News
Eva Resch: Debut at Ultraschall Berlin
On 15 January 2026, the soprano Eva Resch will make her debut at the Ultraschall Festival Berlin. Together with the cellist Martin Smith she will present her new and exciting programme SMESCH – Songs of Failure at the Heimathafen Neukölln. They will perform Brigitta Muntendorf’s hin und weg, Georg Katzer’s Ophelia, Per Nørgår’s Plutonian Ode, Kaija Saariaho’s Changing light for soprano and cello and the world premiere of Farzia Fallah’s of asphyxia for voice and cello (2025). The video artist Leon Daniel will complete the programme presenting his video installations. At the heart of SMESCH lies the ambivalence of human existence: crown of creation or rather its nightmare? From the destructive power emanating from humanity also arises the responsibility to protect life. But what if we fail to live up to our own moral compass?
(published on 7 January 2026)
Vanessa Porter: New Year’s sounds in Halle
On 11/12 January 2026, the percussionist Vanessa Porter will make a first appearance as soloist with the Staatskapelle Halle under the baton of Fabrice Bollon at the Händel HALLE in Halle. The programme will present Rebecca Saunders‘ Void for percussion duo and orchestra (2014), and her duo partner will be percussionist Emil Kuyumcuyan. Further works performed at the concerts will be Antonín Dvorák’s Serenade for Winds in D Minor op. 44, B 077 und Sergej Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances Op. 45. Vanessa Porter already played Rebecca Saunders‘ solo piece Dust several times to great acclaim and is now looking forward to interpreting her remarkable double concerto with orchestra on the concert stage.
(published on 15 December 2025)
Anna-Lena Elbert: Gürzenich-Debut
On 21 December 2025, the soprano Anna-Lena Elbert will make her debut with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne at the Kölner Philharmonie in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantatas I-VI. The further cast includes conductor Jonathan Cohen, the Bach-Verein Cologne, Sebastian Kohlhepp (tenor), Anna Lucia Richter (mezzo-soprano) and Alex Rosen (bass). As a sought-after performer of J.S. Bach, she has sung at the Bachfest Leipzig and the Bachfest Schaffhausen and Bach's St Matthew Passion with Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Bruges along with the MüPa Budapest. In 2024, she interpreted Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on tour with the Basel Chamber Orchestra and the Windsbach Boys’ Choir.
(published on 26 November 2025)
Lavinia Dames: MusikTheater an der Wien
On 14 December 2025, the soprano Lavinia Dames will make her debut at the MusikTheater an der Wien in the world premiereof Gordon Kampe’s children opera Ich bin Vincent! und ich habe keine Angst (I am Vincent! and I am not afraid). The family opera in one act in the libretto by Paula Fünfeck (after a novel by Enne Koesn) will be staged by director Johannes Schmid and the costumes and the set are designed by Tatjana Ivschina. The Wiener Symphoniker and the Arnold Schönberg Choir will perform under baton of Michael Balke. Further performances will take place on 14/16/18/19/21/28 December 2025. Other singers next to Lavinia Dames in the role of Frau Teich will be: Johannes Bamberger (Dilan), Georgina Fürstenberg (Die Jacke), Mara Guseynova (Fohlen), Matthias Hoffmann (Eichhörnchen), Tatiana Kuryatnikova (Käfer), Alois Mühlbacher (Vincent) and Martin Summer (Wurm). Lavinia Dames already received rave reviews for her stunning interpretation of Grace in the world premiere of Gordon Kampe's opera Dogville at the Aalto Theater Essen.
(published on 24 November 2025)
Deutsch