May 17, 2012

The Bayreuther Festspiele goes on tour - for the first time in many years

The Bayreuther Festspiele will take 3 of its 2012 productions the beautiful Gran Teatre de Liceu, in Barcelona, Spain. Built on La Rambla in 1847, Licieu has a long tradition of presenting Wagner and is a center for culture and the arts in Barcelona.

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Lars Cleveman is out - Kerl is in

May 16, 2012

It was announced that Lars Cleveman has withdrawn from the 2012 Bayreuth Tannhäuser and will be replaced by Torsten Kerl.  San Francisco Opera fans may remember Torsten Kerl from his wonderful performance in the role of Paul in Korngold's Die Tote Stadt.

Kerl is noted for singing the treacherous, difficult and high lying roles in the Germanic repertory.

Lauded Director is uncertain if he will be back

May 15, 2012

The German newspaper BZ News Aus Berlin interviewed director Stefan Herheim on the occasion of the debut of an opulent new production of Xerxes at Berlin's Opera Komische. Later in the interview the reporter posed the question, "Will you be back in Bayreuth?"

Many know that the Parsifal production created by Herheim and his creative team was widely praised by the press and audience.

Will the new production of Der Fliegende Holländer rock the boat?

May 2, 2012

A recent communication from one of the many Wagner Societies pointed to an interesting January article in the Nordbayerische Kurier.

In the article Georg von Waldenfels, Chairman of the Gesellschaft der Freunde von Bayreuth (Freunde) states that Freunde is experiencing membership retention concerns.

BBC Show cultivates "semi"conductors

May 1, 2012

If Dancing with the Stars is your "cuppa", perhaps you would like Maestro at the Opera the new BBC TWO program where rank amateurs will try their hand, if you will, at conducting.

The four finalists will each take the podium at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and conduct one aria. One hopes the selections do not include the Liebestod or Immolation Scene. See below for the link:

Merolini/Adler Stuart Skelton steals the show!

April 30, 2012

Sung in English, the ENO (English National Opera) opened a new production of Flying Dutchman Saturday April 28.

DIY* Yearbook

April 28, 2012

This year, instead of printing the annual yearbook of the activities and membership of the individual Wagner Societies, the Verband issued a PDF file and suggested - *do it yourself. This is a somewhat odd suggestion in view of the Verband's recent increase in dues from a flat annual fee to an assessment of 2€ per member. For the WSNC this amounts to a tripling of the annual Verband dues.

For Better or Worse?

April 27, 2012

Zachary Woolfe of the New York Times reports that Met Live in HD now reaches 1,700 theaters in 54 countries. Audiences are turning out! And with ticket prices at $20, the Met Live in HD programs are finally turning a profit for the MET.

But, how does it compare with a live performance?The article goes on to describe the opinions of opera insiders, performers and critics. Here is a link to the article:

The Spin Cycle: Breathtaking moments, yet glitches remain

April 26, 2012

New York Times columnist Anthony Tommasini weighs in on the 45 ton "machine" at the heart of the Met's new Ring production.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/arts/music/robert-lepages-first-comple...

And the Met's days of sold-out RING audiences appear to be gone. Tickets are available for the remaining two cycles.

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Lepage envisions the whole "Ring"

April 24, 2012

In a New York Times article on April 23rd Robert LePage has figured out the meaning of gesamtkunstwerk. "When you see them as a package, it's like connecting Christmas tree lights. Suddenly the energy of one bleeds to the other, and a lot of stuff starts to make sense."

Who knew? You can read the full article by following the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/arts/music/robert-lepage-on-ring-cycle...

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