2021/22

8 July 2022 | Benefit summer evening at Villa Jacobs

At the beginning of July, Marianne and Stefan Ludes once again opened their home for a benefit summer evening. Idyllically situated on the shores of Lake Jungfernsee, the Villa Jacobs library provided space for an exclusive, downright intimate concert. Jiyoon Lee, 1st concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Berlin joined pianist Elisaveta Blumina to present two musically quite different sonatas for violin and piano, one by Mozart and one by Ravel. Ensemble member Victoria Randem, accompanied by Matthias Samuil, took the guests on a very emotional, moving journey with Grieg’s song cycle »HAUGTUSSA« (The Girl from the Mountains) and was only released after two encores for the evening. We would like to thank the host couple Ludes very much for this unforgettable evening for the benefit of the International Opera Studio and all guests who donated for this cause.

1 – 3 July 2022 | International Opera Weekend

After a forced break of two years, we were finally able to invite young opera fans to an International Opera Weekend in Berlin together with Juvenilia, the European Network of Young Opera Friends. Almost 30 young opera fans under 35 years of age from all over Europe accepted the invitation. In addition to performance visits of Puccini’s »La fanciulla del West« and »Turandot«, the program also included an architectural and historical tour around and about the Potsdamer Platz as well as a night tour of the opera house and the rehearsal center. Restaurant and bar visits rounded out the event. Another highlight was the opportunity to briefly go on stage after the performance of »La fanciulla del West« and take a group photo with the cast. We thank everyone who helped make this possible!

26 June 2022 | Richard Wagner in Berlin

With dramaturge Christoph Lang, we went on a search for Wagner’s places of work and walked through the center of Berlin. Starting at the Bundestag, where we discussed the copyright of Wagner’s works, we continued to the current location of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin on Unter den Linden, where we learned more about the extensive collection of Wagner’s theoretical writings, which are to be understood as the superstructure of his musical work. Passing today’s Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt, where the first performance of a Wagner work in Berlin took place in 1844 with »Der fliegende Holländer«, we continued to the site of the historic Victoria Theater on the corner of Münzstraße and Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße, where the »Ring« was first performed in Berlin in 1881. Of course, Berlin-related anecdotes from the private lives of Cosima and Richard Wagner were not to be missed.

For those who could not join:

The walk includes a total of 10 stations between Tiergarten and Alexanderplatz and can be walked independently as an audio tour. The information on the individual stations is available as an audio file on the website of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

» Audiowalk »Wagners Berlin«

18 + 19 June 2022 | Staatsoper für Alle

At last, STAATSOPER FÜR ALLLE lived up to its name again – because it was for everyone who simply dropped by, with no restrictions on seating capacity or even ticket requirements, and with the most beautiful summer weather as well as free admission. On Saturday evening, the premiere of the new production of Puccini’s »Turandot« with its powerful images and voices was broadcast on the big screen on Bebelplatz and celebrated there just as enthusiastically as in the house. This was followed on Sunday by the traditional live concert of the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim. The program with symphonies by Schumann and Tchaikovsky was celebrated with standing ovations and was complemented with the »Polonaise« from Tchaikovsky’s opera »Eugene Onegin« as an encore.

13 June 2022 | General Assembly

At this year’s annual General Assembly, we looked back on a Corona-related but nevertheless successful year 2021, and ahead to upcoming major projects. The board was unanimously discharged by the numerous members present, and after musical contributions by members of the Orchestra Academy, we ended the evening with a reception and numerous nice conversations in the Apollosaal.

12 June 2022 | The »Ring« at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

The »Ring« tetralogy has a long tradition at the house. In an informative but no less passionate lecture, chief dramaturge Detlef Giese gave an overview of the history of the »Ring des Nibelungen« at the Hof- and Staatsoper Unter den Linden from the 1880s to the present day. The contribution was complemented and accompanied by projected images and recorded sounds from all of the house’s »Ring« productions. A short coffee break was followed by a tour of the rehearsal center, where preparations for the new production of Wagner’s »Ring« were already in full swing.

