First Rate Revival of Andrei Serban’s Turandot at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden

Simone Boccanegra accompagnied his creator Giuseppe Verdi for a lifespan. First presented in Venice in 1842 it was a failure. After mayor recompositions it became a success at its second premiere in 1880 which did not last long. Only in the seventies of the last century this masterpiece of Giuseppe Verdi found its way back to the stages of the opera houses. It is the exciting story of the Genoves Dogue Simon Boccanegra, his forbidden love affair with Maria, daughter of the mighty noble men...

Leos Janacek was fascinated by the play of Karel Capek in 1922 and immediately started to compose his before last opera. It is the story of never ending life, eternal youth and beauty, the search of the recipie to overcome death and the question about the sense of death. Hungarian Arpad Schilling is the director of this new production at the Bavarian State Opera. His interpretation lacks an intelligent concept or clear conclusion. He portrays Emilia Marty or ever young Elina...

This is one of Tchaikovsky's seldom played operas, although the composer praised it as one of his best. An initial rather poor acceptance by the audience and a demanding performing effort with 14 soloists and big choir has left this oeuvre off the programme of the opera houses. So it is a real honorable move of the small but high quality Vienese opera house, the Theater an der Wien, to contribute to the revival of this elegant romantic opera, showing well the development of...

It is a wild west style barn, even it should play on an Russian or Kasachstan oilfield. Sieglinde is feeding turkeys, when Siegmund comes into her houses looking for shelter and comfort. Hunding is an elegant gentleman dressed more as a knight. There was a lot of discussion about this new production of the Ring by Frank Castorf last year in Bayreuth, even more as it was the bicentennial anniverary of the composer. Now one year later a lot of the original disgust has evaporated and people...

The city of Bregenz has a pittoresque setting between the seashore of Lake Konstanz and the softly growing Alps. This natural beauty is part of the ambiance of  the traditional open air festival. The festival has grown in importance and reputation over the last years. The Seebuehne as the major location has been extended for up to 7000 spectators, a festival hall has been built and the offered spectacles have gained on quality and diversity. Contemporary music has its fixed position...

It is one of million jewish fates during the German Nazi Regime. The heritage of Charlotte Salomon comprised of 1325 gouaches and several textsheets and music pieces. She called the total package Leben? oder Theater? Ein Singspiel - Live? or theatre? a Singspiel. Her father, who survived the troubled years hidden in the Netherlands received it 1947. Later it was dedicated to the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam. It is a stunning documentary of a shocking touching boigraphy. Charlotte...