“Katharine Mehrling in Berlin” – The Promise of an Operetta Album to Come?
This week, Katharine Mehrling is back at Bar jeder Vernunft in Berlin with a program called 6 Nächte in Berlin,
read morePosts Tagged 'Komische Oper'
“Messeschager Gisela” – Axel Ranisch Stages Gerd Natschinski’s 1960 Hit
It’s the third attempt in Berlin to breathe new life into the forgotten sub-genre “Heiteres Musiktheater der DDR”, i.e. musicals
read more
“Mein Freund Bunbury” Comes to Komische Oper Berlin
The Komische Oper Berlin continues its exploration of Gerd Natschinski and Jacques Offenbach next season. Since the departure of Barrie
read more
Stefan Huber (1960-2023): Ein Nachruf aus Zuschauerperspektive
Diese Woche verstarb der Regisseur Stefan Huber. Er hat u.a. mit seiner Operettenserie an der Komischen Oper Berlin Aufmerksamkeit erregt,
read more
“Prinz von Preußen”: A Forgotten DDR Musical Revived in Zittau
At the small Gerhart Hauptmann Theater in Zittau (close to the Czech and Polish border in Eastern Germany) you can
read more
New Recording from Graz: Nico Dostal’s “Clivia” on cpo
Nico Dostal scored a hit with his Clivia when it premiered at Berlin’s Theater am Nollendorfplatz in December 1933, after
read more
The Battle of the Divas – Desirée Nick, Stefanie Dietrich & Christoph Marti
There are no real operetta divas around anymore. Or are there? It seems that nowadays most sopranos singing the once-famous
read more
Daniela Ziegler as the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein – and Other Offenbach Treats
The good news is: Daniela Ziegler finally gets to perform Offenbach and star in an operetta. At the Ernst Deutsch
read more
75 Years of Setting Operetta Standards: The Komische Oper Jubilee
When the Komische Oper opened its doors on 23 December 1947 – in the Soviet controlled section of Berlin –
read more
“Die Rache der Fledermaus” – With Christoph Marti As A Rosalinde In Drag
After a long Corona delay this Fledermaus adaptation by Stefan Huber and Kai Tietje has finally landed in Berlin and
read more
“I Am What I Am”: New Productions at Komische Oper after Barrie Kosky
Quo vadis, Komische Oper? That’s what many have been wondering. How will the new artistic directors continue the now world-famous
read more
Barrie Kosky Will Direct “La Cage aux Folles” at Komische Oper Berlin
Many people have wondered what Barrie Kosky will do next in terms of popular musical theater at Komische Oper, once
read more
Young, Versatile & Hungry: James Gaffigan New Music Director At Komische Oper Berlin
So, now it’s official: James Gaffigan will be the new music director of Komische Oper Berlin. The 43 year old
read more
Glitzy Genitalia & A New Cast: Kosky’s “Orpheus in der Unterwelt“ Arrives In Berlin
After a very (very!) long wait, Barrie Kosky’s vision of Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers has finally arrived at Berlin’s Komische
read more
“Roxy und ihr Wunderteam” Comes To Bühne Burgäschi In 2022
So, the success story continues: the recently rediscovered “vaudeville operetta” Roxy und ihr Wunderteam by Paul Abraham will come to
read more
On the Air: “Blume von Hawaii” Comes to Deutschlandradio Kultur
It’s the end of an era. For ten years Barrie Kosky made it his mission to revive forgotten Weimar Republic
read more
Kosky macht Kopfkino: Minimalistisches Mahagonny
Kurz nachdem im Spätsommer die lang erwartete (und mehrfach verschobene) Dreigroschenoper am Berliner Ensemble herauskam und ekstatische Reaktionen hervorrief, ging
read more
Berliner Ensemble: “Dreigroschenoper” As Cellblock Tango Without Fosse
It’s not unusual for Barrie Kosky to stage something outside of Komische Oper, but usually he doesn’t do it in
read more
Adam Benzwi Discusses “Dreigroschenoper” & Singing Brecht/Weill Today
Pianist and musical director Adam Benzwi was slated to premiere “his” Dreigroschenoper interpretation – in collaboration with stage director Barrie
read more
Barrie Kosky’s All-Singing, All-Dancing Yiddish Revue – Plus Other Farewell-Highlights
Of course he wasn’t going to present his last season as intendant of Komische Oper Berlin via Zoom or only
read more
What’s The Use Of Rethinking “Der Zigeunerbaron” When Stefan Soltesz Delivers A Retro-Reading?
