25 March 2024 | »ZwischenTöne« with Tomasz Konieczny

Originally, the Polish bass-baritone, one of the most sought-after Wagner interpreters, did not want to sing at all, but to become an actor. However, one of his professors made it a condition that he take singing lessons at the same time. After his first engagement at the Leipzig Opera it became clear that opera singing would determine his professional career. His passion for acting benefits him on stage. He attaches great importance to understanding the direction of a production in order to develop the character further. In the production of »Der Ring des Nibelungen« by Dmitri Tcherniakov, he doesn’t understand everything, but praises the outstanding work of the assistant directors at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the marvellous Staatskapelle Berlin, the professional support at the house and is very happy to have made his Staatsoper debut under these excellent conditions with a role as big as that of Wotan and Wanderer in two consecutive cycles.

As an avowed Wagnerian, he would like to inspire other singers to dedicate themselves to these roles in the future. In addition to his career as a singer he is also the director of the Baltic Opera Festival in Sopot, Poland, where he has returned a 5,000-seat covered forest stage to its original purpose. He is, of course, looking forward to welcoming many visitors from Berlin and we would also like to visit him in Sopot this summer. We would like to thank our member the M.M.Warburg for the hospitality.

22 March 2024 | »Der RING im Lichte des deutschen Strafrechts« – A musical-satirical »Ring« afternoon

In an unsparing reappraisal of the »Ring«, the fictional author and Gifhorn district judge Ernst von Pidde gives each character in the tetralogy the punishment for their misdeeds. Whether murder or manslaughter, abduction or theft, arson or cruelty to animals: Wagner's gods, heroes and giants do not giants leave no outrage unturned. After the success of previous years the »Staatsstreicher«, tenor Stephan Rügamer, who plays the role of Mime in the »Ring« production and Staatskapelle’s chief clarinettist Matthias Glander took a musical-satirical look at the tetralogy.

The »Staatsstreicher« have joined forces as a viola quartet to perform in this unusual line-up as the »Comedian Violists« to provide a, sometimes tongue-in-cheek comment on their instrument and the core repertoire of »their« Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

20 March 2024 | »Der witzigste bist Du unter den Weisen« – A soiree with Elias Corrinth

As part of our special programme during the FESTTAGE, solo repetiteur and Wagner expert Elias Corrinth offered a musical introduction to the »Ring«. Where are the musical and textual nuclei of the cycle? Why are the textual flashbacks and repetitions in the »Ring« musically even indispensable from a musical point of view? What is the musical connection between Brünnhilde and Fafner? What is the only leitmotif that does not appear in »Götterdämmerung«? Elias Corrinth answered these and many other questions eloquently and charmingly with musical examples in the Apollosaal.

13 March 2024 | »ZwischenTöne« with Rolando Villazón

Rolando Villazón already visited us in 2022 for the premiere of the new production of »Der Ring des Nibelungen«. This year, even more members were able to take part in this artist talk and learned not only about his path to the role of Loge – Daniel Barenboim had called him and asked him to take part in the new production at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden – but also more from his wealth of experience as a singer, artistic director, writer and artist of life. We learnt that he writes and gets inspired everywhere, that his books are autobiographical and non-autobiographical at the same time, that he feels like a stranger wherever he is and that home is the place where he is. We also we talked about musical education and the importance of art and culture in society. »The best things I experienced in my childhood came from music, literature and art« said Rolando. Music is a universal language, not an addition, but a necessity, Villazón continued. It is the responsibility of all of us to pass this on to future generations. We absolutely agree.

28 November 2023 | Preview Grisebach Winter Auction

Our Young Friends had the special opportunity to take an exclusive tour of the exhibition for the winter auction at Grisebach. Traute Meins, Sandra Espig and Luca Joel Meinert guided our APOLLOS through the four floors, past works by Magritte, Nolde, Beckmann, Chagall, Liebermann and Warhol to the valuable »Karlsruher Skizzenbuch« by Caspar David Friedrich - one of only six surviving copies worldwide. We learned a lot about the art trade in general and the activities of an auction house. We ended the evening in front of the fireplace with wine, conversation and good humor. Many thanks to our APOLLO Luca Joel Meinert and the Grisebach team for the invitation, the great tour and an all-round successful, informative evening.

