(Credit: Enrico Nawrath) “They enter into blinding darkness those who worship chaos; into greater darkness still those who delight in shadow.” Upanishad, Verse IX Coming to Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” for the first time must always remain a unique, emotional, musical experience. It is an opera of subtle interpretations, not only regarding the music and dramatic action, but perhaps more {…}
Much ink has been spilled, in varying shades of nostalgia, on the unravelling of the contracts, institutions, and principles that have fostered peace and prosperity since the end of the Second World War. Undoubtedly, much of this concern is justified: in Europe, national borders are once again flexible around the whims of the powerful; Multilateral Organisations have demonstrated their hollowness {…}
The Shanghai Opera House has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Tristan und Isolde,” which will launch Bayreuth in Shanghai. Last week, the company announced that soprano Nina Warren will make her house debut as Isolde in the 2022 Bayreuth Festival production, directed by Roland Schwab. Nina replaces Song Qian, a soloist of the Shanghai Opera House, {…}
Grange Park Opera has announced that it will partner with the English National Opera’s Orchestra to present its previously announced “Ring Cycle” in 2026-30. The two organizations are collaborating this season for “Mazeppa” and Grange Park Opera Founder Wasfi Kani CBE remarked his enthusiasm with regards to the partnership. “During this 2025 season, the magnificent orchestra of English National Opera {…}
Conductor and author Michael Downes explains why and how he chose to trace the creation of Wagner’s masterpiece in his upcoming book. It is often said that there are more books about Wagner than any historical figure other than Napoleon or Jesus. This is not actually true, but the myth’s frequent resurfacing indicates that there are already an awful lot {…}
In anticipation of the 150th anniversary in 2026, Pegasus Books is set to release “Wagner and the Creation of the Ring” by Michael Downes on July 1, 2025. In his book, the writer and conductor explores the journey of creating one of the most crucial works of art of all Western culture. “Bringing The Ring to successful completion demanded a {…}
Pegasus Books is set to release “Wagner and the Creation of the Ring” on July 1, 2025. The new book by Michael Downes explores Richard Wagner’s inspirations, influence, and artistic revolution, which culminates in the creation of the famed “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” “In ‘Wagner and the Creation of the Ring,’ Michael Downes combines cultural history and biography to recount the {…}
(Credit Steve Gregson) Regents Opera has added an extra performance of “Götterdämmerung” due to high demand. The company will be showcasing Wagner’s famed tetralogy in early 2025 with one cycle opening on Feb. 9 and running through the 16th and the second starting on Feb. 23 and finishing up on March 2, 2025. The added performance of the climactic opera {…}
(Credit: Rosie Hardy) Lise Lindstrom recently took time to converse with Benjamin Torbert for OperaWire. Lindstrom sings all three Brünnhildes in “Die Walküre,” “Siegfried,” and “Götterdämmerung” in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s very lightly staged concert presentation of Wagner’s “Der Ring Des Nibelungen,” on 13-20 October 2024. She already appeared with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for two performances of “Walküre” in {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl) Throughout the entire history of opera, from its beginning in the Francophile 18th century to the American 21st, there have been numerous moments which stand out as having been controversial of their time and controversial even today due to the contentious nature of the events. If one looks to contemporary issues like Anna Netrebko’s alleged blackface while {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has unveiled its 2025 season. The season opens with “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” starring Michael Spyres, Georg Zeppenfeld, Christina Nilsson, Christa Mayer, and Matthias Stier. Daniele Gatti conducts and Matthias Davids directs. Performance Dates: July 25 – August 22, 2025 Valentin Schwarz’s “Das Rheingold” will be conducted by Simone Young and features Tomas Konieczny, Olafur Sigurdarson, Daniele Behle, {…}