(Credit: Mattias Baus) Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year {…}
(Photo: Diane Deschenaux) With Europe once again baking under unpleasantly high temperatures thanks to our lack of interest in dealing with the problems of global warming, what better place to go than high up in the Swiss Alps. Verbier at an altitude 1,500 meters would seem to be ideal. An alpine ski resort, set on a south-facing terrace with splendid {…}
(Credit: Philip Groshong) In Greek myth, Theseus cruelly abandons Ariadne on a desert island, but she’s ultimately rescued by Bacchus. Cincinnati Opera, by contrast, abandons Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” to a gimmicky concept from which no rescue is possible. As the rewards — such as they were — of this production proved musical in nature, this review will begin {…}
It might not be a coincidence that Teatro Real decided to program the last theatrical composition of Strauss after the last one of Verdi. “Capriccio” was presented at the Teatro Real for the very first time, in a new production directed by Christof Loy. The performance also featured the debut of Malin Byström (Countess Madeleine), the baritone Josef Wagner (Count), {…}
Next to Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, and Puccini, Richard Strauss is one of the most important composers in the history of opera. Born on June 11, 1864, he was a prominent figure during the early part of the 20th century. Many of his most famed operas are major staples of the repertory and even his lesser-known works are held in high {…}
Strauss’ masterful “Die Frau ohne Schatten” will take the stage of the Vienna State Opera on Saturday, May 25. And while many will get a shot at experiencing the opera live, others will see it via the company’s live stream service. This must-see opera features a cast of major A-list stars including Stephen Gould, Camilla Nylund, Evelyn Herlitzius, Sebastian Holececk, {…}
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is set to perform Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” in 2020. Performances are set for March 18 in Poole with an additional on March 21, 2020 in Birmingham. The work will be conducted by the BSO’s Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits with Catherine Foster in the demanding title role. This will be Foster’s first opera performance in the United {…}
BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska will return to the Orchestra of Opera North for two concerts featuring the music of Lutosławski, R. Strauss, and Bruckner on April 4 and 6. The first concert will be held at Huddersfield Town Hall, and the second at Leeds Town Hall. The performances will start off with Lutosławski’s “Musicque funèbre,” a {…}
Audiences can check out the “Der Rosenkavalier” performance on March 21, 2019, from the Vienna State Opera via the company’s live stream service. The performance will star Adrianne Pieczonka as the Marschallin, Peter Rose as Baron Ochs, Stephanie Houtzeel as Octavian, and Chen Reiss and Sophie. Adam Fischer conducts the classic Otto Schenk. The stream kicks off at 6 p.m. {…}
Kiri Te Kanawa is arguably the most renowned artist to come out of New Zealand in the opera world. Born on March 6, 1944, the soprano was born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron but was adopted as an infant by Thomas Te Kanawa and his wife Nell. In her teens and early 20s, she worked as a pop star and entertainer {…}
Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment will take a look {…}