25. November – 3. December 2023 | Staatskapelle Berlin on tour in Canada and the US

Three conductors, four music centers in North America, six concerts celebrated with standing ovations: this is the summary of the very successful tour in Canada and the USA, which took the Staatskapelle Berlin to Toronto, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia from November 25 to December 3 with the four symphonies by Johannes Brahms. All six concerts were enthusiastically celebrated with huge entusiasm by the audience.

»It was an incredibly great experience for the Staatskapelle Berlin to work with three conductors on an international concert tour in such a dense period of time, all of whom worked out very different and extremely exciting interpretations with the orchestra in a very short space of time. But the wonderful sound of the Staatskapelle Berlin remained. This was ‘spontaneous’ music-making at the very highest level and something that can hardly be planned in this form. The reactions of the audience showed that there was something special in the air. [...]«, says Matthias Schulz.

Some of our members took the opportunity to attend the concerts and so there were rehearsal visits and social encounters in New York with the American Friends, members of the Staatskapelle Berlin and the management of the Staatsoper. We are excited about future concert tours of the Staatskapelle!

November + December 2023 | Guided tour through the exhibition »Edvard Munch. Zauber des Nordens« in the Berlinische Galerie

Together with numerous members, we visited the exhibition »Edvard Munch. Magic of the North« at the Berlinische Galerie. The exhibition comprises around 80 works by Edvard Munch, supplemented by works by other artists.

Under the expert guidance of Thomas Hoffmann, we learned a lot about Edvard Munch’s special relationship with Berlin. At the time, the German capital was gripped by an enthusiasm for all things Nordic. The Berlin Artists’ Association invited the young, still unknown artist to an exhibition in 1892. Viewers were shocked by the bright colors and found the paintings sketchy. Munch was delighted with this attention and lived in the city on and off between 1892 and 1907. Thomas Hoffmann paid particular attention to the frieze of Munch’s life and his engagement with his works, which he called »his children«.He drew and painted his motifs several times, often hanging them himself in the exhibitions and regularly rearranging them in his studio, as their meaning and interaction changed over the years.He even exposed his works to the weather, for example »Die Schneeschipper«, which disappeared from Berlin without a trace during the Second World War, lay fittingly under a layer of snow for one winter. We look forward to further exhibition visits with our members!

17 November 2023 | »ZwischenTöne« … with Christian Thielemann & Matthias Schulz

It has been known since September 27, 2023 that Christian Thielemann will be the new General Music Director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden from the 2024/25 season. The designated Artistic Director Elisabeth Sobotka said of the appointment: »With Christian Thielemann, one of the most outstanding conductors of our time is taking over from Daniel Barenboim. It is an organic and inspiring transition. [...] I am very much looking forward to our collaboration.«

But how did this decision come about? After all, Christian Thielemann’s first joint appearance was only planned for November 20 and 21, 2023, and the Staatskapelle Berlin had already chosen Christian Thielemann as their preferred candidate well in advance. We learned this first-hand on November 17: it was a very spontaneous coincidence that led to the orchestra and conductor having the opportunity to perform together over a year earlier. In June 2022, conductor Herbert Blomstedt was unfortunately injured and a conductor had to be found on a Saturday for the subscription concerts on the following Monday and Tuesday, for which only one dress rehearsal was scheduled. So artistic director Matthias Schulz sent a fateful text message to Christian Thielemann, with whom he had been in contact for some time, to which he replied »Why not?«. According to Christian Thielemann, it was »love at first sight« with the Staatskapelle Berlin.

There are very few orchestras in the world that have this »very special, dark but not melancholic sound«. And so the Staatskapelle Berlin unexpectedly celebrated its debut with Christian Thielemann on a hot June evening in 2022 with Bruckner’s 7th Symphony and »Isolde's Liebestod«. The energy between orchestra and conductor was already palpable that evening. This laid the foundation for a successful collaboration between orchestra and conductor. In the fall of 2022, Christian Thielemann successfully stepped in for the »Ring« and also took over the Staatskapelle Berlin’s tour of Asia. Christian Thielemann praised Matthias Schulz for making this possible, for his commitment and organizational talent in the house.

