News and Press Releases

All news items and press notices

NEW! London Mozart Players’ new virtual initiative, ‘At Home with LMP’

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Actress Joanna Lumley and composer Alex Woolf collaborate with London Mozart Players
in a new virtual initiative, ‘At Home with LMP’

  • London Mozart Players’ virtual series continues with an exciting upcoming schedule of digital releases featuring high-profile talent
  • Young British composer Alex Woolf has composed a series of ‘Homespun Miniatures’ to be performed by LMP musicians
  • ‘Duet No. 1’, the first composition in the ‘Homespun Miniatures’ series, had its world premiere on Channel 4 News on Friday 10 April, performed by LMP Leader Simon Blendis and his wife Saoko Blendis
  • The second composition will be premiered via LMP’s digital channels on Wednesday 29 April, with the remaining four compositions being released over the course of May
  • BAFTA fellow Joanna Lumley OBE narrates poetry to accompany a performance of Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals by LMP musicians
  • Due to be released at 10.00am on Friday 24 April, this digital rendition of The Carnival of the Animals will be accompanied by animated illustrations designed by Cat Fuller

Read moreNEW! London Mozart Players’ new virtual initiative, ‘At Home with LMP’

‘Pay it forward’ – SJSS’s free concert ticket fund for NHS staff

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‘Pay it forward’ – free concert tickets at St John’s Smith Square for NHS staff

Inspired by the ‘clap for our carers’ initiative and with a desire to look ahead to life after lockdown, St John’s has launched a ‘pay it forward’ campaign with a difference.  Supporters are invited to give to the campaign to fund free concert tickets for NHS staff.

Read more‘Pay it forward’ – SJSS’s free concert ticket fund for NHS staff

ETO’S BROADCAST DEBUT – WATCH ST JOHN PASSION UNTIL 10 MAY

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English Touring Opera’s St John Passion

ETO are extending the broadcast period of Bach’s St John Passion until 10 May,
following an overwhelming response

ETO’s St John Passion (c) Andreas Grieger

On Easter Sunday English Touring Opera broadcast a performance of Bach’s St John Passion which premiered in London on 5 March 2020 and was due to tour nationally.

Read moreETO’S BROADCAST DEBUT – WATCH ST JOHN PASSION UNTIL 10 MAY

Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden 2020-2021

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The 2020/21 season at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

In these difficult times, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden wants to look ahead, and we are pleased to present our program for the 2020/21 season today. Restlessness is the word which guides the 2020/21 season: Restlessness urges humans on and prevents them from standing still. Restlessness engenders dynamics. Calm and motion are closely interlinked, though. Inherent calmness must not be confused with being at a standstill. Calm is inconceivable without motion and vice versa. Retardation or slowing down can bring about progress and change, too. Who would have thought that in the present situation this keyword for the season would become more relevant than ever before?

Due to the developments caused by the corona pandemic after the printing deadline of the season brochure, adjustments have to be made to the season 2020/21 of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. This concerns the following productions:
• CHOWANSCHTSCHINA: The production will not be presented in 2020/21, a revival of Verdi’s MACBETH will now take place on the scheduled dates.
• IDOMENEO: The scheduled revival will be the premiere, with slight changes in the schedule.
• COSÌ FAN TUTTE: Whether the production can take place as a premiere on the planned revival dates in 2020/21 is currently still being examined. This information will be announced in time before the early start of advance sales for subscriptions and FESTTAGE cycles on 25 April 2020. (We will inform you about the exact (date) changes on staatsoper-berlin.de.)

The ticket sales for all performances of the 2020/21 season begin on Saturday, 16 May 2020. Ticket sales for subscriptions and the FESTTAGE cycles start as early as on 25 April 2020. Friends of the Staatsoper, subscribers and holders of a StaatsopernCard are entitled to buy tickets for all performances early, starting on 9 May 2020. For more information, please CLICK HERE.

Read moreBerlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden 2020-2021

2020-2021 at Dresden’s Semperoper

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Semperopera’s Opera and Ballet in 2020-2021

Following a highly successful year, the Semperoper Dresden starts the new season with an ambitious and highly topical programme featuring stellar guests:

  • Return of Der Ring des Nibelungen under the baton of Christian Thielemann
  • Happy birthday! The Junge Szene turns 10
  • Dancing into the future«: Semperoper Ballett celebrates its 15th anniversary under Director Aaron S. Watkin
  • Presentation of premieres with visual motifs by Cornelius Völker

For more information and to book tickets CLICK HERE.

Read more2020-2021 at Dresden’s Semperoper

Zurich Opera in 2020-2021

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Zurich Opera 2020/2021 – a preview

New productions

The season opens with a new production of Mussorgsky’s majestic Boris Godunov with Michael Volle as Boris, John Daszak as Schuisky and Brindley Sherratt as Pimen. Kirill Karabits conducts, the indefatigable Barrie Kosky is the producer. The première is on September 20th and there are six further performances through September and October. It is the full version, including the Polish scene. Oksana Volkova sings Marina.

Read moreZurich Opera in 2020-2021

2020 Lucerne Summer Festival – 14 August to 13 September CANCELLED

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2020 Lucerne Summer Festival

CANCELLED

The Festival kicks off on August 14th with performances by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra under Riccardo Chailly; Beethoven’s First Symphony and Mahler’s First Symphony. Concert repeated next day with Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto replacing the Beethoven symphony, Martha Argerich at the keyboard.

Read more2020 Lucerne Summer Festival – 14 August to 13 September CANCELLED