RTE National Symphony Orchestra – Korngold: Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City)

RTE National Symphony Orchestra – Korngold: Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City)

Friday, 12 April 2019, 7.30pm

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Patrik Ringborg conductor

Cast including
Celine Byrne soprano (Marie)
Charles Workman tenor (Paul)
Ben McAteer baritone (Fritz/Pierrot)
Katharine Goeldner mezzo soprano
Clare Presland mezzo soprano
Susanna Fairbairn soprano
Julian Hubbard tenor
Alan Leech tenor
The Choristers of St Patrick’s Cathedral (Master of Music Stuart Nicholson)

Korngold Die tote Stadt (The Dead City) / 137’ Concert Performance

If you’re looking for the discovery of the season, you’ve just found it. Despite its title, Die tote Stadt (‘The Dead City’) is alive with ear-worm tunes, heart-searing romance and unforgettable drama – as you might expect from one of the great Hollywood composers, two-time Oscar winner Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

It also boasts one of the most beautiful arias in all opera and only the hardest of hearts (not yours, obviously) will be able to resist the sublime, siren-like attractions of Marietta’s Lied. The more emotionally susceptible among you have been warned.

Set in Belgium (don’t let that put you off) at the end of the 19th century (or that!), there’s a touch of the macabre about it: a young man recently widowed becomes fixated on a young dancer who is the spitting image of his dead wife only to dream of murdering her. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.)

Two leading Irish singers – the ‘silver, shining, light and clear soprano’ (Oper-Aktuell) of Celine Byrne promising a performance to remember, and ‘simply brilliant’ (Robert Hugill) baritone Ben McAteer are joined by Canadian tenor Charles Workman whose voice is ‘charged with phenomenal intensity’ (Der OpernFreund).

Opera as soap opera, opera as domestic drama, opera as tragic love story, opera as searching psychological analysis, opera as an experience you’ll never forget? It’s all here.

Presented by RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra

WebsiteAdd a Listing

Published by Journal of Music on 7 April 2019

comments powered by Disqus

Please note that some listings are added by third parties. The Journal of Music does not take responsibility for the content or accuracy of listings published by third parties on this site. The Journal of Music reserves the right to edit or delete listings. Click here to add a listing, login or register.