© Royal Danish Opera
Photo credit: Danish Royal Opera
The Visit of the Royal Physician |
European Operas:
A Physician, A Troubadour, and a BirdBo HoltenHolten’s grand scale opera
The Visit of the Royal Physician premiered at the
Royal Danish Opera on March 28. The production ran until May 17 and was conducted by Bo Holten.
The young German physician, Struensee, who dreamt of creating a new and better world, was given a chance to pursue his dreams when he was appointed Royal Physician to King Christian VII and became the King’s confidant. He also became young Queen Caroline Mathilde’s friend and lover. But his hopes were drowned in blood. The Royal Physician is a dramatisation of this epic tale of passion and rebellion. The Opera was created by Bo Holten with libretto by Per Olov Enquist and Eva Sommestad Holten.
Kaija Saariaho
Photo credit: English National Opera
L'Amour de loin |
Having directed the world-wide sensation Corteo for Cirque du Soleil, Daniele Finzi Pasca turns his creative vision to this UK premiere of
L'Amour de loin (Love from afar). This transfixing blend of physical theatre, acrobatics and live music follows a medieval prince’s search for idealized love across a spectacular theatrical landscape. The opera, described by the New York Times as the "Best New Work of 2000", will be conducted by Edward Gardner, a passionate admirer of Saariaho’s music, who earlier this year conducted her second opera
Adriana Mater . The UK premiere of
L’Amour de loin takes place at
English National Opera on July 3, 7, 9, 11 2009.
Hans Werner Henze
Photo credit: Semperoper Dresden
L'Upupa |
On June 1, a new production by Nikolaus Lehnhoff of the opera
L’Upupa and the Triumph of Filial Love will be given its premiere at
Semperoper Dresden. It will be the third production of the opera which was premiered in summer 2003 at Salzburg Festival to great acclaim.
The production, conducted by Stefan Lano, will continue a fruitful relationship between Nikolaus Lehnhoff and Henze and adds a third opera to the list following
Boulevard Solitude (Grand teatre de Liceau, Barcelona and Royal Opera House London) and
Der Prinz von Homburg (Bayerische Staatsoper München).
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