Best of 2009-2010: Macbeth in Brussels, Stefan Herheim, and Theater Basel -- says Opernwelt and we agree

Opernwelt magazine polled the critics from German speaking countries and published their Best of 2009-2010 list:

• Best opera production: Macbeth at La Monnaie in Bussels [dir Krzysztof Warlikowski, cond Paul Daniel] Sets & costumes: Małgorzata Szcześniak, Cast: Scott Hendricks, Iano Tamar, Carlo Colombara, Andrew Richards, Benjamin Bernheim
• Best director: Stefan Herheim for Der Rosenkavalier at Staatsoper Stuttgart
• Best Opera House: Theater Basel  and its director Dietmar Schwarz

and more...

• Best Conductor: Ingo Metzmacher
• Best Chorus: Deutsche Oper Berlin
• Best Singers: Marlis Petersen and Christian Gerhaher
• Best Young Singer: Svetlana Ignatovitch
• Best new opera creation: Medea by Aribert Reimann at Staatsoper Wien
• Best sets/costumes: Rebecca Ring/Gesine Völm for Der Rosenkavalier in Stuttgart 
• Best Orchestra: Frankfurt Opera and Museumsorchester

Assorted infos: Dietmar Schwarz, after making such a great success in Basle, will take over the diretor position at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2012. Theater Basel was voted the best, but it was closely followed by the Frankfurt Oper and Theater and der Wien.

Macbeth in Brussels was voted by a large majority of voters, a the best production which was intellectually stimulating, exceptionally staged and performed.

Ingo Metzmacher emerged as the best conductor after his excellent Lady Macbeth of Mzensk in Vienna and Der Ferne Klang in Zurich. Marlis Petersen made a memorable Medea in the same opera by Aribert Reimann, which when added to her superb Pamina in The Magic Flute (Jacobs) makes her the best female singer in 2009-2010. Christian Gerhaher's rendition of Wolfram (Tannhauser) in Munich and Vienna was particularly appreciated. 

After 2007 and 2009, this is the third time that Stefan Herheim gets this flattering distinction.

Theater Basel presented several exceptionally good new productions and remained best Opera House for the second year in the row --a success so far only matched by the Stuttgart Staatsoper. Particularly mentioned productions in the press are: Madama Butterfly [dir Jetske Mijnssens, with Svetlana Ignatovich in the title role], From the House of the Dead [dir Calixto Bieito], La Calisto [dir Jan Bosse, cond Andrea Marcon], La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein [dir Christoph Marthaler]