Recent Posts. Page 4
Giacomo Meyerbeer: LE PROPHETE in Berlin
11/14/17 •
BERLIN/GERMANY: With his LE PROPHETE (1849) Giacomo Meyerbeer rendered, in operatic form, one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of the Reformation. The story of the rise and fall of the radical sect of Protestant Anabaptists, who controlled the city of Münster in a short-lived reign of terror in 1535, continues to fascinate audiences with its portrayal of religious and pre-Communist thought, a terrorist regime and the vision of a “kingdom of God on Earth”. By Tomas Bagackas
Queen Victoria, Albert and Coburg
11/12/17 •
COBURG/GERMANY: In these days where the Norwegian TV audience has the pleasure of enjoying the seria in 8 parts telling about HM Queen Victoria of England. I am being inspired to look back on my visit in 2015 to the beautiful castle in Coburg, and to the private apartment of Victoria in the Castle. Furthermore to the medieval castle Veste Coburg. Visited by Henning Høholt, text and photos.
Oslo Opera Festival – en Suksess
11/11/17 •
OSLO/NORGE: Oslo Opera Festivals avsluttings konsert ble lidt forsinket avholdt i Universitetets Aula i Oslo, 31. Oktober 2017. Med et flott program helliget opera verker av Verdi og Wagner ble dette en suksess. Av Henning Høholt. Tekst. Fotos: Tomas Bagackas
Lukáš Vondráček – piano firework
11/10/17 •
OSLO/NORWAY: With Lukas Vondracek as piano solist in Rachmaninoffs Pianocncerto no 3 d-min op 30 together with Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra led by Vasily Petrenko, the audience experienced a piano firework, that is seldom heard. By Henning Høholt
New York Times praises Herheims «La Boheme»
11/08/17 •
NEW YORK/USA: A front page article in The New York Times (Nov 1st.) analysizes recent productions of «La Boheme».
Classic music editor Zachary Woolfe discusses nostalgia and renewal in the Puccini-classic with reference to New York and Europe. By Torkil Baden.
Elisabeth Teige deltar i Melchior konkurransen i Aalborg
11/07/17 •
AALBORG/DANMARK: Wagner frelste behøver nå ikke lenger å reise til Bayreuth for å høre Wagner. De kan reise til Aalborg, hovedstaden i Nord-Jylland, og se Richard Wagner, der i levende live (1813-1883) var en meget lille mand af statur. I Aalborg kunne han fra onsdag 11. Oktober 2017 sees fire steder, men her i form af statuer med en højde på 3,5 meter hver. I byen står han opstillet ved City Syd og naturligvis nede ved Limfjorden ved siden af Musikkens Hus. Men allerede ved flyplassen, som ligger nord for byen, hilses man velkommen av en statue av komponisten. Av Henning Høholt.
Operagalla i København
11/06/17 •
KØBENHAVN/DANMARK: Fredag kveld var Deres Majesteter Dronning Margrethe II av Danmark og Dronning Sonja til stede under en operagalla i DR Koncerthuset i København. Omtalt av Henning Høholt.
LA RONDINE in Firenze
11/04/17 •
FIRENZE/ITALY: Opera or operetta? Neither of them or perhaps both of them: the eternal dilemma regarding La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini has been dragged just from its birth on the stage of Grand Théatre de Monte Carlo on 1917 March 27th.Review by Fabio Bardelli, Photos: Michele Borzoni.
Bartoli is Cinderella in Monte Carlo
11/03/17 •
Cecilia Bartoli is a perfectionist and moves carefully. In February she toured Europe with a concert version of the score of «Cenerentola», which she first performed in the 1990-ies. Now she goes on stage again with the Ponnelli-production from 1968.
Review by Torkil Baden.
Les Troyens in Dresden
11/01/17 •
DRESDEN/GERMANY: Hector Berlioz and the Troyens in Dresden’s Semperoper seems to be the fulfillment of two stories of the 19th century. – Les Troyens Conducted by John Fiore.
In February 1843 the French composer travelled to Dresden for the first time and stayed for around two weeks – nomen est omen- in the “Hôtel de France”, a nice baroque palace from 1680, destroyed in 1945. “Now let’s talk about Dresden: I was engaged there for two concerts, and I was going to find there choir, orchestra, music of harmony, and moreover a famous tenor since my entry in Germany, I had not yet seen reunited of such richnesses.” Berlioz writes in his memories. By Christoph Münch
Lutherstadt Wittenberg – Reformasjonen 500 år jubilee
10/31/17 •
WITTENBERG/GERMANY: The summer hit in Wittenberg, Germany is the Middle Age market in the beautiful city of Wittenberg, Germany, where the hit is the parade Saturday at 14.00 called Martin Luthers Wedding, where thousand of participants in middle age costumes are making a longa parade through the beautiful city center, inclusive participants, suppose to play the roles as Martin Luther and his wife Katarina von Bora. The authorities in the city tells that 100.000 visitors was expected to be present at this market day, and the small citys streets were packed. Visited by Henning Høholt
Barcelona City Hall or Casa de la Ciutat
10/30/17 •
BARCELONA/SPAIN: City Hall, also known as the Casa de la Ciutat, stands on one side of the Plaça Sant Jaume, right in the middle of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and in front of the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Visited by Henning Høholt. Text and photos.
The Great Gatsby – Les Folies Bergères
10/30/17 •
PARIS/FRANCE: Dwight Rhoden, the famous American choreographer and artistic director of the Complexions Contemporary Ballet, the company he founded, presented last week in Paris his ballet The Great Gatsby, inspired by the Fitzgerald’s eponym novel. The project is quite ambitious and is starring an international ballet star, Denis Matvienko, former Principal of the Mariinsky Theatre. By Christophe de Jouvancourt.
