2017/18
28 June 2018 | Members’ concert 2018
For this year’s members’ concert, the musicians of the Staatskapelle Berlin left the opera house in order to play for the Friends & Supporters at the picturesquely situated event location at Wannsee. After their performance, we enjoyed the rest of the summer evening with a Mediterranean grill buffet overlooking the glittering water and celebrated the first season of the new Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
23 June 2018 | Benefit evening at Villa Jacobs
By sending out invitations to a benefit summer evening at Villa Jacobs – located at the Jungfernsee – Marianne and Stefan Ludes thanked all those who have generously supported the Staatskapelle Berlin’s orchestra academy with an extra donation. Founded by Daniel Barenboim, the academy has won great international renown ever since its formation and celebrates its 20th anniversary this season: 29 young musicians play music alongside the Staatskapelle Berlin, performing in numerous operas and concerts that are led by prestigious conductors. All donations collected on occasion of the benefit evening will flow into the funding of scholarships for young people whose dreams of a life for and with music will thereby come a little closer. Needless to say, the evening’s musical program was led by the young artists of the academy: three students presented a selection of impressionist works by Debussy, Fauré and Caplet for flute, viola and harp. Furthermore, soprano singer Sarah Aristidou – who is also a member of the Internationales Opernstudio der Staatsoper Unter den Linden – performed on stage. During the reception on the terrace of Villa Jacobs, the guests enjoyed a view of the Jungfernsee and a dinner with cheerful talks in the presence of the artists afterwards.
PHOTO GALLERY
5 June 2018 | General Assembly 2018
This year’s member’s meeting of the Freunde und Förderer der Staatsoper will take place on 5 June 2018 in the Probebühne 1 at 7.00 p.m. After the meeting, a reception in the beautiful courtyard rounded off the evening.
15 May 2018 | Exhibition and book launch at the Ephraim-Palais
Our member, the Werner-Viktor Toeffling Foundation, invited us on another discovery tour through Berlin: at the Ephraim-Palais museum, curator Prof. Dr. Dominik Bartmann presented selected art works – from the 19th century until today – to us which offer extraordinary insight into the urban and social structures of Berlin, including paintings by artist and set designer Werner-Viktor Toeffling whose life was also subject to a talk held by Dr. Kurt Winkler. The director of the House of Brandenburg-Prussian History furthermore gave an introduction to the book »BühneSzeneRaum«.
12 May 2018 | City walk through Lichterfelde West
Every year, our volunteer Ingeborg Fischbeck embarks on a historical city walk with Friends and Supporters. This time, we headed for the villa colony in the heart of Lichterfelde which combines diverse architectural styles and leaded us on a beautiful stroll through cobblestone alleys, little courts and enchanted gardens.
5 – 8 May 2018 | Member’s trip to Vienna
On our exclusive member’s trip to Vienna, we visited the Wiener Staatsoper to experience Verdi’s »Simon Boccanegra« staged by Peter Stein. Furthermore, we attended the Staatskapelle Berlin’s impressive concert – joined by Martha Argerich at the grand piano and conducted by maestro Daniel Barenboim – in one of the most gorgeous and acoustically best halls of the world: the Wiener Musikverein. After Matthias Schulz welcomed our tour group with an exclusive reception during the break, we met up with musicians of the Staatskapelle to share a glass of wine after the concert.
There’s even more to come: although the final rehearsals of »Samson et Dalila« were taking place in the meantime, Clemens Unterreiner – baritone of the Wiener Staatsoper – guided us on a personal tour through the building leading right onto the legendary stage. Being allowed to have a rare look into the backstage area, we suddenly found ourselves in the opera’s warm-up room where the greatest singers both the present and the past prepare(d) for their performances.
Visiting the Institute of Applied Art and its department of stage design marked another highlight on our trip. The designers and Univ. Prof. Mag. art Bernard Kleber, alongside his students, warmly greeted us with exciting insights into the art and studies of stage design. The encounter between opera audience and stage design students resulted in a highly interesting dialogue – and the realization that we have to delve into this exchange of ideas much more often in the future.
