From Munich to Paris with love: Unforgettable ride of the Valkyries

Die Walküre in concert, Théâtre des Champs Élysées (TCE) in Paris, April 24 2012

Kent Nagano ..... Conductor 

Humans 

Lance Ryan ..... Siegmund 

Anja Kampe ..... Sieglinde 

Ain Anger ..... Hunding 

Gods 

Thomas J. Mayer ..... Wotan 

Michaela Schuster ..... Fricka 

9 Valkyries

Nina Stemme ..... Brünnhilde 

Danielle Halbwchs ..... Gerhilde 

Golda Schultz ..... Otlinde 

Heike Grötzinger ..... Waltraude 

Anaïk Morel ..... Schwertleite 

Erika Wueschner ..... Helmwige 

Roswitha C. Müller ..... Siegrune 

Okka von der Damereau ..... Grimgerde 

Alexandra Petersamer ..... Rossweisse 

Orchestra of the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich

Alcina at Semperoper: birth of a great opera director -- Jan Philipp Gloger

Alcina, Semperoper Dresden, November 4th 2011

Director ..... Jan Philipp Gloger

Conductor ..... Rainer Mühlbach

Alcina ..... Amanda Majeski

Ruggiero ..... Barbara Senator

Bradamante ..... Christa Mayer

Morgana ..... Nadja Mchantaf

Melisso ..... Markus Butter
Oronte ..... Simeon Esper

Oberto ..... Elena Gorshunova

Chorista 1 ..... Manuel Günther

Chorista 2 ..... Michael Kranebitter

Staatskapelle Dresden

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in Nuremberg

Last Saturday (October 15th), the Staatstheater Nürnberg premiered their new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. The show was broadcast to the central city square for public viewing and apparently it was a success. 

Last Scene from The Mastersingers of Nuremberg at Staatstheater Nürnberg: Hans Sachs (Albert Pesendorfer)

Now, what is so special about this particular production? 

Castellucci's Parsifal in Brussels

Parsifal, La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels, January 30 2011

Opening scene -- seen during the overture of Castellucci's Parsifal in Brussels

Music direction ..... Hartmut Haenchen
Director ..... Romeo Castellucci
Choreography ..... Cindy Van Acker
Bondage artist ..... Dasniya Sommer

Amfortas ..... Thomas Johannes Mayer
Titurel ..... Victor von Halem
Gurnemanz ..... Jan-Hendrik Rootering
Parsifal ..... Andrew Richards
Klingsor ..... Tómas Tómasson
Kundry ..... Anna Larsson
Vier Knappen ..... Ilse Eerens
Angélique Noldus
Gijs Van der Linden
Guillaume Antoine
Klingsors Zaubermädchen ..... Hendrickje Van Kerckhove
Anneke Luyten
Angélique Noldus
Ilse Eerens
Tineke Van Ingelgem
Margriet van Reisen
Stimme aus der Höhe ..... Anna Larsson


La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus

"Tout art doit être dérangeant."

Romeo Castellucci

Achtung Achtung: Parsifal in Brussels

One of the most important Wagner-events in 2011 will be a new production of Parsifal at La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels [one of the coolest opera houses today, in good part thanks to its intendant - Peter de Caluwe]. Romeo Castellucci --famous in the world of theater but not in its opera-section (yet!)-- will be directing the show, while arguably one of the best Wagner conductors today, Hartmut Haenchen will conduct. The premiere is scheduled for Thursday, January 27 2011.

Another reason for this show to be big is Andrew Richards --currently on a roll and I suppose at his lifetime best-- who will sing the title role [after his brilliant role debut in Bieito's production in Stuttgart, this will be his second Parsifal]. Don't forget to check out his blog Opera Rocks where he will be regularly posting about the creation process of this production.
 Also thrilling should be to listen to Thomas Johannes Mayer (major intl discovery this year!) singing Amfortas.

Since this is one of the productions not to be missed in 2011, I thought you might wish to know that the on-line ticket-sales (or via phone) start today, Saturday - December 4.

Salzburg 2010: Why did Lulu sink!?

Lulu, August 11 2010, Felsenreitschule Salzburg

Patricia Petibon in Act-3 of Lulu in Salzburg

Marc Albrecht ..... Conductor
Vera Nemirova ..... Stage Director
Daniel Richter ..... Set Design


Patricia Petibon ..... Lulu
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Countess Geschwitz
Cora Burggraaf ..... A Theatrical Dresser, A High-School Boy, A Groom
Pavol Breslik ..... The Painter, A Negro
Michael Volle ..... Dr. Schön, Jack
Thomas Piffka ..... Alwa, Dr. Schön's son, a composer
Franz Grundheber ..... Schigolch, an old man
Thomas Johannes Mayer ..... An Animal Tamer, An Athlete
Heinz Zednik ..... The Prince, The Manservant
Andreas Conrad ..... The Marquis
Martin Tzonev ..... The Theater Manager, The Banker
Emilie Pictet ..... A Fifteen-year-old Girl
Cornelia Wulkopf ..... Her Mother
Astrid Monika Hofer ..... A Woman Artist
Simon Schnorr ..... A Journalist
Gerhard Peilstein ..... The Professor of Medicine, The Professor, The Police Officer
James Cleverton ..... A Servant


Vienna Philharmonic

Gesamtkunstwerkish Rheingold of Fura dels Baus

As far as I can tell, this double DVD is the best release since the Copenhagen Ring (OK that Khovanshchina is close too).  La Fura dels Baus deftly crafted an outstanding piece of work: it is inventive, it is filled with brilliant ideas, it cleverly uses technology... In short, they managed to make  the Gesamtkunstwerk of our time. Moreover they did what seemed hardly possible, i.e. to shade a new light on this giant masterpiece. For that I am grateful to all the crew involved in making this production happen.

EXTRA-FREAKING-ORDINARY!