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L_opera-de-vienne-rentabilite-de-la-culture

The Vienna State Opera or the profitability of culture

Is culture profitable for public finances? According to the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, the public subsidies granted to the Vienna State Opera are fully offset by the tax and economic benefits generated by its activities. In view of inflation, however, Bogdan Roščić argues for an increase. Is culture a burden on public finances? At first glance, perhaps, but the financial balance sheet is more favourable when the economic spin-offs generated by cultural actors are included in...


L_or-du-rhin_opera-de-paris_ludovic-tezier_iain-paterson-2025

Iain Paterson replaces Ludovic Tézier as Wotan in Das Rheingold at the Paris Opera

From 29 January, the Paris Opera is staging a new production of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen. Ludovic Tézier was to have sung the role of Wotan for the first time, but has been forced to withdraw for health reasons. He will be replaced by the highly experienced Iain Paterson. This is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited productions of the new year: the Opéra de Paris is releasing a new Richard Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen, directed by Calixto Bieito, with...


L_palais-garnier

An “Anniversary Gala” celebrating 150 years of the Palais Garnier

The Palais Garnier was inaugurated on 5 January 1875 in Paris, France. In 2025, the Opéra national de Paris will celebrate the 150th anniversary of this emblematic Parisian building with an Anniversary Gala on 24 January that will bring together the artists of the Opéra national de Paris. The gala will be broadcast on French television. In December 1858, Emperor Napoleon III decided to build a new opera house in Paris. A few years later, a young, almost unknown...


L_festival-de-bayreuth-2026

Bayreuth Festival 2026: seven operas instead of eleven for the 150th anniversary

For its 150th anniversary in 2026, the Bayreuth Festival had planned to present eleven operas by Wagner. However, due to budget constraints, the festival has scaled back its ambitions and will finally settle for seven of the composer's works, including a new tetralogy. In 2026, the Bayreuth Festival will celebrate its 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Katharina Wagner has promised a programme that will include all ten of Richard Wagner's major operas (from The Flying...


L_vaisseau-fantome_wagner_festival-opera-st-margarethen_2025

The Flying Dutchman for the impressive St. Margarethen Festival 2025

For its 2025 edition, the Steinbruch Opera Festival in Austria will be staging a new production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, starring Elisabeth Teige and George Gagnidze. Director Philipp M. Krenn intends to recreate a Norwegian fjord on the gigantic stage of the St. Margarethen quarries. The limestone blocks in the impressive quarry at St Margarethen in Austria have been quarried for almost 2,000 years – the Romans were already using them. In 1996, however, the site...


L_maria-agresta_anna-pirozzi_la-forza-del-destino_gran-teatre-del-liceu_2024

Maria Agresta withdraws from La Forza del Destino, Anna Pirozzi replaces her at the Liceu

Next November at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Maria Agresta was supposed to sing Donna Leonora in La Forza del Destino for the first time on stage. She has decided not to do so, believing that the time has not yet come. She will be replaced by Anna Pirozzi. From 9th to 19th November, Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu will be staging Verdi's La Forza del Destino, in a production by director Jean-Claude Auvray, which Paris audiences have already seen in 2011 and will see again in...