Ödön von Horváth’s 1931 play “Tales from the Vienna Woods” takes a twisted view of Johann Strauss Jr’s 1868 waltz of the same title. During his lifetime, he considered
teaming up with Kurt Weil to make an opera of the work. Three-quarters of a century later, the Bregenz Festival has finally accomplished this job, by asking Viennese
composer Heinz Karl Gruber to write the opera – and “Gruber is a worthy substitute for Weil” states the Financial Times.
‘The Giacomo Variations’ is a chamber opera play based about the late Giacomo Casanova, who, in the face of his approaching death, is still trying to find out, what he was living for, if not only to be coveted and desired by the woman he loves. Giacomo, played by John Malkovich, presents his memories and stories to impress Countess Isabella, the beautiful young sister of his host Karl Emanuel Count von Waldstein and of course has his try on the nurse, the seamstress and the kitchen maid, while he is developing his philosophical view on love, medicine, fashion, and cookery. The play by Michael Sturminger with music concept by Michael Haselböck is based on opera scenes by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte.
The stage-play for a Baroque-Orchestra, two Sopranos and one actor is based on the real-life story of Jack Unterweger, a notorious womanizer and celebrated author and journalist, who was suspected of killing prostitutes in Vienna, Graz, Prague and Los Angeles; later vanished from Vienna, fled into the U.S., got arrested in Miami, transferred to Austria, accused and finally committed suicide after being convicted of homicide in eleven cases.
Cecilia Bartoli celebrates the 200th birthday of Maria Malibran with her personal tribute to Maria Malibran, one of the most famous opera singers of the 19th century.“The Barcelona Concert”, performed in the stunning Palau de la Musica Catalana, features the Barcelona concert from the ongoing “Maria” album tour “La Rivoluzione Romantica”.
Cecilia Bartoli celebrates the 200th birthday of Maria Malibran with her personal tribute to female superstar Maria Malibran, one of the most famous opera singers of the 19th century. Malibran’s extensive, exceptionally varied repertoire also demanded a range of emotional and dramatic expressiveness to which only an outstanding talent like Cecilia Bartoli’s could do justice. “Malibran rediscovered” features a fascinating 67 minute film following Cecilia Bartoli as she researches the life of Maria Malibran and records their “Maria” album.
