Keith Warner News

In the annals of the Wagner family, the name Houston Stewart Chamberlain is but a footnote. Yet, argues Avner Dorman's new opera Wahnfried, he was in some ways the link between Richard Wagner and Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain was a failing English scientist who became obsessed with Wagner's music, after the composer's death marrying Wagner's daughter Eva and moving to Bayreuth. There he stayed close to his adopted family and, eventually, to Adolf Hitler, whom he hugely admired. Hitler for his part saw Chamberlain as a mentor and was highly influenced by his magnum opus, The Foundations of the Nineteenth Century - which codified Aryan supremacy and systemic anti-Semitism. Hitler so admired the older man that he often quoted him, and made the journey to Bayreuth for his funeral.

Three productions inspired by William Shakespeare make up Welsh National Opera's Autumn season, which will comprise a British premiere and two new productions.  The season is part of the official Shakespeare 400 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the great bard's death whilst continuing WNO Artistic Director David Pountney's creative approach to themed seasons.

The 2015/16 Royal Opera House Season has been announced. The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and visiting companies will stage more than sixty works during 2015/16 and twelve productions from Covent Garden - six operas and six ballets - will be relayed live to more than 1,500 cinemas in 35 countries as part of the ROH Cinema Season.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that the company will present a new production of Richard Wagner's monumental four-opera masterpiece, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) starting in 2016-17.

Anlasslich seines Frankfurter Liederabends prasentiert John Tomlinson, begleitet von David Owen Norris am Flugel, Lieder von Benjamin Britten, Hugo Wolf und Dmitri Schostakowitsch nach Gedichten von Michelangelo Buonarotti.

Handel Furioso is a love story told through arias and duets, exploring a couple's life together from childhood to old age. Two outstanding young singers, Anna Starushkevych (Winner of the Handel Singing Competiton 2012) and Robyn Allegra Parton appear in this production, directed by Max Hoehn. Acclaimed soloist, Julian Perkins, conducts the Sounds Baroque Ensemble, following their much-admired recording of early cantatas. This is the opening production by a new company, Isle of Noise, whose aim is to create new work, freely adapted from existing repertoire and presented outside the context of a traditional opera house. The production is part-funded by an Arts Council Grant award.

Maggie Siff plays Beatrice and Jonathan Cake Benedick in Theatre for a New Audience's new production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Arin Arbus, opening tonight, February 17, at 3:00pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street.

Maggie Siff plays Beatrice and Jonathan Cake Benedick in Theatre for a New Audience's new production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Arin Arbus, beginning previews Saturday, February 2 at 8:00pm for an opening Sunday, February 17, at 3:00pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street.