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Home , Bavarian State Opera, Erwin Schrott, Romanza, Simon Keenlyside

THE FESTIVAL Six Major Thursday, July 21st through Friday, July 29th

Munich’s

“I can’t live without Opera in Munich … Yes, Munich, city where s in most recent years, Munich’s traditional summer Opera North meets South, is where opera thrives through tradition, enter - Festival in 2016 offers a plethora of six major operas within prise and a lust for life.” Alan Blyth, Opera a compact seven-night period. Seldom do we encounter such : “Almost certainly the greatest tenor in the world an enticing choice of pivotal works by the operatic giants – A Mozart, Verdi and Wagner – as well as relative rarities by right now, a dashingly handsome German with an extraordinary voice, whose career is reaching new peaks with each year.” Rameau and Boito. In chronological terms, the operas will be Jean The Telegraph Philippe Rameau’s French Baroque rarity Les Indes Galantes , Mozart’s , a pair of music-dramas by Richard Wag - : International OPERA Awards 2015: ner – Der Fliegende Holländer and Die Meistersinger , Verdi’s Best Female Singer Un Ballo in Maschera , and Arrigo Boito’s dramatic Mefistofele .

Kyrill Petrenko: “Since the ’12 – ’14 season, he has been Music Di - Munich’s Festival always boasts a dazzling roster of the world’s rector of Munich’s . In the short time he has leading singers. The international casts will include Jonas Kauf - worked there, he has celebrated one triumph after another.” mann assuming his first Walther von Stolzing in ‘Die Philharmonic Meistersinger’; Anja Harteros, Piotr Beczala and as the protagonists of ‘Ballo in “René Pape is the king of the lyric basses.” Maschera’; René Pape in the title role of ‘Mefistofele’ Wall Street Journal opposite Kristine Opolais and Joseph Calleja ; Johan Reuter and Catherine Naglestad as the Flying Dutch - “When Kristine Opolais and Joseph Calleja sing their man and Senta; and a Mozart ensemble headed by duet (‘Lontano, lontano, lontano’), they bring out tenderness Erwin Schrott, Albina Shagimuratova, Dorothea Rösch mann and Pavol Breslik . Four of the operas will and tragedy, beauty and pain.” Anja Harteros , review of Munich’s new ‘Mefistofele’ be mounted in important new productions, and the con - ductors will include the newly-named Music Director Erwin Schrott: “He gives what is probably the most com - Kyrill Petrenko , who has also been chosen as the pres - pletely realized performance of Don Giovanni you are ever tigious leader of the Berlin Philharmonic. likely to see.” Five of the operas will be staged in the National Theater, Piotr Beczala: “The Polish tenor is certainly the best in home of the Bavarian State Opera. The performance of this challenging role (‘Ballo in Maschera’) since Pavarotti.” ‘Les Indes Galantes’ will take us to the historic Prinzre - Herald Tribune gententheater , a smaller but equally beautiful venue ide - Jonas Kaufmann ally suited to Rameau’s early work. 9 Early Friday evening, July 22nd, a cocktail re - ception will provide an opportunity to meet other members of the Tour. Our party will be in a pri - vate entertainment suite of the hotel.

Friday evening, we will walk down the street for the 7:00 pm performance of ’s Der Vier Jahreszeiten hotel; pool Fliegende Holländer (‘The Flying Dutch - man)’ at the National Thursday, July 21st, departure from New York’s Kennedy Airport Theatre . The earliest of Wagner’s major music-dramas, ‘The Fly - at 6:00 pm on Lufthansa flight #411, scheduled to arrive in Munich ing Dutchman’ is characterized by youthful Italianate lyricism and at 7:55 am on Friday the 22nd. Or independent travel. psycho logical passages which capture the yearning passion of the tortured Dutchman and Senta. The great scenes include the Accommodations for a full seven nights at the deluxe Vier Dutchman’s initial monologue “Die Frist ist um’, Senta’s halluci - Jahreszeiten (‘Four Seasons’) Hotel, with a grand European buf - natory ‘Ballad’, their fet breakfast included. The Vier Jahreszeiten ranks as Munich’s rousing duet which finest, offering a wide variety of services in an old-fashioned Bavar - closes Act II with “the ian atmosphere. The hotel’s cuisine is renowned throughout Eu - musical and emotional rope, and an indoor pool is situated on the penthouse floor with an high point of the work” open balcony for sunbathing. The ideal location is only two blocks (New Grove Dictionary from the opera house and a short walk from the central Marien - of Opera ), and the final platz shopping area. For many reasons, the Vier Jahreszeiten re - scene as Senta’s ecstatic mains everyone’s first choice in Munich. As there will be a outcries redeem the Johan Reuter Catherine performance on our first evening, you may wish to arrive a day early Dutchman from his Naglestad to adjust to the time change. We will be happy to reserve your room eter nal wanderings. for the optional additional night of July 21st, if you notify us soon. Munich’s cast is headed by the Danish Johan Reuter as the Dutchman opposite the American soprano Catherine Nagle- stad as Senta, Korean tenor Wookyung Kim as Erik, and Fin nish bass Matti Salminen as Daland. The con ductor is Asher Fisch , and the production is directed by with sets designed by Johannes Leiacker .

