Any opinions of this year's Bayreuth newbies

On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:06:03 -0800, a.DeleteThis@b.c wrote:

> I noticed that there are a few newbies in the casts announced for this
> years Bayreuth festival. Adrienne Dugger is moving up from Senta to
> Brunnhilde. I was wondering if there are any opinions on the other
> new cast members:
>
> Christopher Ventris as Parsifal

He's been singing this role for a while, so other than in Bayreuth most
definitely not a newbie. Recently appeared as the pure fool at Covent
Garden and in the Zurich and Paris productions. He is scheduled to sing
Peter Grimes at the Washington Opera next month. I've been favourably
impressed by his interpretation of Parsifal. He also appears as Lohengrin
and Siegmund, although I've not heard him in those roles.

>
> Irene Theorin as Isolde
>

Theorin sung in several Bayreuth Festivals, although only as a Walküre
(Helmwige) as far as I recall. For the Danish Royal Opera in Copenhagen she
has sung several of Wagner's women, including Isolde and all three
Brünnhildes. Since her success in the CPH Ring, Theorin has been singing
the Brünnhilde (mostly S. and G.) all over the world, and is soon to
appear as Wotan's favourite valkyrie at the Washington Opera.

--
Derrick Everett
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