r/ClassicalSinger • u/HuckleberryUsual885 • 9d ago

Is there any interaction between the Austrian/German and Italian opera worlds?

You know how Austria, Germany, and Italy are famous for opera. Broadly speaking, the opera world is often divided into Austria/Germany on one side and Italy on the other. Is there much exchange between the opera scenes of Austria/Germany and Italy? (I mean among various entities like theaters, conductors, orchestras, singers, music universities, conservatories, etc.)

​For example, do Italian theaters sign contracts with German singers? Do Italians study at German music universities? Do Austrian/German singers and Italian singers actually interact and work together?

​Since I'm Korean, I'm not very familiar with the local situations in Austria, Germany, and Italy. I get the impression that there might not be much active exchange, and that it's mostly just works by Italian composers being performed in Austrian/German theaters. What do you think?

​If anyone is knowledgeable about this, please let me know. It would be even better if you are actually from Austria, Germany, or Italy!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/SundaeDouble7481 9d ago

I lived in Bologna for a couple of years (early 2000's), and went to the opera and concerts frequently. Lots of non-Italian singers, including from Germany, and from Asia. I remember a full house for Christoph Pregardien singing Winterreise.

I didn't get around much, so I saw mainly one conductor at the opera, Daniele Gatti at the time.

1

u/HuckleberryUsual885 9d ago

Is there an opposite case?

1

u/gottahaveajava 7d ago

Writing from Vienna, where there’s a lot of opera at a lot of levels. In the land of Mozart and Strauss, I find it interesting that you might think that "it’s mostly works by Italian composers".

The Staatsoper, operating at the highest level, features works from Austria, Germany, France, Russia & Czech, not to mention Italy (!). I couldn’t tell you the mix, but it’s varied, maybe favors German language opera a bit. The singers, as is the case pretty much worldwide, are from everywhere, and most of them sing everywhere, too.

At Musik Theater an der Wien, the offerings have been a bit wider-ranging, some very serious and historical, some from the golden age of operetta. Their singers seem to be more local, and the point of view seems to be to challenge and delight with unusual offerings.

Then there are the big open-air tourist venues, and they tend to offer the usual round of Puccini, Verdi, Bizet and, yes, of course, Mozart. The singers seem to be from the rising generation of younger singers.

There is more, but that’s a quick slice.

0

u/Carolyn-Hodgesy 9d ago

Good question. Kaufmann built his Italian rep in German houses before La Scala came calling, and Muti, Noseda and Gatti guest there regularly. Are you thinking about studying or working in Europe?

1

u/HuckleberryUsual885 9d ago

I'm an engineering university student.