Tanja-Ariane Baumgartner in the world premiere of "The Jewess of Toledo" at the Semperoper Dresden
TANJA ARIANE BAUMGARTNER is one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of our time and sings one of the main roles in the world premiere of “The Jewess of Toledo” by Detlev Glanert.
With her role portrayals of Fricka (Rheingold/Walküre), her brilliant Cassandre (Les Troyens), her Clytemnestra (Elektra) and Nurse (The Woman Without a Shadow) and her spectacular Ortrud (Lohengrin), she has sung her way to the top of the dramatic mezzo-sopranos at the most important international houses and festivals.
The world premiere of the eagerly awaited opera "The Jewess of Toledo" is one of the special highlights of the 2023/24 opera season. Detlev Glanert composed the music on behalf of the Dresden State Opera, and Hans-Ulrich Treichel wrote the libretto for this extraordinary musical theater work.
The premiere of the new production will take place on February 10, 2024, in the production by Canadian director Robert Carsen with a brilliant cast including Heidi Stober as Rachel and Christoph Pohl as King of Castile alongside Lilly Jørstad, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Markus Marquardt and Aaron Pegram under the musical direction of Jonathan Darlington at the Dresden Opera House.
Loosely based on Franz Grillparzer's historical tragedy of the same name, "The Jewess of Toledo" tells the story of King Alfonso VIII of Castile's love affair with the beautiful Jewess Rachel during the Spanish Reconquista in the 13th century. In Toledo, besieged by the Moors, a tragedy of adultery and passion unfolds against a political backdrop, transcending religious and class boundaries. At the end of "La Fermosa," Rachel and with her the Jewish community fall victim to sociopolitical resentment.
The award-winning German composer Detlev Glanert, who most recently received the OPUS Klassik "Composer of the Year" and the International Opera Award for his Fontane opera "Oceane," which premiered in Berlin in 2019, is considered one of the most successful creators of new music of recent decades. In his composition for "The Jewess of Toledo," the three world religions are musically heard at the Semperoper. Among other things, the oud, the traditional instrument of Persian and Arabic music, will be heard for the first time in an operatic performance, played by Nassib Ahmadieh, a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
For the production, the artistic director of the Semperoper, Peter Theiler, was able to secure the internationally acclaimed director Robert Carsen. As an opera director, Carsen has worked on all the major stages worldwide. The Canadian, who was named a "Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters" by the French government for his artistic achievements, is his second collaboration with Detlev Glanert after "Oceane."
Discussions on "The Jewess of Toledo" will take place after the performances on Thursday, February 15, 2024, and – in the presence of the composer – on Monday, February 18, 2024, in the opera cellar of the Semperoper.
»The Jewess of Toledo« Detlev Glanert, Directed by Robert Carsen
Premiere on Sunday, 10 February 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Semperoper (world premiere)
Further performances on 15, 18, and 26 February, as well as on 1 and 8 March 2024 (follow-up discussions following the performances on 15 and 18 February 2024 in the Opernkeller)
With Heidi Stober, Lilly Jørstad, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner as well as Christoph Pohl, Markus Marquardt and Aaron Pegram
The Dresden State Orchestra performs under the musical direction of Jonathan Darlington. The Dresden State Opera Choir performs.
A commission from the Saxon State Opera Dresden With the kind support of the Semperoper Foundation – Förderstiftung
(Source: Semperoper )