News
Holger Falk: CD release Louis Durey Mélodies
In June, the latest and final recording Louis Durey Mélodies has been released at the DG label. This release marks the final of the 10-part CD-series focusing on the Lied oeuvre of the Groupe des six composers. Holger Falk and Steffen Schleiermacher present a wide selection of songs by the French composer Louis Durey on this CD. Despite an extensive body of work and important advocates, Louis Durey is only known to insiders today. Durey was also an avowed communist and revolutionary who was involved in the Resistance and wanted to write music for the common people. Did he achieve this with his extremely artistic songs? His "Vergers" on original texts by Rilke reveal an expressive harmonic richness that comes close to Schoenberg and Messiaen - far removed from Cocteau's ideal of a simple tonal language. Here it is, the long overdue rehabilitation of an unjustly forgotten artist.
(published on 17 June 2025)
Sofia Jernberg: Czernowin‘s „NO!“ in Cologne
On 21 June 2025 the vocal artist Sofia Jernberg will perform the German premiere of Chaya Czernowin‘s orchestra piece NO! in the context of WDR - Music of our Time at the Funkhaus Cologne. Next to the soprano Keren Motseri she will make her debut at the WDR Sinfonieorchester in this concert, which will be conducted by Maxime Pascal. Additional works on the programme will be Mauro Lanza’s In the Dust of this Planet (German Premiere) and Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Hymnen (Dritte Region). End of April 2025, Sofia Jernberg sang the world premiere of NO! at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the LA Phil New Music Group. In 2025 and beyond, further premieres of this piece will be presented at the Philharmonie de Paris, Wiener Musikverein as well as at NOSPR Katowice.
(published on 11 June 2025)
Sarah M. Sun: Debut Deutsche Oper Berlin
On 20 June 2025, the soprano Sarah Maria Sun will make her debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the world premiere of Rebecca Saunders’ Lash - Acts of Love. This opera in three acts in the libretto by Ed Atkins and Rebecca Saunders will be led by the conductor Enno Poppe and brought on stage by the Dead Centre, the set and costume designer Nina Wetzel and the video artist Sébastien Dupouey. The Orchestre of the Deutsche Oper Berlin will play in the pit, further soloists on stage are Noa Frenkel, Katja Kolm and Anna Prohaska. It is the first opera by the renown and award-winning British composer. Sarah Maria Sun has already worked together with the conductor and composer Enno Poppe intensively for many years.
Performances of Lash will also be presented on 27 June 2025 and 1, 11 and 18 July 2025.
(published on 10 June 2025)
Sarah Defrise: Premiere Cassandra in Berlin
On 19 June 2025, the Belgian soprano Sarah Defrise will perform the German premiere of Bernard Foccroulle‘s opera Cassandra at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. She already sang the role of Naomi in the world premiere at La Monnaie in Brussels in 2023 to great acclaim. From June on, this outstanding cinematic production by Marie-Eve Signeyrole will be presented to the German audience for the first time. Anja Bihlmaier will conduct the Staatskapelle and the Staatsopernchor Berlin. Further soloists will be Katarina Bradić (Cassandra), Susan Bickley (Hecuba, Victoria), Joshua Hopkins (Apollo, Angry Audience Member), Jessica Niles (Sandra), Gidon Saks (Priam, Alexander), Valdemar Villadsen (Blake) and Lisa Willem (Conference Presenter). Sarah Defrise made her successful debut at the Staatsoper Berlin already in 2022 performing The Girl in the world premiere by Peter Eötvös’ opera Sleepless.
Further performances will take place on 22, 25 June and 3, 11 July 2025.
(published on 4 June 2025)
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