28 April 2018 | Staatsoper zum Kinopreis: »Les pêcheurs de perles«
The grandmaster of German film, Wim Wenders, has brought Georges Bizet's masterpiece »Les pêcheurs de perles« to the stage of the Staatsoper Berlin. Thanks to your donations and membership fees, 300 young opera fans under the age of 35 have the opportunity to visit the »Staatsoper zum Kinopreis«! – it means to the cinema price of 8, - €. The ticket sale starts immediately at our office.
27 + 28 April 2018 | 12th International Opera Weekend Berlin 2018
35 young opera friends from all around Europe attended the 12th International Opera Weekend in Berlin on the 27 and 28 April 2018. All of them seized the opportunity to discover the newly renovated Staatsoper Unter den Linden with a performance of »Les pêcheurs de perles« and experience a clarinet concert by the Berliner Philharmoniker. Besides musical highlights, the participants were able to take a look behind the scenes on a guided tour through the Staatsoper and its rehearsal rooms, as well as discuss Berlin’s cultural life during cozy meetings and receptions.
PHOTO GALELRY
24 April 2018 | Salon for the Staatsoper with the American Friends in New York
The fact that the Staatsoper‘s American Friends have established an enthusiastic and energetic circle in the United States of America spectacularly shone through at their last event: on 24 April 2018, German consul general David Gill and his wife Sheila Shrivastava invited to a salon for the Staatsoper in the newly renovated representative office on Park Avenue – around 100 guests followed the invitation and occupied every single seat. Michael Volle – most recently performing as Falstaff during the FESTTAGE – opened the evening while renowned American director Barlett Sher – who will stage “Rigletto” in season 2018/19 – mingled with the audience. Matthias Schulz embarked on an extra journey across the Atlantic in order to introduce the coming season’s program and recommend a visit to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden as well. During the following reception, many travelling plans were made – we are looking forward to welcoming the American Friends in Berlin soon!
March 2018 | Our program for the FESTTAGE 2018
The FESTTAGE 2018 came up with a very successful premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's opera »Falstaff«. The opera program was supplemented by Richard Wagner's »Parsifal«. Singers such as Barbara Frittoli and Michael Volle as well as Nina Stemme and René Pape were stunning. The concerts in the Berlin Philharmonie focused on Mahler and Debussy. Daniel Barenboim, the Staatskapelle Berlin, Martha Argerich and the Wiener Philharmoniker are always guarantors of extraordinary musical experiences.
Once again, we have invited our members and guests of the FESTTAGE to enrich their visit of the spectacular performances with further special events and to personally get to know the top class artists. We also visited exciting places in the city of Berlin and looked behind the scenes of opera.
The complete program:
ZwischenTöne: Artist talk with Mario Martone
Guided tours over the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Guided tour The Feuerle Collection
Guided tour Bundeskanzleramt
Guided tour Schloss Bellevue und Bundespräsidialamt
Guided tour Sammlung Boros
ZwischenTöne: Artist talk with Nina Stemme
General Rehearsal Staatskapelle Berlin, Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim
15 March 2018 | Presentation of the Season 2018/19
As the new artistic director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Matthias Schulz presented his first season to the public on 15 March 2018. We consider it a major honor that he made time for the Friends and Patrons to personally introduce the opera and concert program to them. Anna Prohaska, soloist of the Staatsoper ensemble, and Jiyoon Lee, concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Berlin, provided a foretaste for the new season with brilliant musical contributions. At Südliche Weinstraße’s invitation, we celebrated with a glass of wine and a reception at the patisserie.
12 March 2018 | Barock-Salon
In the autumn of 2018, a special highlight will be awaiting all friends and lovers of baroque music: the new BAROCKTAGE at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Before the public presentation, Matthias Schulz will exclusively introduce his ideas and plans for this opera and concert genre to our patrons.
