Richard Wagner News

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock and Music Director Nicola Luisotti today announced plans for the 2017-18 repertory season. The Company's 95th season will open Friday, September 8 with a gala performance of Giacomo Puccini'sTurandot led by Maestro Luisotti and an international cast starring Martina Serafin, Maria Agresta and Brian Jagde.

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Deborah Humble presents the Wagner Wesendonck Lieder and the Brahms Zigeunerlieder accompanied by Sharolyn Kimmorley AM and Imants Larsens.

On January 13 and 14 at 7:30 PM, guest conductor Mark Wigglesworth returns to the Abravanel Hall stage to lead the Utah Symphony in a repertoire of classical favorites. Internationally-acclaimed guest pianist Francesco Piemontesi makes his Utah Symphony debut performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27. Maestro Wigglesworth will also conduct a symphonic suite from Henk de Vlieger's orchestral compilation of music from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

On January 13 and 14 at 7:30 PM, guest conductor Mark Wigglesworth returns to the Abravanel Hall stage to lead the Utah Symphony in a repertoire of classical favorites. Internationally-acclaimed guest pianist Francesco Piemontesi makes his Utah Symphony debut performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27. Maestro Wigglesworth will also conduct a symphonic suite from Henk de Vlieger's orchestral compilation of music from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

On Today, January 13, more than two hours' worth of music from Hopscotch will be issued by The Industry Records as a car key-shaped USB drive or digital download available via Bandcamp and other outlets. Simultaneously, a new interactive website about the opera, with animations, images, and audio, will be launched at hopscotchopera.com.

Voices and guitars take center stage in 'Resurrectio' - a wide-ranging program featuring world premieres by William Anderson, Jonathan Dawe and Anthony Korf, specially commissioned for the occasion.

On January 13 and 14 at 7:30 PM, guest conductor Mark Wigglesworth returns to the Abravanel Hall stage to lead the Utah Symphony in a repertoire of classical favorites. Internationally-acclaimed guest pianist Francesco Piemontesi makes his Utah Symphony debut performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27. Maestro Wigglesworth will also conduct a symphonic suite from Henk de Vlieger's orchestral compilation of music from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

Adapted by Matt Opatrny and directed/choreographed by Jessica Burr, the eleven-member troupe Blessed Unrest recently opened A Christmas Carol at the New Ohio Theatre. This "theatre for the adventurous" comprised of a diverse ensemble that brings new and bold productions to NY audiences, brings a unique and surprising experience to those expecting a traditional retelling of Dickens' novella. So saying, this is a tasteful yet eclectic and unique experience indeed; Opatrny and Burr prove that they understood the true essence of the original story while also showing that they clearly had a wonderful time bringing their creative vision to life.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is proud to announce the 2017 finalists of the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase, a biennial program offered as part of OPERA America's continuing efforts to foster emerging opera artists.

A Christmas Carol is coming back by popular demand on Wednesday! Our first two performances are nearly sold out. Buy your tickets now and see what happens when Dickens's joyful, insightful story collides with our raw, physical aesthetic.

On Friday, January 13, more than two hours' worth of music from Hopscotch will be issued by The Industry Records as a car key-shaped USB drive or digital download available via Bandcamp and other outlets. Simultaneously, a new interactive website about the opera, with animations, images, and audio, will be launched at hopscotchopera.com.

NYC has SPAMILTON, and now Chicago is getting in on the HAMILTON parody game!

Cape Town Opera's 2017 season launches with an explosive meeting of South Africa's foremost young singers directed by a veteran theatrical innovator. It includes a major new international musical and brings acclaimed international singers to the stage for the third in the Naspers Grand Masters series.

In the annals of the Wagner family, the name Houston Stewart Chamberlain is but a footnote. Yet, argues Avner Dorman's new opera Wahnfried, he was in some ways the link between Richard Wagner and Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain was a failing English scientist who became obsessed with Wagner's music, after the composer's death marrying Wagner's daughter Eva and moving to Bayreuth. There he stayed close to his adopted family and, eventually, to Adolf Hitler, whom he hugely admired. Hitler for his part saw Chamberlain as a mentor and was highly influenced by his magnum opus, The Foundations of the Nineteenth Century - which codified Aryan supremacy and systemic anti-Semitism. Hitler so admired the older man that he often quoted him, and made the journey to Bayreuth for his funeral.

Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2013 run, Blessed Unrest's A CHRISTMAS CAROL brings a modern twist to the Dickensian classic. The show will be playing a limited engagement from December 21–31 at New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street, between Greenwich and Washington Streets).

Earlier today, San Francisco Opera added a new attraction to its fall 2016 Season with Out of the Sh

In 1860 Wagner went to Paris to arrange a performance of his new opera, Tannhauser at the Paris Opera.  While there he made the obligatory visits to the great composers living in and around the city.  His visit to Rossini was memorable as the older Bel Canto school composer had reportedly made some very disparaging remarks about Wagner's music, so Wagner went with more than a bit of trepidation.  These rumors proved to be false and what ensued was an afternoon of an exchange of musical ideas and reminiscences about their careers and accomplishments, in which they shared opinions on and cited influences of a number of the great composer of their era.  All this was recorded by the Parisian musician and journalist, Edmond Michotte.

Presented during The Austin's Opera's 30th anniversary season, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN commands the historic Long Center's stage with a diverse, collective cast and belting operatic sequences. The origins of the story of The Flying Dutchman are rather skewed between timelines. The story first appeared in Travels in various parts Europe, Asia, and Africa in 1790 by John MacDonald, and again when Richard Wagner's operatic rendition came to life in 1843, after being adapted from an episode of Heinrich Heine's satirical novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski. More modernly, the story of The Flying Dutchman is told through the highly loved film series, The Pirates of The Carribean. Regardless of the interpretations by creative minds, one fact remains true - The Flying Dutchman refers to a ghostly ship destined to sail the seas for all eternity. Richard Wagner's rendition, sure to please both critics and audiences alike, is bringing this haunted tale to life with the reputation of precision that precedes The Austin Opera.

Opera Australia's largest and most ambitious production returns to Melbourne in 2016. Directed by Neil Armfield, Wagner's Ring Cycle will play at Arts Centre Melbourne from 21 November to 16 December 2016. Melbourne Ring Cycle 2016 comprises four operas - Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung - totalling around 16 hours of music. As in 2013, the cycle of four operas will be performed three times.

In 1860 Wagner went to Paris to arrange a performance of his new opera, Tannhauser at the Paris Opera.  While there he made the obligatory visits to the great composers living in and around the city.  His visit to Rossini was memorable as the older Bel Canto school composer had reportedly made some very disparaging remarks about Wagner's music, so Wagner went with more than a bit of trepidation.  These rumors proved to be false and what ensued was an afternoon of an exchange of musical ideas and reminiscences about their careers and accomplishments, in which they shared opinions on and cited influences of a number of the great composer of their era.  All this was recorded by the Parisian musician and journalist, Edmond Michotte.