Saturday morning, July 23rd, is left free for you to recover from jet lag. In the early afternoon, a two-hour walking tour will in - troduce you to the historical center of Munich, encompassing the Gothic Frauenkirche (‘Church of our Lady’), the Hof - brauhaus, Odensplatz with the Field Marshall’s Hall, and the Residenzplatz. Our walk will conclude at the Arzmiller Café for the German tradition of afternoon coffee and cake , where the Dorothea seasonal specialty is an irresistible ‘zwetschgendatschi’ (Dam - Röschmann son plum tart).

At At 7:00 pm on Saturday evening, our perform - ance in the National Theater will be the Bay - erische Staatsoper’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni . The libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte in - spired Mozart to reach his operatic pinnacle in this classic work, which will be revived in the produc - tion directed by Stephan Kimmig and designed by Katja Hasst . Conductor James Gaffigan will Pavol Breslik lead an international cast of experienced Mozart - eans featuring the sexy title portrayal of Uruguayan bass Erwin Schrott and a trio of his soprano con - quests – Albina Shagimuratova as Donna Anna, Dorothea Röschmann as Donna Elvira, and Eri Nakamura as Zerlina. The handsome Czech tenor Pavol Breslik will be heard as Don Ot - tavio, and bass Ain Anger will be the Commendatore. Nationaltheater, home of Bavarian State Opera 10 Sunday, July 24th, is free during the day for independent activi - ties. During our several free mornings and afternoons, you should spend some time strol - ling through the woods and fields of the spacious English Garden , where the local popu - lation enjoys nude swimming and sunbathing along the fast- running waters of the River. Also not to be missed are the ’s priceless English Garden collection of European masters, re-opened in l998 after ex - tensive renovation; the Neue Pina ko thek , in a modern cir - Fra Filippo Lippi’s Annunciation in the Alte Pinakothek cular gallery of unusual architectural beauty; and the museum of classical antiquities. Munich also of - fers a wide variety of international boutiques and designer shops. Monday evening is free for independent dining at one of Munich’s Early Sunday evening, a pre-opera dinner many fine restaurants within easy walking distance of the hotel. will be arranged at the Spatenhaus , Munich’s The concierge desk will be happy to assist you with recommenda - popular Bavarian restaurant directly across tions and reservations. No performance this evening. the square from the National Theater. Tuesday, July 26th , Sunday evening’s 7:00 pm performance will be is left free for your the eagerly awaited new production of Mefis - own museum vis - tofele . Arrigo Boito’s version of the leg - its and other activ - ities in Munich. Kristine Opolais end was premiered at in 1868 and is a ‘tour de force’ for a great bass in the title role. Norman Treigle and Samuel Ramey triumphed At 6:00 pm on with their dramatic portrayals, and tonight will Tues day (early cur - be a similar occasion for the consummate Ger - tain) , we will at - man bass René Pape . The stellar cast will also tend the new offer Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais as pro d uction of Jean- Margherita and the Maltese tenor Joseph Philippe Rameau’s Calleja as Faust. With the extended choral Les Indes Gal an - prelude and a series of memorable arias for all tes (‘The Amor - René Pape three principals, Boito’s ‘Mefistofele’ has al - ous Indies’) at ways struck this writer as a markedly more en - Munich’s Prinz regenten theater . Premiered in in 1735, this gaging opera than Gounod’s popular version. Munich’s new staging opera-ballet is char acteristic of the French Baroque genre, with will be directed by Roland Schwab and designed by Piero Vin - dance divertissements, orchestral interludes, and an exotic plot ciguerra , and the conductor is Omer Meir Wellber . set in the Indies. “Rameau’s magnificent response to this material raised the traditionally lightweight genre to a new level. . . It is the Because of the two important Wagner operas on our program, we grace and variety of the airs and dances that impress most.” (New have planned an early morning excursion on Monday, July 25th Grove Dictionary of Opera). Britain’s esteemed ‘early music’ spe - (when most museums are closed) to Linderhof . Situated in a beauti - cialist Ivor Bolton is the conductor, and the ensemble cast will in - fully landscaped park designed by Carl von Effer, Linderhof lies clude , Joélle Harvey, , Goran about an hour south of Munich and is the smallest of the three Juri, and Matthias Vidal . The direction and choreography is by palaces built in the 1870’s by ‘mad’ Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui . For this rar - King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig ity, it will be a pleasure for us to ex - was passionately devoted to Wagner perience a performance in the and created the Venus Grotto Prinzregententheater’s ‘neo-Bay - (‘Tann häuser’), Hunding’s Hut reuth’ audi torium, which was the (‘Die Walküre), and the Gurnemanz first theater re-opened in Munich Hermitage (‘’) at different after the destruction of World War II. sites in the park. Versailles was the in - spiration for the Rococo palace, but On Wednesday, July 27th, we will Linderhof is relatively intimate with enjoy an unusual full-day excur - only four main rooms to visit – the sion into the countryside about a dazzling hall of mirrors, the audience half-hour to the west of Munich. chamber, the dining room, and the Our first visit will be to Schloss tapestry chambers. (We expect to Lust heim , a charming Bavarian avoid excessive crowds by arriving in Palace containing a priceless collec - time for the morning opening.) tion of Meissen and other European Linderhof 11 porcelains. We will also visit the grander Schloss Schleissheim in the same park, which houses gal - leries of German paintings and Rubens in the vast res - idential apartments. Upstairs is a grand entrance hall in sparkling white stucco and an exquisite small con - cert hall. Lustheim and Schleissheim are both off the beaten track of most tourists. In between the two visits, a light lunch will be served at the inviting Kurfürst Restaurant nearby the palaces.

Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm, an Italian highlight of the Opera Festival will be the new production of ’s, Un Ballo in Maschera . This ‘mid - dle Verdi’ opera is filled with melodic arias and duets – one of the composer’s most extended and exhilarating love duets – and ensembles. Among the most memo - rable passages are Amelia’s poignant ‘Morrò, ma prima Schloss Schleissheim; gallery in grazia’, Riccardo’s barcarolle ‘Di’ tu se fedele’ and romanza ‘Ma se m’è forza perderti’, and Renato’s vengeful ‘Eri tu’ – all culminating in the the tragic dénouement of Riccardo’s as - sassination at the colorful masked ball. The Bayerische Staatsoper has assembled a thrilling cast, showcasing this writer’s favorite Verdi soprano Anja Harteros as Amelia (fol - lowing her incandescent Elizabetta in ‘Don Carlo’ and her Leonora in ‘Forza del Destino’ de signs by Aleksandar Deni . “The during the past two years), the sought-after only comedy among Wagner’s mature Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as the finest Ric - works, ‘Die Meistersinger’ is a rich, per - cardo since Pavarotti, and the elegant British ceptive music drama widely admired baritone Simon Keenlyside in one of his sig - Schloss Lustheim for its warm humanity… Its genial as - nature roles as Renato. Contralto Okka von der Damerau as the pect is immensely enhanced by the technical mastery displayed by fortune-teller Ulrica and lyric soprano Sofia Fomina in the Wagner at the height of his powers.” ( New Grove Dictionary of Opera ) ‘trouser’ role of Oscar will complete the principals. The Italianate conductor is Daniele Callegari , and the new production is by di - Friday, July 29th, departure from Munich Air - rector Johannes Erath with scenic designs by Heike Scheele . port at 12:05 pm on Lufthansa flight #410, which is scheduled to arrive at New York’s Before our very long Kennedy Airport at 3:00 pm. Or independent opera on Thursday af - departure. ternoon, July 28th, a late lunch is planned at Pfister mühle , a highly recommended local Wolfgang Koch rest aurant a short walk Munich from the hotel. Singled out by the NY Times in Price per person, Piotr Beczala Simon Keenlyside a culinary article, this based on double occupancy $ 5,900* ‘friendly, dignified, old-fashioned restaurant’ serves excellent fresh Single supplement $ 890** fish ‘from the lakes and rivers of Bavaria’. Air fare NOT included . At 5:00 pm (early curtain) on Thursday, July 28th, our Munich op - eratic immersion will culminate with the new production of Richard *Our price is higher than in recent years, be - Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg . Widely regarded cause we are including six performances with Kyrill Petrenko as the greatest comedy in the German operatic repertoire, ‘Meis - Premium ticket prices reflecting the major tersinger’ is being mounted in a new production which is already stars (Kaufmann, Harteros, Pape, Beczala, Opolais, Keenlyside, completely sold out to ‘aficionados’ who know that Jonas Kauf - Calleja, Schrott, Rösch mann, Petrenko, etc.). mann will be singing the pivotal role of Walther von Stolzing. Mr. Kaufmann’s previous Wagnerian triumphs as Lohengrin and Sieg - **We regret the high single supplement during high season. How - mund have whetted the music-world’s appetite to hear him as ever, all single travelers will accommodated in comfortable ‘double Walther. The German bass-baritone Wolfgang Koch will portray rooms for single occupancy’. the poet Hans Sachs, with the young American soprano Sara Jakubiak as Eva and German baritone Johannes Martin Krän - Airfare: Prices are subject to change, depending on time of book - zle as Beckmesser. The conductor is Music Director Kyrill Pe - ing. Please contact our agent Linda Botros (see back-page cover) trenko , and the new staging is directed by David Bösch with set for lowest current fares. 12