Directed by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin’s new production of Handel’s Hercules demonstrates that oratorios can, in fact, be staged. Mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy sings the lead role of Dejanira, long-suffering wife of Hercules (March 3-April 5). https://www.komische-oper-berlin.de/en/what/a-z/hercules/
Lyric Opera of Orange County celebrates the 100th anniversary of Ethel Smyth’s Fête galante with a production directed by Diana Farrell, calling it “a debaucherous dance-dream.” This story thrusts familiar commedia dell’arte characters into the psyche of the 20th century. Performances March 8-10. https://lyricoperaoc.org/
Deutsche Oper Berlin will present a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades March 9-27. Director Sam Brown, making his DOB debut, focuses on the unanswerable questions in the libretto. Sebastian Weigle conduct. Martin Muehle is Hermann and Sondra Radvanovsky sings Lisa. https://deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/calendar/pikowaja-dama-queen-of-spades.17512194
Indianapolis Opera blends jazz into the genre with Charlie Parker’s Yardbird on March 16. Telling a dramatic New York scene from the life story one of the greatest saxophone players of all time, Daniel Schnyder and Bridgette A. Wimberly’s work will feature Martin Bakari as “Bird” and Angela Brown as his mother. https://www.indyopera.org/yardbird.html
When Federico García Lorca wrote the play Don Perlimplín's Love for Belisa in His Garden, he composed the incidental music for the 1933 premiere himself. Many composers since then have attempted to turn the play into an opera; Oper Frankfurt is presenting Wolfgang Fortner’s version from 1962. The new production—the first time the work has […]