With a delay of almost five months, the new production of Johann Strauss’ Der “Zigeuner“baron [sic] finally premiered at Komische
read more
World Premiere Recording of Ábrahám’s Jazzy 1932 “Ball at the Savoy” In English
Paul Abrahám’s flavorsome jazz operetta, which premiered to great acclaim in 1932 Berlin at Großes Schauspielhaus, only to have its
read more
Rediscovering “Das Haus dazwischen” By Spoliansky & Schiffer After 90 Years
On 24 August 1932 the newspaper Berliner Börsen-Courier reported that “this morning the well known revue poet Marcellus Schiffer was
read more
How To Handle The Racism & Sexism Of “Z*******”-Baron Today? A Conductor’s Response
Austrian author and feminist activist Marlene Streeruwitz spoke out against the patriotic “kitsch culture” in her homeland in an interview
read more
“Ball im Savoy” From Estonia, Arranged & Sung By Mart Sander
When I visited Tallinn in 2016 and saw that they were playing Ball im Savoy at the Estonian National Opera,
read more
Too Many New Covid-19 Infections: Komische Oper Berlin Cancels Its “Blume von Hawaii” Live Stream
After rumors had already started circulating, it’s now official: Komische Oper Berlin has cancelled its live stream of Paul Abraham’s
read more
Gorki Theater Streams “Alles Schwindel” With English Subtitles For Christmas
When I saw the news today that Gorki Theater Berlin will stream one of the greatest operetta productions I have
read more
Here Comes “Blume von Hawaii” As A Live Stream From Komische Oper Berlin
Yeehaw! Komische Oper Berlin has finally awoken from its Sleeping Beauty Corona mode; the company has decided to offer something
read more
“Vetter aus Dingsda” Premieres Online From Gärtnerplatztheater Munich
Putting on Eduard Künneke’s 1920 hit Der Vetter aus Dingsda seemed like a good idea in times of Corona restrictions:
read more
When Theaters Stay Closed, Operettas Go Online – Not Just In Budapest
The 2nd wave Corona lockdown has made operetta performances virtually impossible in many countries, and it looks like it might
read more
Jaromir Weinberger’s Last Weimar Operetta “Frühlingsstürme” On DVD
You might be as baffled by this new release as I am: the recent production of Jaromir Weinberger’s “last Weimar
read more
Waiting For Offenbach In Times Of A New Corona Lockdown: So What Happens Now?
You could say it’s a bitter irony: ever since theaters in Germany re-opened after the summer, Barrie Kosky has said
read more
Lotte de Beer: The Future Of Operetta At Volksoper Wien Is Female
The future of operetta in Vienna is female: Lotte de Beer was presented this week as new artistic director of
read more
Revisiting “Daniela Ziegler Sings Ralph Benatzky”
At the beginning of August 2020 Helga Benatzky died at the blessed age of 96: she had been in charge
read more
How Is Our “Woke-Ass Culture” Dealing With The Supposed Racism Of “Zigeunerbaron”?
There’s an increasingly firece discussion about supposed “racism” in operetta. Recently, a production of Franz Lehár’s Land des Lächelns at
read more
Post-Corona Operetta In Berlin. Or: Here’s Barrie Kosky’s Chancelled “Orpheus In The Underworld”
Has the long waiting finally come to an end, is post-Corona operetta back? After the somewhat problematic “Jewish and Gay”
read more