Newsletter, May 2013

Daniel Frank makes his debut as Tannhäuser at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf

In 2009 when Daniel Frank made his debut as opera singer at the Folkoperan in Stockholm, he could already look back on a ten-year-long career as rock singer, singing pedagogue and music and drama teacher. Opera lovers in Sweden quickly took to the charismatic singer with the powerful and expansive voice and since his debut Daniel has participated in numerous productions. On Saturday 4 May, he sings the leading part in the new production of Tannhäuser at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, which will be his debut in the part as well as abroad.

Q: Many tenors regard Tannhäuser as one of the most difficult Wagner parts and often like to start doing Parsifal or Siegmund before tackling Tannhäuser. Following a short but intensive career as opera singer, Tannhäuser will now be your first Wagner part. How do you like singing Tannhäuser?

A: It is among the most difficult jobs I have had. After singing the whole part a couple of times, I would very much like to meet this Mr Wagner and tell him a few home truths…. I was only joking! It is great fun but also hard work, challenging bur also rewarding to grapple with a part like Tannhäuser. It is like singing three average-sized opera parts one after the other on the same night.

Q: Tannhäuser seems to be an outsider and a rebel who cannot adjust to a formal and conventional world. The Deutsche Oper am Rhein alludes to this idea in the marketing of their new production. You were asked to bring one of your electric guitars to a photo session which took place on the stairs of an elegant building. Does the rock star play a part in today’s society similar to what Wagner wanted Tannhäuser to play?

A: Not at all! Maybe in the 70s but not today. There are a number of new subcultures that have shouldered that burden, as it were. In my home town, however, hard rockers were accepted even in the 80s, although long-haired guys were stared and pointed at. On the whole this was not a big problem, though. The fact that you can combine the two words, rock and star, is something positive. You cannot be a star if you do not make something fantastic that most people appreciate, and you cannot be an outsider if you do not do things that the rest of us frown at.

Q: This is not only your Wagner debut but also your first appearance abroad. Your earlier career includes the Malmö Opera (Laca/Jenufa 2011), the NorrlandsOperan (Don José 2012), the Stockholm Folkoperan (Severin/Silversjön 2010) and others. Have you noticed any differences between working in Sweden and in Germany?

A: I cannot say I have, when we talk about the actual job. It is just as hard to come to a new opera house in Sweden with its specific form of organization as it is when coming to a house in Germany. My big problem is the information flow. My German is not yet adequate which sometimes makes it difficult for me to understand information coming from the director and the organizers. Not to mention all practical details which have to be dealt with when you come to a new country.

Q: Looking ahead, what parts would you like to do?

A:  My appetite has been whetted with Wagner’s bombastic and grand music and I would like to try Erik in Der fliegende Holländer, Parsifal and Siegmund in the Valkyrie.

Parallel to doing Tannhäuser in Düsseldorf, Daniel sings Tamino at the Malmö Opera in May. Tannhäuser goes on into the summer, on tour in Colombia with Gustavo Dudamel and at the opera in Lima, Peru, with Mateusz Moleda leading and Fredrik Zetterström as Wolfram. After that Daniel returns to Europe to do one more Tannhäuser and the name part in Peter Grimes.

Photo: Daniel Ulfseke

Mateusz Molęda - The Ring in Lima

Mateusz Molęda has been named Principal Guest Conductor of Orquesta Ciudad de los Reyes, one of South America's leading orchestras. Future conducting engagements of this long-term collaboration is his musical leadership of the entire cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen" by Richard Wagner from 2014 to 2017 at Teatro Municipal de Lima. In August Mateusz will, as mentioned above, lead Teatro Municipal de Lima’s Tannhäuser.

Ville Matvejeff – New Artist!

Svenska Konsertbyrån is proud to represent Finnish conductor, composer and pianist Ville Matvejeff in Scandinavia. In 2012/13 he has been working as Conductor and Head of Coaching at the Malmö Opera. On May 11 he will conduct Malmö Opera’s new and very successful production of Reimann’s expressionist opera Lear.

Award Winner Michael Weinius

We congratulate Michael Weinius who on May 1 received the prestigious soloist award of The Lund University Male Voice Choir. The award is bestowed on a prominent Swedish singer or musician and the prize money of 150.000 Swedish kronor makes it one of Sweden’s biggest musical awards. On May 3 and 4 Michael will be soloist in Benjamin Britten’s Nocturne together with the Gothenburg Symphony. On May 16 he sings the tenor part and Annalena Persson the soprano part in Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony together with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and on May 26 Michael will perform the role of Siegmund in Deutsche Oper am Rhein’s Die Walküre.

Fredrik Zetterström  - Receiver of the Birgit Nilsson Award 2013

We would also like to congratulate Fredrik Zetterström, who will receive the Birgit Nilsson Award 2013 at a gala concert at the Malmö Opera on May 25. Fredrik currently sings the name part in Malmö Opera’s highly acclaimed production of Lear.

Glyndebourne Festival

On May 18 German director Katharina Thoma makes her UK debut at the opening of the Glyndebourne Festival with Richard Strauss’ opera Ariadne auf Naxos. The performance is lead by Vladimir Jurowski who conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra.The following day, May 19, Susanne Resmark makes her Glyndebourne debut when singing the role of MistressQuickly in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Le Villi in Malmö

Maria Fontosh will be singing the role of the abandoned Anna in Malmö Opera’s concert version of Le Villi. The melancholic opera in two acts was Puccini's first completed opera and is based on the Slavic legend of the revengeful fairies (Le Villi). The concert takes place on May 9 and will be lead by Leif Segerstam.

Karolina Andersson and Charlotta Larsson in Gala Concert

On May 24 Karolina Andersson and Charlotta Larsson are soloists at a sparkling gala concert at the Malmö Opera with the Malmö Opera orchestra and choir. On the same occasion next year’s production will be presented. In the autumn Karolina will sing the part of Violetta in La Traviata, and Charlotta will sing the part of The Marschallin, Princess von Werdenberg, in Der Rosenkavalier.