko Franck conducts. Performance date: Oct. 1, 2021, Philharmonie de Paris {…}
(Credits: Semperoper Dresden official website) The Semperoper Dresden has announced that it will reopen its doors for live audiences in June 2021. The opera house will present the Josef E. Köpplinger’s production of Mozart‘s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte.” The opera will star Evelin Novak and Tuuli Takala in the role of Pamina, Tomislav Mužek, Joseph Dennis and Sebastian Kohlhepp as Tamino, {…}
(Credits: Lourdes Balduque / Angel Blue Facebook page/ Cosmin Gogu) The Semperoper Dresden has announced a revised program for November and December 2020. The opera house will present three new productions, Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte,” Udo Zimmermann’s “Weiße Rose,” and Simone Fontanelli’s “Pinocchio.” Here is the look. Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte” will star René Pape, Nikola Hillebrand, Tuuli Takala, Sebastian {…}