Thanks to the invitation of Timo Daus and Stephan Danner – patron at the Friends and Sponsors – we were already able to gather in an intimate circle at the Barock-Salon on 12 March 2018. Gyula Orendt, member of the ensemble, joined the evening with arias by Jean-Philipp Rameau.
21 February 2018 | Final Concert: International Opera Studio
The International Opera Studio of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden has already been established for a century. Initiated by Daniel Barenboim as well as led by Boris Anifantakis, the institution has become a success story eversince as more than 30 young singers already passed the two-year training. Many of them grace the stages of internationally acclaimed opera houses today – including performances as soloists or guests at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden: in an anniversary concert on 13 February, we were able to admire songs, arias and ensemble scenes of former as well as present studio members. Our engagement to intensely support young and highly talented singers was worthwhile – we could hear it and see it during that special evening at the Apollosaal!
As the International Opera Studio is being made possible by the Liz Mohn Kultur- und Musikstiftung for many years, we were very happy to invite our Patrons to the reception at the Bertelsmann representative office afterwards.
14 Februar 2018 | Welcome evening: Friends meet Friends in »La Traviata«
It is always a special concern for us, to welcome our new members among the opera friends and meet them in person. And what better way to do so than a collective opera visit? Before we visited Dieter Dorn’s production of »La Traviata«, we welcomed new and long-time members at the exclusive Meyerbeersalon in the course of the »Welcome evening: Friends meet Friends«. As a surprise guest, the new director of the Staatsoper, Matthias Schulz, came by and gave an overview of the new season 2018/19.
7 December 2017 | 275 years of the Staatsoper & 25 years of sponsors and friends
For 25 years, the friends and sponsors have accompanied the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. We celebrated this special anniversary on 7 December 2017 as part of the festive concert for the 275th birthday of the Staatsoper in the circle of members. Here you can review the atmospheric anniversary evening:
PHOTOS ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPONSORS AND FRIENDS
ANNIVERSARY BOOKLET 25 YEARS OF SPONSORS AND FRIENDS (4.70 MB, pdf)
10 to 12 November 2017 | Weekend at Schloss Neuhardenberg
The Schloss Neuhardenberg is not only known for its atmosphere, the wonderful Lenné-park, but also for its qualitative cultural offerings. From 10 to 12 November our members were able to take long walks, enjoy the quiet and experience the concert by south-african-british violinist Daniel Hope at the Schinkel-Kirche. He was accompanied by the renowned Orchester l’arte del mondo, which specializes in the presentation of old music played on historic instruments. The program included four forgotten pieces from Vivaldi which were found by Daniel Hope during his research. Previously, we dined an exquisite dinner in the castle, where the exclusive Meet & Greet with Daniel Hope took place. He took time to talk to the friends and supporters about the rediscovered pieces and the extraordinary atmosphere of this special concert evening.
4 October 2017 | General Rehearsal for seat sponsors
On 4 October all seat sponsors were invited to visit the general rehearsal of the first subscription concert of the Staatskapelle Berlin and to take a seat on their own chair.
22 September 2017 | Walk through Berlin Mitte
On the occasion of the reopening of the Staatsoper, our volunteer Ingeborg Fischbeck will devote herself to one the district in the middle of Berlin, this particular district where every epoch has left visible traces. The development and redevelopment of a district in the heart of the city is the focus of their popular city walks. Mrs. Fischbeck shows you some of the oldest preserved buildings in Berlin, for example the baroque Nicolaihaus or the historic gallows house, as well as the new buildings around the Hausvogteiplatz. The walk is free of charge, but we kindly ask for a donation in favor of the Staatsoper. Please register until 8 September.
17 September 2017 | Guided tours through the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Considering the long awaited return of the Staatsoper, we invite you to tours through the freshly renovated opera house. Explore the Staatsoper Unter den Linden right before its reopening and find out about the various opportunities one of the most modern opera houses in the world – all combined within its historical gown. Not only to the tours give you the opportunity to take a glimpse into the audience hall, but you also get to take a walk on the stage and discover the new rehearsal center. All tours are free of charge, but donations in favor of the Staatsoper are very welcome. Please register until 1 September.