Sunday, September 13

Tag: Katharina Konradi

Verdi’s A Masked Ball – Festival Theatre
Scotland

Verdi’s A Masked Ball – Festival Theatre

As the Edinburgh International Festival draws to a close, Zurich Opera has their final performance of Verdi’s A Masked Ball at the Festival Theatre.  Based on preexisting libretto, Giuseppe Verdi adapted and added the love triangle aspect we see in this production.  Given the assassination in the opera (originally written as the murder of a King) Verdi had to combat numerous censorship attempts.  Despite several setting changes, with Verdi eventually settling on 17th century Boston as the location, each adaptation was followed by real-life assassination attempts and political unrest which called for Verdi to keep adjusting details of the opera so it would seem a little less close to reality. Director Adele Thomas has kept the Boston setting but moved the timeline sligh...
Das Rheingold – Royal Opera House (Live Transmission)
REVIEWS

Das Rheingold – Royal Opera House (Live Transmission)

When you put two geniuses together there is no guarantee that what they create will match the expectation; there is no such concern here as Antonio Pappano conducts Barrie Kosky’s bold new imagining of Wagner’s Das Rheingold with the musical brilliance of the orchestra matched by an outstanding cast. This production marks the start of a new Ring Cycle for The Royal Opera and this is undoubtedly a prelude of exciting things to come from the wonderful pairing of Pappano and Kosky. Any new production of Wagner’s Ring has to remain faithful to its mythical origins but also needs to find a way to connect to its modern audience, but that balance is achieved and some in this vibrant theatrical production set at the beginning of time and of life. Rufus Didwiszus’s simple yet symbolic monochr...