It's time for the third round of the Bavarian State Opera's Ring cycle.
Siegfried premieres at 16:00 CET today (3pm UK ) and will be broadcast live on BR.
Kent Nagano conducts and Lance Ryan is Siegfried (Jedward failed the audition).
Production photos below.
Jonas Kaufmann has withdrawn from Les Troyens due to "a protracted infection", the ROH has just announced.
Presumably this means his 6 June Royal Albert Hall concert with Netrebko and Schrott and his 10 June Wigmore Hall date are also out of the window.
While you're enjoying your summer weekend, spare a thought for Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny, who is spending his in a Zimbabwe jail.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he was generously compering a Bulawayo music festival for free when he was arrested for not having a work permit.
A New Zealand journalist recently released from prison in Zimbabwe was "strip-searched and kept in a cramped and filthy cell with 38 other prisoners". His crime? Nothing more serious than reporting without accreditation. "I was at the mercy of a system where laws are bent to fit politics and human rights are regularly disregarded," he said.
Petroc is receiving consular assistance and is expected to be let out on Monday.
As this year's Salzburg Whitsun Festival kicks off, the first under Cecilia Bartoli's artistic leadership, the details of next year's programme have been revealed.
The theme is Sacrifice. Or should that be Controversy? The centrepiece is Norma, with Bartoli in the title role. Read the programme to find out why she thinks Norma is really a mezzo.
Leiser and Caurier direct and a new critical edition of the score has been produced, reinstating old cuts and implementing some of Bellini's annotations.
More controversy - La Ceci will also perform in Brahms' Deutsches Requiem alongside Rene Pape and Daniel Barenboim's West Eastern Divan Orchestra.
To round off the weekend, Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky perform an all-Stravinsky programme, and Andras Schiff gives a recital.
It's fair to say orchestra director Jan Nast is pretty excited about Christian Thielemann taking the reins as principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden. Just look at the slogan on the Staatskapelle's website (above). Not to mention the 'Arrived' posters he's had plastered over Dresden bus stops (below).
Continue reading "Shall I compare thee to a microchip plant?" »
SUM - Royal Opera Linbury Studio, 23 May 2012 (world premiere)
Spot the difference.
A couple of years ago the notorious Bono-collaborator Brian Eno created a multimedia production for the Brighton Festival based on neuroscientist David Eagleman’s book Sum: 40 Tales From The Afterlives. Eno supplied a noodly, Eno-y soundtrack for a selection of readings from Eagleman's quirky stories about what might happen after we die.
Last night Wayne McGregor and his composing collaborator Max Richter created a multimedia production for the Royal Opera House based on neuroscientist David Eagleman’s book Sum: 40 Tales From The Afterlives. Richter supplied a noodly, Eno-y soundtrack for a selection of readings from Eagleman's quirky stories about what might happen after we die.
Continue reading "Where's Rupert the horse when you need him?" »
Most singers with a job on the side say they wear two hats. Cecilia Bartoli sees her joint role as star and artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival in more intimate terms.
Responding to Anna Netrebko's late withdrawal she said “For the first time in my career, I feel two hearts beat in my breast: the familiar singer’s heart, and the new heart of the artistic director. Who, if not I as a singer, can understand better how Anna feels? Due to an illness, one is forced to disappoint the audience and cancel an important concert. At such moments, one feels miserable and lonely…"
Mojca Erdmann will now take Netrebko's place in the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s Cleopatra and the Snake – a piece she must learn in two days. La Ceci herself will add bonus star power to the evening with two Mozart works - on top of a solo recital and two five-hour Giulio Cesare performances - all in four days. Now that's dedication.
Anyone around Austria way can watch a recording of Giulio Cesare on 28 May on the ORF2 channel.
See Philippe Jaroussky grappling his asp and more in the production photos below.
Three enterprising Danish singers are about to introduce pop-up opera to Berlin. Anyone who leaves their email address with Home Opera will be sent details of the venue - a centrally-located apartment - a few hours before tomorrow evening's performance. Guests will be able to buy drinks in the kitchen before settling on the apartment's sofa to hear songs and arias accompanied by piano. The admission charge of up to €15 varies depending on the ability to pay.
While Egypt gets its first taste of democracy, guests at Salzburg's Whitsun Festival will be treated to a taste of Egypt. After they've watched Cecilia Bartoli as Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare in Egitto on 27 May, the privileged section of the audience who stumped up the €€€ will decamp to the splendid Karl-Böhm-Saal for an Egyptian feast. Traditional Egyptian music will accompany the goat cheese-stuffed dates, pita bread and tahini, and belly dancer Nabila has been recruited for the purpose of "spreading oriental flair".
