By Frank Cadenhead A top orchestra manager in Paris once told me in private “What is Mikko Franck still doing in Finland?” Born in Helsinki in 1979, he was already on the international circuit at 23 and has frequently guest-conducted in Paris. He would be an obvious choice for a major orchestra and his leadership [...]
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by James Jorden “I’ve almost come to the conclusion that this Mr. Hitler isn’t a Christian,” muses merry murderess Abby Brewster early in the first act of Arsenic and Old Lace, and to tell the truth I’m beginning to think I’m almost as far behind the curve as she was. Recent new productions at the [...]
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By James Jorden The Staatsoper Stuttgart may be called the cradle of Regietheater, or at least a cradle of Regietheater. Strong theatrical values have characterized this company from the opening of the theater in 1912 (the world premiere of Ariadne auf Naxos, helmed by megaregisseur Max Reinhardt) through the 1950s, when Wieland Wagner’s frequent projects [...]
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