29 May 2022 | On Wagner’s Instrumentation

Another event in our special Wagner program took a very close look at the instrumentation of Wagner’s »Ring«. Together with musicians from the Staatskapelle Berlin, dramaturge Christoph Lang analysed the diverse sound world of the »Ring«. Short motifs of violin, double bass, percussion, horn and clarinet were presented as examples. Of course, the Wagner tuba and anvils were not to be missed. In one and a half hours, the audience thus gained a detailed insight into the musical peculiarities of what is probably Richard Wagner’s greatest work.

22 May 2022 | Festive benefit concert

On Wagner’s birthday, our members enjoyed a benefit concert by Gabriela Scherer, Natalia Skrycka and Michael Volle for the new production of Wagner’s »Der Ring des Nibelungen«. Accompanied by Klaus Sallmann at the piano, the singers presented selected arias and songs of the great composer and took our guests on an extraordinary musical journey through Wagner’s oevre from »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg« to the »Ring«. At the subsequent reception, not only Richard Wagner’s birthday was celebrated, but also the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Association of Friends & Supporters.

26 April 2022 | Friends & Supporters at »CouchKultur«

After the digital edition in 2021, some events of the talk series »CouchKultur« took place in presence this year. We invited members of the network Junge Kulturvereine Berlin to the old orchestra rehearsal hall of the Staatsoper to listen to an exciting conversation on the topic of »The International Opera Studio – talent factory of future singing stars« and to ask their own questions. Boris Anifantakis, director of the studio, and mezzo-soprano Anna Kissjudit, a member and scholarship holder of the studio, spoke about its concept and development, the content of the teaching and revealed one or two anecdotes. Of course, the guests were not dismissed into the evening without also hearing Anna sing.

FESTTAGE 2022

After a two-year break, the FESTTAGE were fortunately able to take place again this year in their usual setting. From April 6 to 17, 2022, they were entirely dedicated to Mozart. As part of the accompanying special program, we welcomed Vincent Huguet, director of the Mozart-Da Ponte cycle consisting of »Cosí fan tutte«, »Le nozze di Figaro« and »Don Giovanni«, to our talk format »ZwischenTöne« in the Apollosaal. We also repeatedly offered guided tours of the permanent exhibition of the Neue Nationalgalerie and a walking tour through the historic Berlin. Guided tours of the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof with a visit to the James Turrell Light House and the Brecht-Weigel Museum rounded off the extensive program.

4 April 2022 | Presentation 2022/23 Season

Every year, our members get an exclusive program presentation of the next season by Matthias Schulz, Intendant of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. This year this could finally take place again in presence in the Apollosaal. Moderated by Petra Gute, Matthias Schulz and chief dramaturge Detlef Giese presented the highlights of the opera and concert program for the 2022/23 season. For the talk about the new production of Wagner’s »Der Ring des Nibelungen«, they were joined by Michael Volle, who will play the role of Wotan. Smaller musical contributions came from Anna Kissjudit, who is moving from the International Opera Studio to the Staatsoper’s soloists ensemble for the 2022/23 season and will take on the role of Erda in the »Ring« right at the beginning of the season, and the horn section of the Opera Children’s Orchestra. At the reception that followed, we ended the evening with our members.

10 February 2022 | Die Winterreise

At the beginning of the year, our Master Builder Sandra Mann invited to an exclusive concert in Potsdam. In the venerable Palais am Stadthaus, in keeping with the wintry cold weather, the guests enjoyed Schubert’s »Winterreise«, performed by baritone Michael Volle and Intendant Matthias Schulz at the piano. At the reception that followed, all guests took advantage of the opportunity to exchange ideas. The proceeds of this benefit concert went to the new production of Wagner’s »Der Ring des Nibelungen«. We would like to sincerely thank Sandra Mann for the invitation and the magical evening in Potsdam, as well as all donors for their contribution.

8 December 2021 | »ZwischenTöne« with Victoria Randem & Linard Vrielink

On December 8, 2021, we welcomed Victoria Randem and Linard Vrielink, who give voice to the main characters Alida and Asle in »Sleepless«, to digital »ZwischenTöne«. In conversation with dramaturge Jana Beckmann, the two former fellows of the International Opera Studio were full of praise for the production in general, and in particular with regard to their collaboration with composer Peter Eötvös and director Kornél Mundruczó. They spoke about their emotionally demanding roles, their handling of tension and pressure before the premiere on November 28, 2021, and their progression from the opera studio to their respective leading roles. Dramaturge Jana Beckmann also spoke about her work, comparing repertory pieces and world premieres. We sincerely thank our three interviewees for their time and their openness.

