Following the multi prize-winning first CD recording of the dialogue version of Gounod’s “Faust”, edited and reconstructed by Paul Prévost, this can now be seen on the stage for the first time. With set designs by Herbert Murauer, renowned director Johannes Erath has conceived his production specially for Oper Köln’s venue in the Staatenhaus, creatively approaching this with current distancing rules in mind. The production embodies both the spirit of the Opéra Comique and the musical interpretation by Music Director François-Xavier Roth, the Gürzenich Orchester and the vocal soloists. These are largely drawn from the ensemble of Oper Köln, with Anne-Catherine Gillet (Marguerite) as the sole guest artist. Audiences will be particularly excited to hear the second part of Faust’s famous aria “Salut! demeure chaste et pure”, only recently rediscovered. This was cut from the Paris premiere on 19 March 1859 at the Théâtre Lyrique because of a change of singer at short notice, and has now been published exclusively in a Bärenreiter edition. Young Woo Kim gives the belated premiere of the young Faust’s Cavatina in the original two-part version on 5 June 2021. The first performance and all subsequent performances will be given by Oper Köln both with a live audience and streamed, on a pay as you wish basis.

The return to life is the evocative title of this year’s Festival Berlioz in the composer’s birthplace of La Côte-Saint-André. In the second half of August leading Berlioz interpreters such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Francois-Xavier Roth, Jérémy Rhorer, John Nelson and Valery Gergiev perform key works from Berlioz’s output including Les Troyens à Carthage, La Damnation de Faust, L’Enfance du Christ, Requiem, Symphonie fantastique, Lelio ou Le retour à la vie and Les nuits d’été. The fact that music can finally be performed again after a long period of enforced silence is also another reason for traditional summer festivals in Aix-en-Provence, Glyndebourne, Munich, Salzburg and Lucerne – to name just the most prominent – to celebrate. Bärenreiter features many times with its critical new editions and performance material of Baroque and classical-romantic operas, and in addition, first performances of new concert works by Beat Furrer and Miroslav Srnka feature. Here is an overview of dates. Please check these with the respective organisers beforehand.

Theatre as a reflection of the world: Carlo Goldoni’s “L‘impresario delle Smirne” is a turbulent piece about the opera business. The Bregenz Festival is staging a contemporary version by Ľubica Čekovská and the librettist Laura Olivi in an updated version, adapted to the Corona situation. The opera “Impresario Dotcom” is about today. Six characters – five singers and an agent – seek a financial backer. The protagonists are called Olympia, Violetta, Carmen, Tamino and Orfeo, and come from all over the world. The inherent tragedy of the characters in their roles resonates in each case. “We all play roles in our lives”, says Ľubica Čekovská, “and it’s about the question of who we are, who the people behind these are.” The premiere of this special opera will be conducted by Christopher Ward, in a production by Elisabeth Stöppler on 20 August 2020 (and on 21 August) in the Festspielhaus Bregenz.

The new production of the opera “Lanzelot” in Weimar was hailed as a “sensation” and a “rediscovery of the first rank”. Four other operas by Paul Dessau await a revival on the stage.

The new edition of the opera “Dardanus” by Jean-Philippe Rameau in the version from May 1744 presents the work in the definitive form intended by the Composer.

For his opera “Alessandro” Handel was able to engage the best singers of his day in 1726. Today too, the work, with its fictitious plot, continues to offer ample subject matter for a bravura opera evening.

Goodness triumphs, and Beauty is purified: Handel’s allegorical oratorio “La Bellezza ravveduta nel trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno” is an extremely attractive work, thanks to its melodic richness and captivating arias, duets and quartets.