Three new releases are set for this week. One of the the releases comes from last summer while another is a world premiere of an interesting new work. Lohengrin Piotr Beczala stars in Yuval Sharon’s acclaimed production of Wagner’s masterwork from last summer’s Bayreuth production. Anja Harteros, Waltraud Meier, Tomasz Konieczny, and Georg Zeppenfeld also star. Christian Thielemann conducts this {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2019-20 season featuring 58 operas and six new productions. It’s a season stacked with stars and a number of incredible productions. And within those productions a number of major artists will make major debuts, role debuts and will open high profile performances. For this list we have singled out five singers who will sing {…}
Waltraud Meier, born on Jan. 9, 1956, would become one of the most successful German artists of the late 20th century and beyond. Meier was born in Würzberg and sang in choral groups throughout her youth. Despite starting her graduate studies in English and Romance languages, in 1976, she shifted her focus to singing and made her debut at the {…}
The Mirjam Helin Competition has announced the jury for this year’s competition. This year, the jury will be led by an all-star line up of singers including Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski, and Kiri Te Kanawa. The competition’s Executive Director Marja-Leena Pétas-Arjava said in a press release, “Once again, the Mirjam Helin Competition {…}
This weekend, OperaWire goes a little traditional in its weekend offerings. Granted if you look at the list many of the works recommended are not the most popular. Instead, there are rarely performed works, role debuts, and in the case of one production, a legendary showcase that has to be seen every time it is on stage. Here is a look {…}
Strauss’ “Elektra” will hit small screens around the globe as part of the Vienna State Opera’s live stream series this Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The performance will be led by conductor Michael Boder and will star Waltraud Meier as Klytämnestra, Lise Lindstrom in the title role, Anna Gabler as Chrisothemis, Herbert Lippert as Aegisth, and René Pape as Orest. This {…}
The 2017-18 season comes to an end and in comes festival season. So where are the big stars and what are interesting works being discovered this year? With a ton of selections to be sure, we whittled it down to the 10 Must-See productions (as we did with the U.S.) that cannot be missed this summer. 10. Tristan und Isolde – {…}
The Vienna State Opera has announced the 2018-19 season, which is incidentally the company’s 150-anniversary year. The season will include six new productions, including a world premiere production. Here is a breakdown of what’s to come. New Productions (In Order of Opening) Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” will be the first new production, starting on Oct. 14, 2018. David McVicar directs while {…}
Opera Zürich has announced its 2018-19 season slate, which is among the largest in the world. It will feature a whopping 12 new productions, among a glut of exciting revivals. Let’s dive in. Premieres Gisbert Näther’s “Konrad oder das Kind aus der Konservenbüchse” gets a new production by Claudia Blersch. Ann-Katrin Stöcker conducts two cast which will include Irène Friedli, Katharina Peetz, Flurin {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin has announced its 2018-19 Season, featuring numerous new productions and revivals featuring some of today’s most popular artists and conductors. Here is a look at what to expect next season. New Productions (in alphabetical order by title) Sonya Yoncheva headlines a new production of Cherubini’s “Medea” with Andrea Breth directing. Daniel Barenboim conducts the star-studded cast, {…}
The opera season continues in full swing as many of the top stars continue runs of important operas around the world. Austria The Vienna State Opera kicks off its weekend with Strauss’ “Elektra” starring Waltraud Meier, Nina Stemme, Regine Hangler, Herbert Lippert and Alan Held. It follows on Saturday with Debussy “Pelléas et Mélisande” with Franz-Josef Selig, Bernarda Fink, Adrian Eröd, Simon {…}