Multimedia artist André Heller makes his highly anticipated debut as stage director at the Berlin State Opera with Richard Strauss’ tragicomic Rosenkavalier and the critics are full of praise: “With his staging of Rosenkavalier André Heller sets a monument to flawlessness” (Die Zeit). Master conductor Zubin Mehta leads the fantastic orchestra of the Staatskapelle Berlin and a “cast of singers, above all with Camilla Nylund and Günther Groissböck, which is unsurpassable – a Rosenkavalier with a dream cast” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). “One has hardly ever seen a more splendid, elegant and opulent Rosenkavalier” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Wolfgang Wagner’s Bayreuth Festival production of “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” was recorded in HDTV 1250 and Betacam Digital 16:9. A boisterous, colorful interpretation, this “Meistersinger” follows the original stage instructions and respects the historical framework of the piece. Beneath a stylized globe symbolizing the universal validity of the artist’s search for his role in society, the action unfolds in an intricately choreographed interplay of solo scenes and ensembles. Daniel Barenboim’s musical direction was unanimously acclaimed by the press. Le Monde, for example, wrote that he “fully possesses its spirit: poetic, fluid, very slender, his instrumental discourse is irresistible”. Among the vocal soloists, Peter Seiffert (as Walther von Stolzing) and Robert Holl (as Hans Sachs) have been consistently singled out for their superb interpretations in the past years. Emily Magee confers a subtle, youthful grace upon the coveted young daughter of the goldsmith Veit Pogner, sung by Matthias Hölle. The cast also includes Endrik Wottrich as David, Birgitta Svendén as Magdalene, Andreas Schmidt as Beckmesser, Bernhard Schneider, Roman Trekel, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, Torsten Kerl, Peter Maus, Helmut Pampuch, Sándor Sólyom-Nagy, Alfred Reiter, Jyrki Korhonen as the Mastersingers and Kwangchul Youn as the night watchman. Prepared by Norbert Balatsch, the chorus of the Bayreuth Festival once again masters the exceptionally demanding choral part of this opera, which reaches a climax of intricacy at the end of the second act and culminates in the grand finale of Act III.
Festive Re-Opening Staatsoper Unter den Linden – Scenes from Goethe’s Faust
The Staatsoper Berlin is back in ist place of origin: Unter den Linden! After major renovations, it reopens with Schumann’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust, conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Under the direction of Jürgen Flimm and in the sets of acclaimed German artist Markus Lüpertz, Schumann’s orchestral work is transformed in a captivating drama. In the glow of the renovated opera hall Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin perform alongside soloists such as Roman Trekel, Elsa Dreisig and René Pape. Besides the vocal parts, the main characters Faust, Gretchen and Mephistopheles are embodied by the renowned actors André Jung, Meike Droste and Sven-Eric Bechtolf.
The Cunning Little Vixen
After quarter of a century, legendary director Otto Schenk returns to the Wiener Staatsoper to stage Leoš Janácek’s musical fairy tale The Cunning Little Vixen, conducted by Tomáš Netopil. Although the opera premiered in 1924, it took more than 90 years for The Cunning Little Vixen to enter the stage of the magnificent Wiener Staatsoper. To celebrate the fact that the work is heard at the house on the Ring for the very first time, none other than Austrian theatre luminary Otto Schenk devotes himself to staging the adventures of the clever fox and accompanying wildlife. Otto Schenk’s take on Janácek’s opera leaves nothing to be desired: “A triumph!” (Kronen Zeitung). “Tremendous applause for Schenk, the living legend!” (Wiener Zeitung).
Le Nozze di Figaro
Legendary production of Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ from the stunning Berlin Staatsoper. In the role of Figaro, multi-award-winning German baritone Roman Trekel. Conducted by Daniel Barenboim and staged by German director Thomas Langhoff.