Media - Munich Opera Festival launched
The Bavarian State Opera kicked off the Munich Opera Festival on a Friday in a unique way - as freshly appointed Opera Intendant Serge Dorny stated at the state reception following the opening, "one of the most unusual premières that the Bavarian State Opera has ever experienced."
Bavaria's Minister of Culture Markus Blume (CSU) described it as a "stunning start" to the festival season.
The opening production was a new staging of "Le Grand Macabre" by composer György Ligeti. Krzysztof Warlikowski directed the relatively young, absurdist opera from 1978 (revised version from 1996) as the fatalistic absurdity it was intended to be. Blume spoke of a "homage to the grotesque." One might ask, "What does it really mean?"
Despite the musically dissonant work challenging the audience, Warlikowski's production received much applause in the end, impressing with its striking set design (Małgorzata Szczęśniak), expressive singers, and an old acquaintance on the podium.
Kent Nagano, who was General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera from 2006 to 2013, returned for the première to his former place of work and was warmly welcomed by the audience.
Speculation about the future leadership of the opera was largely put to rest before the festival began, and the contract extensions for Intendant Serge Dorny and General Music Director Vladimir Jurowski were announced. Dorny's contract was extended for an additional five years, until 2031, while Jurowski's was only extended for two years - until 2028. Blume thanked "the old and new team" at the Friday evening reception. The opera festival runs until July 31.
- Serge Dorny, the newly appointed Opera Intendant of the Bavarian State Opera, mentioned that the opening of the Munich Opera Festival was one of the most unusual premieres in the opera's history.
- The Bavarian State Opera's production of "Le Grand Macabre" by György Ligeti during the festival was described as a "stunning start" by Bavaria's Minister of Culture Markus Blume from the CSU party.
- Director Krzysztof Warlikowski's new staging of "Le Grand Macabre" was met with much applause in the end, despite its musically dissonant work that challenged the audience.
- Kent Nagano, the former General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera from 2006 to 2013, returned for the première and was warmly welcomed by the audience in Munich, Germany.
- The future leadership of the opera was a topic of speculation, but contract extensions for Intendant Serge Dorny and General Music Director Vladimir Jurowski were announced before the festival began, with Dorny's extended until 2031 and Jurowski's until 2028.
- Various festivals, including the Munich Opera Festival, are popular attractions in Bavaria, drawing people from all over Germany and even from other parts of Europe, especially during the summer months in beautiful Bavaria.