Forget the traditional spaghetti - this opens up a whole raft of opera-themed dinner possibilities. How about a nice platter of Schwartenmagen after your Salome for starters?
Los Angeles' major performing arts complex, the Music Center, is auctioning a range of items online to raise funds for its activities.
So far, the opportunity to meet Plácido Domingo (and watch his opening night in I due Foscari, with hotel, champagne, dinner etc all thrown in) has attracted only one bid, which at $2,000 is some way below the estimated value of the goodies on offer. So, with less than 24 hours until the virtual hammer descends, Plácido could be yours for a knockdown price.
And in case you're wondering, the photo shows him singing at the celebrations for Real Madrid's Spanish league title at the Bernabeu last weekend. No lip synching required.
Jessye Norman - Royal Festival Hall, 21 May 2012
Birgit Nilsson once described the chief requirement for singing Isolde as “comfortable shoes”. Jessye Norman went one step further at last night’s recital, dispensing with shoes altogether in favour of fluffy mauve socks, a perfect colour match for the shimmering silken tarpaulin swathing her generous curves. With a huge sparkly brooch competing with her dazzling smile, she filled the stage. And I don’t mean in the Johan Botha sense.
Tristan und Isolde - Welsh National Opera - Cardiff Millenium Centre, 19 May 2012
Ben Heppner’s heartening return to form was one of the best things about the revival of WNO’s 20 year old Tristan on Saturday night. His expressive way with the words was built on the sensitive control of every vocal colour in his palette. A minor crack in the second act and some tiring in the third were forgiveable blemishes. His ungainly appearance only underlined his anti-heroic, supremely human portrait.
Autumn de Wilde
The LA Philharmonic drafted in an all-star roster of backstage talent for their unaccustomed venture into the world of opera on Friday night. Christopher Alden directed the semi-staged Don Giovanni. The giant crumpled paper sets were created by the architect of the LA Phil's Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry. Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte provided the fairytale-chic costumes, recruiting their catwalk cohorts Odile Gilbert (hair) and James Kaliardos (makeup) to set off their designs.
Mariusz Kwiecien took the title role, with Carmela Remigio (Donna Anna), Aga Mikolaj (Donna Elvira) and Anna Prohaska ( Zerlina) on the receiving end of the most gorgeous frocks. And of course LA's very own musical superstar, Gustavo Dudamel, was in the pit.
The production, which sets the orchestra behind the stage and the chorus at the sides, was described as "freshly illuminated" but "not without acoustical or musical compromises" by Mark Swed in the LA Times.
Loads more photos below.
Just announced: Jonas Kaufmann and David Garrett have been booked to hot up the pitch before Saturday's Champions League final in Munich.
They'll be performing the three-minute Champions League anthem, which has been specially rewritten for the occasion to incorporate Italian and Spanish elements (guess no-one thought Bayern and Chelsea would be the two to get through).
In case you fancy a singalongajonas, these are the ~not exactly Shakespeare~ words you have to master:
Ces sont les meilleures equipes, Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften, The main event.
Die Meister, Die Besten, Les grandes equipes, The champions.
Une grande reunion, Eine große sportliche Veranstaltung, The main event.
Die Meister, Die Besten, Les grandes equipes, The champions.
Ils sont les meilleurs, Sie sind die Besten, These are the champions.
Die Meister, Die Besten, Les grandes equipes, The champions.
Una notte, under starry skies, Die Nacht der Träume, memories never die.
Una noche, under the world's eyes, C'est bien la nuit de reve, the night the champions rise!
From North and South, Aus West und Ost, Venez les chants, Come the songs, comes the night!
Una notte, under starry skies, Die Nacht der Träume, when memories never die. C'est bien la nuit de reve, the night the champions rise!
Ellos son los campeones! Campeones, campeones! Los campeones!
Sie sind die Meister, sie sind die Besten, ils sont les meilleurs, these are the champions!
Loro sono i campioni! Campioni! Campioni! I campioni!
Under the eyes of the world!
If the earlier £20 offer failed to whet your appetite for ENO's Caligula, how about this one? £24 with a free dinner thrown in.
Lastminute.com are offering a two course meal at Smollensky's (normally £12) with each stalls or dress circle seat (full price £60) - meaning you can sit in the stalls for an effective price of just £12.
You can listen to some clips of the music here.
(Thanks to reader Richard for spotting the offer).
Falstaff - Royal Opera House, 15 May 2012 (production premiere)
A star was born at Covent Garden last night. Poised and stately, his lean-muscled frame and liquid brown eyes drew every gaze his way. A frisson ran through the whole audience as each flick of his silky hair hinted at an impending intention to leave his mark on the stage.
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