Die Walküre in Beijing
10/28/17 •
BEIJING/CHINA: There was tumultuous applause for Die Walküre , which the Beijing Music Festival is showing in a coproduction with the Salzburg Easter Festival. At its opening performance yesterday, 24 October, the Walküre was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the 1,300-strong audience in the sold-out Poly Theatre in Beijing.
Hedda Gabler with the Nationalballet, Oslo
10/27/17 •
OSLO/NORWAY: Hedda Gabler by Marit Moum Aune based on the famouse Henrik Ibsen novel, with the Norwegian National Ballet, premiered 28. Sept. 2017, was interesting, following well up ms. Aunes Ghosts, also build one of mr. Ibsens other novels. It is very demanding for the dancers, with the splendid Grete Sofie Borud Nybakken in the demanding titelrole. Review by Henning Høholt, Fotos Erik Berg
Cecilie Lindeman Steen mottar Danseinformasjonens Ærespris 2017
10/26/17 •
OSLO/NORGE: Cecilie Lindeman Steen har i over 30 år markert seg som en av de viktigste utøverne i norsk samtidsdans. Hun kjennetegnes ved en fengslende scenisk tilstedeværelse, integritet og et nyansert og rikt bevegelsesspråk.
Vendela Kirseboms utrolige reise
10/26/17 •
OSLO/NORGE: Fra lange dager og ulønnet arbeid til millionkontrakter og middag i Det hvite hus. Vendela Kirsebom har datet George Clooney, vært “gift” med Arnold Schwarzenegger og nektet å sitte til bords med Donald Trump. For første gang forteller hun hele sin historie – om reisen til toppen av moteverdenen og inn blant a-kjendisene i USA.
Mozarts Requiem i Asker og i Oslo
10/26/17 •
ASKER/OSLO/NORGE: Kringkastingsorkestret og Sølvguttene med Askers egne solister: Birgitte Christensen (sopran), Ingebjørg Kosmo (mezzosopran), Rolf Sostmann (tenor) og Øystein Skre (bass). Dirigent: Fredrik Otterstad. I Asker Kirke, Torsdag 26. oktober, kl. 19.00.
og i Uranienborg kirke, Fredag 27. oktober, kl. 19.00
Therese Ulvo med Oslo Philharmonien
10/25/17 •
OSLO/NORGE: I forbindelse med Norsk Komponistforenings 100-årsjubileum lanseres et storstilt talentprogram for unge komponister som skal gi Norge nye profilerte komponister med internasjonalt nedslagsfelt. Therese Ulvo komponerer for Oslo Philharmonien.
TORDENSKIOLD in Copenhagen
10/23/17 •
KØBENHAVN/DANMARK: During the cultural event “Tordenskjoldsdage” the public could relive the naval showdown between Denmark and Sweden that took place in 1717. The festivities in Copenhagen include the reenactment of Admiral Tordenskjold and his seamen’s fight as well as markets, workshops for children and the participation of two great ships that was lined up near the Black Diamond Library. Reportage og Fotos HASSE FERROLD :
PIA DE’ TOLOMEI by Donizetti in Pisa
10/22/17 •
PISA/ITALY: The Italian poet Dante Alighieri in his Purgatory’s 5th Canto puts these essential noble modest words on the lips of the young unfortunate Pia de’ Tolomei, placing her among the dead who suffered violence. Review by Fabio Bardelli, photos: Imaginarium Creative Studio.
DIOR in PARIS – COUTURIER DU RÊVE
10/21/17 •
PARIS/FRANCE: The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the creation of the House of Dior. This lavish and comprehensive exhibition invites visitors on a voyage of discovery through the universe of the House of Dior’s founder and the illustrious couturiers who succeeded him: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and, most recently, Maria Grazia Chiuri. – As critic it is always a pleasure to enjoy and write about the expositions at this place, as the professional presentation is of the highest possible niveau. Visited by Henning Høholt and Tomas Bagackas
Mindre betaling uten klær på Met
10/15/17 •
NEW YORK/USA: Kanskje virker det lidt overraskende her på Kulturkompasset med en historie, som fortæller, at de nakne medvirkende skal få mindre betaling. Men den er god nok. Denne har vi lånt fra webbsiden til vår meget erfarne kritikerkollega og kulturskribent i Danmark John Christiansen på jcKlassisk.dk – han vet vanligvis hva han skriver om.
Verdis Requiem i Sandefjord og Tønsberg
10/15/17 •
SANDEFJORD/NORGE: Det er en glede å ønske velkommen til Hjertnes kulturhus og åpningskonserten for MiSKs kirkefestdager 2017, 21.10, kl.18.00. og til Oseberg Kulturhus 22.10. kl. 19.00. 2017.
På programmet står Giuseppe Verdis mektige «Requiem», et musikkhistorisk verk med mye kraft og nerve. Dette blir debuten til Vestfold Oratoriekor, et prosjektkor i MiSK som ble etablert tidligere i år, nettopp med tanke på å kunne fremføre store verk som dette. Som korsangere vil også en gruppe kirkemusikkstudenter fra Norges musikkhøgskole delta, slik at det totalt blir rundt 120 sangere på scenen. Svein Rustad dirigerer Vestfold Symfoniorkester og fire norske sangsolister: Birgitte Christensen, sopran, Ingebjørg Kosmo, alt, Marius Roth Christensen, tenor, og Magne Fremmerlid, bass.
Madeleine Onne – Artistic Director – Finnish National Ballet
10/14/17 •
HELSINKI/FINLAND: Madeleine Onne has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet. The Board of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet made their final decision in a meeting held today, Tuesday October the 10th. The Board invited the personnel groups of the Opera and Ballet to share their views on the appointment, and their statements were unanimously positive. Onne will start her new position in August 2018.