Silvesterkonzert Selfie: A Gipsy Princess And Her Men

(Photo: Facebook)

Anna Netrebko with tenor Juan Diego Flórez (right) and Maestro Christian Thielemann (left) after the Silvesterkonzert performance of Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin at the Staatskapelle Dresden. Watch the performance after the jump.

Christine Goerke Converses With OPERA America President

Eine große neue dramatische Stimme: 
Christine Goerke discusses new opera repertoire

On November 5, 2014, dramatic soprano Christine Goerke visited The National Opera Center to discuss her career resurgence in dramatic new repertoire with OPERA America President Marc Scorca. The dialog from the evening includes her discover of opera at age 13; transferring her woodwind skills to her vocal training; experience working with young artist programs; the transition from lyric coloratura to a larger voice category with the help of Diana Soviero; the pressure of living up to opera legends in her repertoire; being a self-professed "music theory geek"; how she came to her acting skills in opera; copying text into notebooks to learn music; winning the Richard Tucker Award; breaking into the Wagner fach; her love of Astrid Varnay's voice; how much time she takes with an orchestral score while learning a role; returning to Glimmerglass to give advice to young singers; the future Ring cycles that she will be performing; and a myriad of questions from the audience at the event. "American soprano Christine Goerke is a Grammy Award-winning artist who has performed with many of the world's top opera companies, orchestras and musical ensembles. Goerke has been acclaimed worldwide for her opulent voice and her regal command of the Strauss, Verdi and Wagner repertoire. She has won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award for exceptional artistic promise and continues to astonish audiences with her outstanding vocal and dramatic artistry. Her basic approach to singing is marvelously anchored by an ample voice that has grown measurably in the past years, making her one of the most exciting dramatic sopranos of our time." Take a look at the evening's program by clicking here. Watch a video of the whole event, plus Ms. Goerke singing "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht" from Salome by Strauss under the direction of Christian Thielemann,  after the jump.

Soprano Christine Goerke with OPERA America President Marc Scorca

Silvana Dussmann: A Study In Dramatic Soprano Vocal Prowess

Born in Vienna, soprano Silvana Dussmann was destined to perform the German repertoire of Mozart and Strauss. After studying with Rita Streich and Gerhard Kahry, she won first prize for operetta at the Vienna Belvedere Competition in 1987. Her debut was as Lisa in Franz Lehár's Das Land des Lächelns at the Volksoper Wien opposite Nicolai Gedda. She soon became an ensemble member of the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck, where she sang

roles such as Ilia (Idomeneo), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Micaëla (Carmen), Laura (Der Bettelstudent), and Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus). Subsequently in 1990 she debuted in the title role of Emmerich Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin at the Seefestspielen Mörbisch. By 1992 she was engaged by Opernhaus Graz where she extended her repertoire to roles like Violetta (La Traviata), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), Agathe (Der Freischütz), and Angèle Didier (Der Graf von Luxemburg). Beginning in 1994, Ms. Dussmann began performing at the Wiener Volksoper as Musetta (La bohème), Marchesa del Poggio (Un Giorno di Regno), Frau Fluth (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), and the title role in Norma. In 1996 she was reviving her portrayals of Musetta and Rosalinde for the Wiener Staatsoper. She went on to perform at the Aalto-Musiktheater in Essen, the Bayerischen Staatsoper in München, Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv, and Opera Bonn. At Wiener Festwochen in

Renée Fleming Hosted Largest Karaoke Night In Dresden?

La Fleming and Maestro Thielemann Toast
(Photo: Matthias Creutziger/DG)

"In what was arguably 2013’s most expensive karaoke night, Renée Fleming read her song texts live from a gigantic TV prompter screen at the back of the Dresden Semperoper auditorium. This was particularly piquant when she tried to waltz with Klaus Florian Vogt simultaneously. This year’s New Year’s eve concert in Dresden was broadcast internationally, hence the need for big-name stars and the guarantee that said stars would be tense. Fleming and Vogt are both celebrities and old friends of chief conductor Christian Thielemann, but none of them is particularly at home in the world of operetta and musicals – the stuff of this concert. It felt a little like watching Angela Merkel attempt stand-up comedy, or Vladimir Putin dance the cancan....Banks of mirrors behind and above the performance meant that the bright garb of the State Opera chorus members was revealed in all its glory, and that the audience could see itself. It also meant that the audience could see Fleming’s autocue prompts rolling backwards up the screen. Two complaints. First, since she was reading the text, why was it still not possible to understand the words when she sang? Second, no matter how unfamiliar this repertoire is to her, could she not have learnt her five songs and three duets by heart, given the prestige of the event?" [Source]

Renée Fleming and Christian Thielemann in Salzburg Blu-ray

Click on the image to watch a preview video of the concert. To purchase the Blu-ray disc, click here. Watch the soprano sing "Traum durch die Dämmerung" after the jump.

