London Philharmonic Orchestra Cancels Ring Cycle
https://operawire.com/london-philharmonic-orchestra-cancels-ring-cycle/
By Francisco Salazar
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has canceled its upcoming Ring Cycle.
The orchestra announced that “Götterdämmerung” will be programmed at the earliest time possible in order to complete the Orchestra’s first-ever Ring Cycle with Maestro Vladimir Jurowski.
David Burke, Chief Executive of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, announced the news stating, “With deep regret and heartfelt sadness I must inform you that we have had to cancel our Wagner Ring Cycle, due to take place in January/February 2021. This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and one we have not made lightly. We explored every possible option in an effort to retain these much-anticipated performances in our program but alas the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and public health restrictions have made it mean we have no choice.”
He continued, “With no signs of these restrictions lifting, we have had to accept that we cannot safely bring together the huge orchestral and vocal forces required to stage the Ring Cycle. Social distancing would also mean we could at the very best only have a very small audience which renders the project, which already requires significant financial investment from the Orchestra, unaffordable. Finally, there would have been additional complications around the international artists involved, and potential quarantine measures that are regularly changing and evolving, making it impossible to plan with any of the certainty needed for a project on this scale.”
The orchestra also noted that Jurowski is developing an inventive four-concert series that is set to be recorded and broadcast internationally in the New Year.
Glyndebourne Announces Fall Programming
By Logan Martell
https://operawire.com/glyndebourne-announces-fall-programming/
Glyndebourne has announced its fall and winter programming, which wil be presented before a live audience as the organization reopens its doors to the public.
Opening the season will be “In the Market for Love,” a new staging of Offenbach’s “Mesdames de la Halle” done by Stephen Plaice, and conducted by Ben Glassberg, Principal Guest Conductor for the Glyndebourne Tour.
Performance Dates: October 10-25, 2020
Next will be a concert staging of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” to be done in a 90-minute English version, directed by Donna Stirrup and conducted by Leo McFall.
Performance Dates: November 1-21, 2020
December will feature four performances of Glyndebourne’s Christmas Concerts, with a program comprised of opera favorites and holiday classics. Aidan Oliver will conduct the Glyndebourne Chorus and Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra.
Performance Dates: December 5-13, 2020
While the company was unable present its new production of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” at this year’s festival, it will instead be holding a concert titled “Beethoven and Brahms.” Conducted by Robin Ticciati, this concert brings together some of the artists who were intended to perform earlier this year for a moment of musical optimism and celebration of arias from “Fidelio” and Brahm’s violin concerto played by Alina Ibragimova.
Performance Date: December 11, 2020
By Logan Martell
Logan Martell has been with OperaWire since 2017. He initially started off covering the general news, but is now focused on reviews and interviews in New York City.