October & November 2021 | Guided tours Neue Nationalgalerie

On four days, we welcomed our members to a total of eight exclusive guided tours through the permanent exhibition »The Art of Society« of the reopened Neue Nationalgalerie. Our guide Thomas R. Hoffmann designed the tour especially for us. In his approximately one-hour tour, the focus was on works in which either the biography of the artist or the artwork being viewed resonated with relationships to music. Among other things, the tour dealt with the triad in the Bauhaus and in painting, as well as Rudolf Belling’s sculpture »Dreiklang« (Triad). Works by Belling, Kandinsky, Picasso, Beckmann, Dix and Kirchner – to name just a few of the artists currently on display in the permanent exhibition in Mies van der Rohe’s newly restored iconic museum building – were juxtaposed with German Expressionism and French Cubism. The classification in socio-political contexts of the time of origin opened the eyes for the respective work. And those who really see understand better.

We thank Thomas R. Hoffmann from the bottom of our hearts for the guided tour he developed, for his time, for the lively and interesting mediation and for answering every question about any work in the exhibition.

30 October 2021 | Opera Dinners Berlin Edition

On October 30, another Berlin Edition of Opera Dinners took place, to which we invited our Young Friends. After the success in fall 2019, our member and former Apollo Felix Elkmann invited young opera fans to a matinée in the Apollosaal and to a soirée in Clärchens Ballhaus. At 12 noon, things got underway in the Apollosaal with “Champagne & Currywurst”. “The Phantom of the Opera” was the theme of the dinner, which began at 8 pm in the Hall of Mirrors of Clärchen’s Ballhaus - stylishly dressed in Venetian masks and evening gowns. Musical contributions by young artists from all over the world rounded off both program items.

We thank Felix Elkmann for the great concept, which connects especially young people in this extraordinary way with the (state) opera world and for the organization, we thank all the artists for partly traveling so far, and also all guests who made the day so special.

17 October 2021 | Open sunday for the Staatsoper at Dussmann - Das KulturKaufhaus

On October 17, a good tradition was continued at the open Sunday for the benefit of the Staatsoper at Dussmann – Das KulturKaufhaus. From 1 pm to 6 pm, artists from the Staatsoper performed on the KulturBühne and in the open atrium. LindenBrass, the brass ensemble of the Staatskapelle Berlin, played pieces ranging from Mozart to jazz, the woodwind section of the Opernkinderorchester (Opera Children’s Orchestra) presented itself and chief dramaturge Detlef Giese elicited interesting facts and anecdotes from choir director Martin Wright about this year’s 200th anniversary and his work with the Staatsopernchor. On the KulturBühne, our Board of Curators member Marianne Ludes presented her newly published book »Ludwig Jacobs oder das verschwundene Leben«, with references to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who left many traces in Berlin as a composer and conductor. Afterwards, Detlef Giese and two talents from the International Opera Studio read and sang letters and songs by Clara and Robert Schumann, before a discussion with artistic director Matthias Schulz about the BAROCKTAGE 2021 concluded the program. We would like to thank all customers whose purchases support the choir’s anniversary, to which the day’s proceeds will go.

To photo galery

18 & 19 September 2021 | Staatsoper für Alle

The 15th edition of STAATSOPER FÜR ALLE on Bebelplatz welcomed 4,000 guests on both days. Since the beginnings of STAATSOPER FÜR ALLE in 2007, admission has always been free of charge.

On Saturday evening, the audience premiere of the new production of Mozart’s »Le nozze di Figaro« in the production of Vincent Huguet and under the musical direction of Daniel Barenboim was broadcast live outside on Bebelplatz. On Sunday, the live concert with the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsopernchor, conducted by Martin Wright and Daniel Barenboim, celebrated its 200th anniversary. To mark the anniversary, the concert program included great opera choruses from Richard Wagner’s »Tannhäuser« and »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg«, Carl Maria von Weber’s »Der Freischütz« and Giuseppe Verdi’s »Macbeth«, followed by Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2. The concert was also streamed live worldwide at www.staatskapelle-berlin.de and www.staatsoper-berlin.de.