New Releases: Gruberova, Mields, Piau and Thielemann

Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson Talk Opera

Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson and Christian Thielemann in conversation with Sarah Willis, horn player with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Recorded in the Berlin Philharmonie, 7 May 2011.

Fleming, Hampson and Thielemann in Berlin Pay-Per-View

Visit the Berlin Philharmonic digital concert hall to purchase excerpts from the all-Strauss concert with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson under conductor Christian Thielemann at http://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/1641. Full program is after the jump.

Christian Thielemann Likes Madonna "Sticky & Sweet"

The Berliner maestro admits to liking Madonna while riding in the Porsche, talking about the influence of Wagner's Tristan on Techno, the ugliness of Auschwitz, working with director Ruth Berghaus, the genius of Beethoven and why Wagner wore silk underwear.

Read the whole interview over at Morgenpost.

TV Ratings War of Operatic Magnitude

As we near the final wrap-up of musical festivities over the holidays, result have rolled in with news of the winners (and losers) of the European telelvision sweeps event. Head over to Intermezzo for the tally.

Airlines Deliver Renée Fleming to Dresden

After much discussion about snow in New York and Dresden, as well as last minute scrambling for replacements for one of the Silvesterkonzert performances, Renée Fleming appeared as promised on New Year's Eve. She sang highlights from Die Lustige Witwe with the Staatskapelle under conductor Christian Thielemann. 

English baritone Christopher Maltman joined the soprano in excerpts from Léhar's operetta. She also sang "I Feel Pretty" from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. 

 There are more pictures and video links after the jump.

Anna Netrebko Does Double Duty

As previously mentioned, soprano Anna Netrebko replaced a snowed-in Renée Fleming for the first schedule performance yesterday of the Dresden Staatskapelle's Silvesterkonzert conducted by Christian Thielemann. She was joined by Erwin Schrott.

The program featured the aria "Heia, in den Bergen" from Die Csárdásfürstin by Emmerich Kálmán (Netrebko) and "Rojo Tango" by Pablo Ziegler (Schrott). The two sang the duet "Lippen schweigen" from Die lustige Witwe.

The couple appeared this evening as the "surprise" guests of Die Fledermaus at the Wiener Staatsoper during Prince Orlofsky's party. They reprised the Die lustige Witwe duet and added "Bess, you is my woman now" from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

A video of the performance and more photos after the jump.

Fleming im Schneechaos - Netrebko Hilft Aus

Due to weather conditions in New York, soprano Renée Fleming has been grounded by airlines still catching up from the Christmas blizzard. She will be singing the New Year's Eve concert with Staatskapelle Dresden on Friday with Christian Thielemann conducting excerpts from Lehar's Die Lustige Witwe. Thankfully Anna Netrebko is nearby and will sing the dress rehearsal, which will also be filmed. 

The program will now feature the aria "Heia, heia, in den Bergen" from Die Csárdásfürstin by Emmerich Kálmán (Netrebko) and "Rojo Tango" by Pablo Ziegler (Schrott). The two will sing the duet "Lippen schweigen" from Die lustige Witwe.

The rest of the operetta highlights will be sung by Anna Gabler and Christopher Maltman. The taped portion with Netrebko and Schrott will be shown before the live concert with Fleming on Friday evening. It is a good thing everything worked out or Deutsche Grammophon would have to ditch their planned CD release.

Christian Thielemann's Christmas Wish

(Photo: M. Creutziger)

"Denn ohne Gesundheit ist ja sonst alles nichts. Ich wünsche mir, dass wir gesund bleiben und die gute Laune behalten, sowohl auf Seiten der Kapelle als auch auf meiner Seite, um das miteinander in tolle musikalische Ergebnisse umzumünzen."

The Maestro talks about Christmas shopping, the New Year's Eve concerts, taking over for the Dresden Staatskapelle in 2012 and music events he attends on his nights off.