Homoki le Grand: The Bartered Bride at the Komische

The Bartered Bride, Komische Oper Berlin, November 1st 2011

Vasek, Janik, Maestro Vedernikov, Marenka, Kecal, and Ludmila

Director ..... Andreas Homoki

Conductor ..... Alexander Vedernikov

Krušina ..... Tom Erik Lie

Ludmila ..... Gertrud Ottenthal

Mařenka ..... Christiane Kohl

Mícha ..... Carsten Sabrowski

Háta ..... Caren van Oijen

Vašek ..... Thomas Ebenstein

Jeník ..... Timothy Richards

Kecal ..... Jens Larsen

Zirkusdirektor ..... Peter Renz

Esmeralda ..... Anastasia Melnik

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.

Simon Boccanegra in Strasbourg

Simon Boccanegra, Opéra National du Rhin, Strasbourg, October 24 2010

Richard, Richards, Ryssov, Calderon, Murzaev, Focile, Burdenko

Keith Warner ..... director
Rani Calderon ..... conductor

Sergey Murzaev ..... Simon Boccanegra
Michail Ryssov ..... Jacopo Fiesco
Nuccia Focile ..... Maria Boccanegra (Amelia)
Andrew Richards ..... Gabriele Adorno
Roman Burdenko ..... Paolo Albiani
Arnaud Richard ..... Pietro

Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse
Chorus of Opéra national du Rhin

Doge Boccanegra to land in Strasbourg next Sunday

Macbeth in Brussels: The best Warlikowski so far?

Macbeth, La Monnaie/De Munt, June 13 2010

Krzysztof Warlikowski

music direction  Paul Daniel 
direction  Krzysztof Warlikowski 
set design and costumes  Małgorzata Szcześniak 

Macbeth         Scott Hendricks 
Lady Macbeth    Iano Tamar
 Banco        Carlo Colombara
 Macduff     Andrew Richards 
Malcolm        Benjamin Bernheim 
Dama di Lady Macbeth     Janny Zomer 
Servo / Medico / Araldo     Justin Hopkins 
Sicario      Gerard Lavalle 
Apparizione     Jacques Does

La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Superb Parsifal in Stuttgart

Stuttgart, April 1, 2010

Johann Tilli, Christiane Iven and Andrew Richards

Director Calixto Bieito
Conductor Manfred Honeck

Gurnemanz Johann Tilli
Amfortas Gregg Baker
Parsifal Andrew Richards
Klingsor Claudio Otelli
Kundry Christiane Iven
Titurel Matthias Hölle
1. Gralsritter Heinz Göhrig
2. Gralsritter Mark Munkittrick
Vier Knappen Yuko Kakuta, Diana Haller, Torsten Hofmann, Hans Kittelmann
Blumenmädchen Julia Borchert, Petra van der Mieden, Tina Hörhold, Yuko Kakuta, Agata Wilewska, Michaela Schneider

Tonight la prima of Parsifal in Stuttgart, Dialogues des Carmélites in Munich, and Daphne in Frankfurt

On the website of the Staatsoper Stuttgart there is a short promotional video where his awesomeness, Calixto Bieito, talks about his take on this masterpiece-opera.

Parsifal for me is coming from poverty, no cultural education, and somebody is manipulating him to be a hero, to be a kind of Jesus Christ... and he's the new model of the society.

Watch out for Andrew Richards who's singing the title role in Stuttgart. He's got the potential to be as good as Christopher Ventris and Klaus Florian Vogt.

 Click on "Read more" to see a trailer for each of the three shows [Parsifal, Dialogues des Carmélites, and Daphne].