18 September 2021 | Benefit Soiree in Dreieich

As last year, Sonja Fuhrmann and Holger Röder invited to a musical soiree at their home in Dreieich. The musical highlights were set by mezzo-soprano Anna Kissjudit and tenor Magnus Dietrich, both members of the International Opera Studio, accompanied by Markus Zugehör on the grand piano. The program included songs by Hugo Wolf and Richard Wagner, among others, well-known pieces from the current opera repertoire of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and, at the end, wonderful operetta sounds.

The proceeds of the evening will be used to support young singing talents at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. We thank the hosts from the bottom of our hearts for bringing the State Opera to Hesse every year with this format.

7 September 2021 | Benefit Concert with KlimaSalon

Our patrons Alexandra Kornilova and Jochen Wermuth do not only care about music. They are also committed to a future-oriented climate policy. On September 7, 2021, Alexandra Kornilova and Jochen Wermuth once again invited us to a benefit concert, this time followed by a Climate Salon in Berlin-Mitte.

We were enchanted by a concert of the 1st Concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Berlin Jiyoon Lee accompanied by pianist Yannick Rafalimanana and Anna Kissjudit, mezzo-soprano in the International Opera Studio, who was accompanied by Markus Zugehör on the piano.

We sincerely thank the hosts as well as all dedicated donors for the proceeds totaling just over € 20.000, which will benefit the Orchester des Wandels and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's new »Sustainable Listening« format.

5 September 2021 | Walk through the historical Berlin

On September 5, we took a walk through baroque Berlin in beautiful late summer weather. Chief dramaturge Detlef Giese led us through the historic center of the city, past important monuments and places steeped in history. On the tour from the Staatsoper and the buildings on Bebelplatz, on to Gendarmenmarkt and the Französische Friedrichstadtkirche, over to the Ribbeckhaus and the new building of the Stadtschloss with its historicizing façade, a little way along the Spree to Dorotheenstadt, to the Zeughaus and back to the Staatsoper, the Berlin of the 17th and 18th centuries, of the Brandenburg Electors and Prussian Kings became tangible. We sincerely thank Detlef Giese for his time and his detailed explanations, in which he excitingly connected political and musical history of the city.

30 August 2021 | General Assembly

We were very pleased about your numerous participation in the General Assembly and the subsequent exchange in the Apollosaal. The Board was unanimously discharged by the members for the years 2019 and 2020, Ulrich Maas was confirmed as chairman and Tanja Müller-Ziegler was elected as new deputy chairwoman. We would also like to welcome Oliver Renner, Head of Communications Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, as a new member of the Board of Curators.

We would like to thank the harpist Güneş Hizlilar from the Orchestra Academy at the Staatskapelle Berlin for the enchanting musical performance.

28 August 2021 | »ZwischenTöne« with Aleksandra Kurzak & Roberto Alagna

On August 27, 2021, we had the pleasure of meeting two greats of the opera world in person: Two days before the revival of »Madama Butterfly« at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, we chatted with soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and tenor Roberto Alagna, who performed the roles of Cio-Cio-San and Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton. During the conversation moderated by Benjamin Wäntig, dramaturge at the State Opera, and the subsequent dinner at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, we learned that »Madama Butterfly« is Aleksandra Kurzak’s favorite opera and that the role of Cio-Cio-San touched her even more deeply after the birth of her daughter. Roberto Alagna told us how he feels about the role of B. F. Pinkerton and that Giacomo Puccini could not possibly have composed such wonderful music for a character if there was not a spark of goodness in him. The two also talked about the life of a family where six languages are spoken, and which does justice to the operatic life of the parents, as well as the compulsory schooling of the daughter. Among other things, they also revealed who sings at home all the time and who doesn’t. If you missed the »ZwischenTöne« and »Madama Butterfly«, we can reassure you: We will soon see the two likeable superstars again at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Only details we are not allowed to reveal yet.