Travelling and enjoying opera performances
The performance of Tannhäuser was not my orginal intent when planning trip to Berlin, – Le Prophete the next day at Duetsche Oper Berlin was the point of focal interest, but the flight options permitted to squeeze another performance on the day of arrival, and from all available choices offered by Berlin opera scene, Tannhäuser […]
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The announcement of the 2017/2018 season at Wiener Staatsoper immediately defined two must- see performances for my schedule, and both promised unforgettable experiences. First one was “Adriana Lecouvreur” with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala, and another one “Samson et Dalila” featuring Elīna Garanča in the title role – November and May respectively. On the morning […]
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The night was not my prime purpose coming to Vienna – as the flight departs in the afternoon, and I already had some issue with sudden delays and almost missed performance, this time I decided to take precautions and go on the previous day, which luckily coincided with short working day before our Independence day […]
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The season opening at the Opera National de Paris set high expectations with the most sought-after ticket of the season and actually unmatchable vocal feast – a starry constellation to die for! Just a glimpse at the cast list would make any opera lover to sacrifice a lot just to be there in October for […]
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Another first time for discovering new opera in live performance – I have seen Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” recorded on Mezzo, while nothing compares to the live experience with excellent orchestra led by legendary conductor and proper cast and staging. This was one excellent evening full of excitement and great musical experiences. Regardless of […]
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This was one of the most saught-after performances, and without doubt, the hottest ticket of the summer opera festivals season. A new production of “Aida”, to be conducted by renowned Verdian specialist Riccardo Muti, and starring Anna Netrebko in her role debut, supported by equally strong cast – numerous reviews were pouring in immediately after […]
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Need to admit a gap in my opera education: it was my first Alban Berg opera live, – since MetHD does not count, and first Wozzeck ever. Probably, each opera comes to the exploration path in its right time, so I have not built any specific expectations except general knowledge and some excerpts seen and […]
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My intent when booking the ticket for another “Tales of Hoffmann” was to see Aleksandra Kurzak interpreting all 4 roles, and to see how Ildar Abdrazakov will play 4 various villains. None of it materialised since both pulled out and were replaced: Kurzak by a combo of Olga Pudova and Diana Damrau, and Abdrazakov by […]
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That was a second consecutive night in Munich with the production of Krzysztof Warlikowski at the Munich Opera Festival – following the very successful premiere of “Die Gezeichneten” a night before. Therefore, my main challenge was to put aside impressions of the previous night and look into layers of symbolism created by the team for […]
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What to expect when one of the most eminent movie directors decide to become opera stage director? What to expect when the opera he has decided to stage is his life-long earworm? Probably, highly rewarding performance with long-lasting aftertaste, – and even more – as when 3 times Oscar nominated, winner of 84 cinematographic awards […]
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