Germany Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Staatskapelle and Staatsoperchor Dresden / Christopher Moulds (conductor), Semperoper, Dresden, 2.11.2017. (JMI)
A Visually Enchanting Abduction from the Seraglio
Dresden
Thielemann and a Stellar Cast Triumph in Götterdämmerung
Germany Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Staatskapelle and Staatsopernchor Dresden / Christian Thielemann (conductor), Semperoper, Dresden, 1.11.2017. (JMI)
The Semperoper’s Don Giovanni Marred by Seriously Misguided Musical Direction
Germany Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Sachsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden (chorus master: Cornelius Volke), Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Omer Meir Wellber (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 20.3.2017. (MB)
The Semperoper’s New Production of Doktor Faust: A True Company Achievement
Germany Busoni, Doktor Faust: Soloists, Dancers, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden (chorus master: Jörn Hinnerk Andresen), Säschsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Tomáš Netopil (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 19.3.2017. (MB)
A Magnificent Otello from Christian Thielemann and the Dresden Staatskapelle
Germany Verdi, Otello: Staatskapelle Dresden, Chorus of Dresden State Opera / Christian Thielemann (conductor), Semperoper, Dresden, 1.3.2017. (JMI)
A Fairy Tale Opera, Staged Here for Adults
Germany Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen: Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Tomas Netopil (conductor), Semperoper, Dresden, 28.2.2017. (JMI)
ARABELLA STEINBACHER IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL COOKSON
Arabella Steinbacher in conversation with Michael Cookson, Dresden 2016
My first exposure to the playing of Munich born violinist Arabella Steinbacher was in 2011 when reviewing her recording of the Shostakovich violin concertos on Orfeo. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/June11/Shostakovich_Steinbacher_C687061A.htm
A child prodigy on the violin Steinbacher started lessons aged 3 and 5 years later became the youngest violin student of Ana Chumachenko at the Munich Academy of Music. In 2000 Steinbacher won the Joseph-Joachim-Violinwettbewerbes Hannover when she was 19 and the Förderpreis des Freistaates Bayern a year later. In 2004 she made her concert debut playing at short notice for an indisposed soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under Sir Neville Marriner in Paris.
Certainly a thrilling musician, Steinbacher has made an impressive reputation for herself with several excellent recordings under her belt. One of the finest violinists around compared to a group of talented soloists of her generation, curiously, she is not as well known as her talent deserves; especially in the U.K.
JAN VOGLER IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL COOKSON
Jan Vogler in conversation with Michael Cookson
Not only is Jan Vogler a renowned cellist on the international stage but driven by his insatiable appetite for music he also serves as Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival; with his contract recently extended until 2021. I have attended the festival for several years and under Vogler’s management the festival has grown to one of international renown attracting the world’s finest artists.