(Photo Credit: Miguel Lorenzo) Pablo Heras-Casado will lead the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana in a concert in honor of the victims of the floods earlier this year. The program, which takes place on Dec. 10, 2024, will feature Beethoven’s Third Symphony and “Egmont Overture,” as well as the participation of the Schola Cantorum d’Algemesí, which opens the program with {…}
(Photo credit: ©EnricoNawrath) In preparation for the new “Parsifal” at Bayreuth last year, one may have harbored preconceived doubts as to the very idea regarding the use of Augmented Reality eyeglasses. After attending this year’s performances, the doubts lingered; and although this production may not be considered a negative adventure per se, one may not view this experiment as a {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced that Pablo Heras-Casado will conduct the new Ring Cycle in 2028. The festival did not confirm who was directing the production but did note that the Heras-Casado is returning to the podium this season for a production of “Parsifal.” Heras-Casado’s relationship with Richard Wagner began in 2016 with “Der Fliegende Holländer” at the Teatro Real and {…}
It has been 23 years since Daniel Barenboim offered three performances of Wagner’s comedy at Teatro Real. It was the first Laurent Pelly Wagner production, and therefore the expectations were high. And the result did not disappoint an enthusiastic audience which gave strong ovations at the curtain call. Pelly is a master in “comedy” and he recognizes that he doesn’t {…}
(Photo Credit: Enrico Nawarth / Bayreuth Festival) It would be difficult to exaggerate the ways in which Jay Scheib‘s “Parsifal” at Bayreuth 2023 fails its sublime musical roots. From amateurish digital enhancement to bargain basement stagings, this opera sold out its mission in every way, save for one factor (more much later). In the front row of the loge {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced its 2023 season. The season will open with Pablo Heras-Casado conducting a new production of “Parsifal” with Joseph Calleja making his role debut in the title role, Ekaterina Semenchuk as Kundry, and Georg Zeppenfeld as Gurnemanz. The company also noted that “Tannhäuser” will be conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann. Meanwhile, the company announced that it will {…}
(Credit: Javier del Real) The Teatro Real de Madrid marched on with its current season despite concerns over COVID-19 around the world. Wagner’s “Siegfried” was the opera of choice, presented before a live audience, with COVID-19 safety regulations firmly in place. To maintain social distancing within the pit, the theatre used the first four boxes closest to the stage to {…}
(Credit: Fernando Sancho) Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado will conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo for the performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on Dec. 23, 25 & 26, 2020. The famed “Choral” symphony will showcase soprano Eri Takahashi, mezzo-soprano Etsuko Kanoh, tenor Naoki Miyasato, and baritone Shin Taniguchi. The presentation will also feature New National Theatre Chorus. Heras-Casado recently {…}
(Credits: Art Song Foundation of Canada official website / Brent Calis / Denis Rouvre / Julien Faugère) The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal has announced its 2020 fall season. Per an official statement on the company’s website, the number of spectators who can be admitted into the concert hall will strictly obey the health rules of the Public Health of Quebec. {…}
Pablo Heras-Casado has been awarded the title Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. The title was presented to him by the French Ambassador to Spain, Yves Saint-Geours, in a ceremony that took place at his official residence in Madrid on Dec. 3, 2018. The prestigious award was presented to Heras-Casado in recognition of “a {…}
The weekend will offer a lot of Bel canto, verismo, 20th-century masterpieces, and one world premiere that should not be missed by anyone. And it also includes a number of legendary stars, as well as some of the most famous in the world. Here are top six to see this weekend. L’Italiana in Algeri – Salzburg Festival, Austria Cecilia Bartoli {…}