Dreden Semperoper 2013-14 Season, Schedule, Highlights: Opera Company To Celebrate Strauss' 150th Anniversary

On Feb. 26^th the Dresden Semperoper announced its 2013-2014 season. The company will perform 31 works.

The season will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Richard Strauss' birthday with a new production of "Elecktra." The production will star Evelyn Herlitzius, Anne Schwanewilms, Waltraud Meier and Rene Pape. Christian Thielman will conduct the production by Barbara Frey.

Strauss rarities "Guntram" and "Feuersnot" will also be presented. Additionally, "Der Rosenkavalier," will return with Solie Isokoski and "Ariadne Auf Naxos," will star Marjorie Owens. Erika Sunnegardh and Tomason Tomas will perform in "Salome"

Thielman will conduct a new production of Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" with Zeljko Lucic in the title role, Kwangchoul Youn, Maria Argesta and Ramon Vargas.

A new production of Bizet's "Carmen" will be showcased with Anke Vondung in the title role. Axel Kohler will direct.

Rachel Willis-Sorensen and Rachel Frenkel will lead the new "Cosi Fan Tutte" production directed by Andreas Krigenburg. The company will also perform Purcell's "King Arthur" for the first time.

Other highlights will be Wagner's "Die Fliegende Hollander" with Marjorie Owens and Markus Marquardt.

Eva Maria Westbroek will sing the role of Isolde with her husband Frank Von Aken in Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde." Georg Zeppenfeld will sing King Marke while Christa Mayer will perform Brangane. Matthias Henneberg rounds out the cast as Kurwenal. The production will be conducted by Asher Fisch.

Puccini's "Turandot" will return with Lucrezia Garcia in the title role. Marjorie Owens will sing Liu and Marco Berti brings his ardent voice to Calaf.    

The opera house will also revive Verdi's "Rigoletto" and "Macbeth", Handel's "Alcina," Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel," Puccini's "La Boheme," and "Madama Butterfly," and Rossini's "La Cenerentola" and "Il Barbiere di Siviglia." Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" and Verdi's "La Traviata" will also be shown this upcoming season.

The season will run from September into June.