Festival of Voices For A Naïve Cenerentola at the Liceu

Just before the end of the Verdi year 2013 the Bavarian State Opera presents another new production  of one of his major works - La Forza del Destino - and new edition of the German dream team Anja Hateros and Jonas Kaufmann. The Austrian Martin Kusej, currently head of the Munich Residenztheatre next to the opera, is the director..He is famous for brilliant profound interpretations but not always easy to digest. It is impressive how he approaches this very complicated...

The Tyrolean winter festival has found a new home last year with the opening ceremony of its new festival house, an architectual and acoustic jewel in the idyllic village of Erl, close to the German border. The Tyrolean Summer festival taking place in the world famous Passionsspielhaus of Erl has established its reputation for outstanding Wagner performances in simple and traditional stage design. The winter festival is presenting a broad programme of chorus and orchestral concerts from...

There was a lot of tension before this new production of Richard Strauss's Frau ohne Schatten in Munich. It is the celebration of the50th jubiliee of the re opening of the Bavarian State Opera Theater (the so called Nationaltheater) after the second world war with the same masterpiece of Munich born Richard Strauss and it is the first Premier of Kyrill Petrenko as new Music Director. After his huge success in Bayreuth expectations were high – and fulfilled. Like a...

The Italian Senat discussing the destiny of Sivio Berlusconi, the people demonstrating on the street and the political high society is elegantly gathering in the Teatro di Roma for the opening of the new season of this historical opera house. It was originally built by the rich Impresario Domenico Constanzi, inaugurated on November 27 1880. In 1926 it was donated to Mussolini and refurbished by him till 1928. After the Italian President Napoletano has taken a seat in the Palco Reale...

This reprise of the well acclaimed production of Peter Stein and Stefan Mayer shows several role debutes on the stage of the Viennese State Opera. Joseph Calleja gives his warm with a full Italien timbre equipped tenor to Gabriele Adorno. Lacking lively emotional play on stage he conquers the audience with his voice next to Tamar Iveri as a colourless Amelia and Thomas Hampson dominating the evening in the title role. His Simon is honorful, dignified, caring showing affection for his...

The moon risies, a Nordic style ships sails on fine foaming and stiring music out of the orchstra pit. David MacVicar is the Director of this new production of Wanger's drama of love, medieval mystery and human friendship. He tells us the story in a very tradtional modest setting with beautiful natural images by designer Robert Jones, avoiding technical gimmicks and action. The shining full moon observes the disastrous fate of the loving coulple. The stage remians mostly dark and slightly...