It seems that this opera has a phantom that simply can’t be shaken. The Melbourne production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle scheduled for late 2013 is seeking a conductor at short notice after the designated conductor Richard Mills resigned.
Productions of Wagner’s Ring are said to be jinxed – a phenomenon discussed in Stephen Fry’s excellent 2010 BBC documentary Wagner and Me. The jinx goes back to 1876, when The Ring was first produced in Bayreuth.
Gramophone magazine has published a list of the ten best works by JS Bach, especially aimed at newcomers to his music. Glorious as they are, the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor, are possibly better suited to more experienced listeners, we think. Notable absentees from the list are gentler introductions to his music – including…
Alexander Pereira, the Austrian director of the Salzburg festival has been appointed General Manager of Teatro alla Scala in Milan. He will work with the Music Director Daniel Barenboim at the historic opera house which was inaugurated in 1778. The incumbent GM, Stéphane Lissner, appointed in 2005, will take over the Paris Opera in 2015. La Scala boasts…
Mahler’s personal copy of his 3rdand longest symphony was recently discovered in a private collection. If that isn’t exciting enough, it is notated in the composer’s hand, and is to be auctioned this week. http://gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-score-of-the-third-symphony-by-mahler-to-be-auctioned
A fabulous opportunity to SING Messiah in March! A Marrickville Messiah Q: Too busy to join a weekly choir but always wanted to sing Messiah? A: Join the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus for a weekend of Messiah Mayhem, Marrickville Town Hall 23rd – 25th March 2012 REGISTER NOW at www.espressochorus.com.au and LEARN YOUR PART BEFORE YOU…
After Lindy Hume’s impassioned stance last week on maintaining the integrity and relevance of opera in the 21st century, over 400 years after it emerged, the directors of the UK’s seven major opera houses give their views on why opera is still important and how they would introduce neophytes to the art form.
Tonight, Mozart’s fantasy filled opera The Magic Flute opens at the Joan Sutherland Opera Theatre of the Sydney Opera House. Singing the role of Sarastro is Morris Robinson, a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Following his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in their production of Fidelio, he has enjoyed a busy career…