During the evening, we also learned why operettas are of central importance to Christian Thielemann, what Herbert von Karajan told him in his younger years and abot his plans with the Staatskapelle Berlin in the coming years. He particularly loves the sound of the orchestra, undoubtedly shaped by the many years of work of Daniel Barenboim, which he wants to preserve and develop further. Which opera he will conduct first and which program he is thinking about for the concerts at the turn of the year, however, remains reserved for those present that day. We are very much looking forward to further encounters with the designated General Music Director!

14 November 2023 | Fundraising-Dinner with Magdalena Kožená & Sir Simon Rattle

On November 14, selected members and guests of Alexandra von Rehlingen-Prinz and Prof. Matthias Prinz were given the opportunity to dine in the presence of Magdalena Kožená & Sir Simon Rattle. In a small circle, the guests also spoke with Matthias Schulz about the enormous importance and necessity of promoting young talent in opera houses and about their eligibility for funding. We are grateful to the hostess and the host for the wonderful invitation to the Loft am Mauerpark!

18 October 2023 | »ZwischenTöne« … with Waltraud Meier

»I have nothing more to say musically. Bye!« Waltraud Meier said goodbye to her audience on October 20 after her last opera performance in the role of Klytämnestra in Richard Strauss’ »Elektra« on the stage of the Staatsoper. Two days earlier, we met the wonderful singer together with dramaturge Christoph Lang for an interview in the orchestra rehearsal hall, where the singer had spent many hours with the Staatskapelle Berlin.

We talked about her beginnings in Würzburg, where she sang with many choirs. Did you know that she called Bayreuth herself and asked for an audition? Wolfgang Wagner asked her to stay. And she stayed. Since then, she has been one of the most sought-after Wagner interpreters. Wagner suits her, she says. During her career, she has greatly appreciated the opportunity to work on the further development of the pieces, to help shape them, which is becoming increasingly difficult today. Of the many people who have influenced and enriched her musical life, she names two »musicians of a lifetime«: Daniel Barenboim and Patrice Chérau. She describes Daniel Barenboim in particular as an »important companion«. Making music with him was »brilliant«. She and he were »like a glove, where you didn’t know who was the hand and who was the shoe«. With him, the least she had to do was look into the pit or at the monitor, that’s how good they understood each other.

Waltraud Meier said of herself that she was in the overjoyed position of having been able to do everything she wanted. That’s why it isn’t so difficult for her to leave the stage, after all, she had said everything there was to say. We thank Waltraud Meier for a magical evening!

15 October 2023 | Open Sunday at Dussmann – Das KulturKaufhaus for the Staatsoper

This year’s open Sunday to benefit the Staatsoper Unter den Linden at Dussmann – Das KulturKaufhaus on October 18, 2023 was dedicated to the International Opera Studio. During the open Sunday, the department store was filled with contributions from choirs and the brass ensemble »Lindenbrass« as well as chamber music from the Orchestra Academy. Of course, scholarship holders from the Opera Studio also presented themselves and gave a taste of their skills. The proceeds of the day went to them. We thank Dussmann – Das KulturKaufhaus for its many years of generous support and cooperation.

12 September 2023 | Guided tour through the Staatsoper with APOLLOS & fritzen

Even for regular opera-goers, it is often astonishing and surprising what has to happen behind the scenes for an evening at the opera to be remembered as a special experience. We also used a tour of the State Opera and the rehearsal center to network our APOLLOS with the fritzen, the young friends of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens, and to exchange ideas. A return visit to the historic sites of Potsdam is scheduled for spring 2024.

5 September 2023 | Fundrainsig Dinner at Max Liebermann Haus

A very special season opening even before the official start of the 2023/24 season at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden awaited our guests on September 5. Thanks to the generous invitation from Berliner Sparkasse to the Max Liebermann Haus at the Brandenburger Tor, we came together to raise funds for the Staatsoper’s International Opera Studio at a charity dinner. The program prepares young, talented singers for an artistically demanding career on the stages of musical theaters.

We enjoyed the wonderful performances by Regina Koncz (soprano), Ekaterina Chayka-Rubinstein (mezzo-soprano) and Friedrich Hamel (bass) from the studio, accompanied by Markus Zugehör. We rounded off the evening with culinary delights and stimulating conversation. We are very much looking forward to seeing these outstanding talents on the Staatsoper stage many times in the coming season and thank Berliner Sparkasse and the donors for such a wonderful evening!