Later this month, Elza van den Heever returns to The Metropolitan Opera to reprise her signature portrayal of the Empress in Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten. She has previously sung the role at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, among other prestigious venues. Of her performance last season at the Vienna State Opera, Bachtrack praised her interpretation, writing: “As the Empress, Elza van den Heever had little difficulty with conveying the celestial being’s initial naïveté, subsequent bewilderment and, finally, wisdom, all with her clear, penetrating tone. Her voice’s evenness throughout the registers was a delight, while her outburst of Singspiel in Act 3 was thrilling and moving.”
Herbert Wernicke’s production of Die Frau ohne Schatten reimagines Strauss’s monumental opera with a bold, abstract visual style that accentuates its psychological and symbolic depths. Through reflective surfaces, stark lighting, and minimalist geometric designs, Wernicke creates a dreamlike world that illuminates the themes of transformation and redemption. Joining Ms. van den Heever in the star-studded cast are Russell Thomas as the Emperor, Michael Volle as Barak the Dyer, Lise Lindstrom as Barak’s Wife, Nina Stemme as the Nurse, and Ryan Speedo Green as the Messenger of Keikobad, under the baton of Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Elza van den Heever begins her 2024/25 season by reprising the role of Leonore in Fidelio at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, with performances on September 26, 29, and October 2, 5, and 10. Known for her rich, expressive voice, Ms. van den Heever previously captivated audiences in this same role at the San Francisco Opera, where Operawire praised her performance: “Van den Heever sang with ardor and luster, her voice tender and filled with longing in early scenes. When she sheds her disguise in Act two, revealing herself to be Leonore, her voice was full of passion and heroism.” She will be joined by a top-tier cast, including Russell Thomas as Florestan, Dimitry Ivashchenko as Rocco, and Brian Mulligan as Pizarro.
Under the direction of Matthew Ozawa and with Enrique Mazzola conducting, this production of Beethoven’s Fidelio is set to be a standout of the season. Ozawa’s staging, previously praised as “transformative… a thoughtful examination of how we strive for the ideals of justice and freedom” (Toronto Star), will provide a dynamic backdrop for van den Heever’s impassioned portrayal of Leonore, the heart of this moving story of love, courage, and justice.
Photo: Jiyang Chen
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On August 10 and 11, Elza van den Heever will perform Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder (“Four Last Songs”) at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival. She will be accompanied by the Saito Kinen Orchestra under the baton of the festival’s principal guest conductor, Nodoka Okisawa.
Composed in 1948 near the end of Strauss’ life, Vier letzte Lieder are celebrated for their lush orchestration and profound reflections on life, death, and transcendence. These four orchestral songs are considered some of Strauss’ most beautiful and poignant works, often performed and cherished for their serene and contemplative nature.
Ms. van den Heever, a well-known Strauss interpreter, has previously performed this stunning set of songs with the San Francisco Symphony and the Orchestre de Paris, with the latter performance being streamed live to audiences worldwide.
This concert program will also include excerpts from Mendelssohn’s Ein Sommernachtstraum, Op. 61, and Strauss’ symphonic poem Don Juan, Op. 20.
Photo: Jiyang Chen
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This month, Elza van den Heever stars as Julia in Gaspare Spontini’s rarely-seen La Vestale at the Paris Opera. Following her successful debut in the role in 2019 at MusikTheater an der Wein, van den Heever brings her acclaimed portrayal to a new audience in this captivating masterpiece.
The opera follows the tale of Julia, a sacred vestal virgin in ancient Rome, who defies her vows by falling in love with Licinius, a renowned general. Their clandestine romance sparks a gripping clash between love and duty, ultimately resolved by a divine intervention that spares Julia from punishment and reunites the star-crossed lovers. As Lydia Steier’s new production delves into themes of political extremism, the opera takes on a renewed relevance, offering a thought-provoking exploration of love, power, and sacrifice.
Under the baton of famed conductor Bertrand de Billy, the brilliant cast includes Michael Spyres as Licinius, Eve-Maud Hubeaux as La Grand Vestale, Julien Behr as Cinna, Jean Teitgen as Le Souverain Pontife, and Florent Mbia as Le Chef des Aruspices.
This spring, Elza van den Heever makes her long-awaited debut as Sieglinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Four concert performances of the monumental work are scheduled, starting at de Doelen (Grand Hall) in Rotterdam on April 26, followed by shows at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden on April 28, Kozerthaus Dortmund on May 1, and concluding at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, on May 4.
The phenomenal cast is also slated to feature Stanislas de Barbeyrac as Siegmund, Soloman Howard as Hunding, Brian Mulligan as Wotan, Karen Cargill as Fricka, Tamara Wilson as Brünnhilde, Jessica Faselt as Helmwige, Brittany Olivia Logan as Gerhilde, Justyna Bluj as Ortlinde, Iris van Wijnen as Waltraute, Maria Barakova as Siegrune, Ronnita Miller as Grimgerde, Anna Kissjudit as Schwertleite, and Catriona Morison as Roßweiße.
Photo: Dario Acosta
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On March 23, 26 and 31, Elza van den Heever will grace the stage as Chrysothemis alongside conductor Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic in Richard Strauss’ monumental opera, Elektra, at the esteemed Baden-Baden Easter Festival. This eagerly anticipated production, under the direction of Philipp Stölzl, promises a fresh interpretation of the one-act psycho-drama, adding a new dimension to this timeless masterpiece. Following this engagement, the ensemble will journey to Berlin for concert performances of the opera at the iconic Berlin Philharmonie on April 4 and 7.
The stellar cast boasts acclaimed artists including Nina Stemme portraying Elektra, Michaela Schuster as Klytämnestra, Johan Reuter as Orest, Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke as Aegisth, and a lineup of talented performers in supporting roles, including Anthony Robin Schneider, Serafina Starke, Anna Denisova, Lucas van Lierop, Andrew Harris, Kirsi Tiihonen, Katharina Magiera, Marvic Monreal, Alexandra Ionis, Dorothea Herbert, and Lauren Fagan.
Photo: Dario Acosta
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Elza van den Heever is set to make her highly anticipated debut as Elisabeth in Wagner’s Tannhäuser at The Metropolitan Opera this holiday season.
The cast features a lineup of acclaimed performers, including tenor Andreas Schager in the title role, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova as Venus, baritone Christian Gerhaher as Wolfram, and bass Georg Zeppenfeld as Hermann. Maestro Sir Donald Runnicles will conduct the exemplary production by director Otto Schenk and set designer Günther Schneider-Siemssen, first seen at The Met in December of 1977.
This October, Elza van den Heever returns to the Wiener Staatsoper in one of her new signature roles: the Empress in Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten. This comes on the heels of her resounding success in the role during the previous season’s performances at the Easter Festival Baden-Baden.
In 2020, Ms. van den Heever made her debut in this role, earning resounding acclaim while performing alongside the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under the masterful baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Such was her artistry that Bachtrack wrote:
“The Empress presented no technical hurdles for soprano Elza van den Heever. She had the agility and lightness for her first scene, when the young bride is so insubstantial that “light passes through her as if she were made of glass”, and the fullness and shine required in the rest of the role. To soar in this high-lying music with such consistent quality is no mean feat, especially considering that Van den Heever was making her role debut during this mini-tour, of which Rotterdam was the third and last stop… In her emotional intensity, surrounded by the sonic theatre conjured up by Nézet-Séguin, she was as white-hot as her high notes.”
Originated for the Wiener Staatsoper in 2019, Vincent Huguet’s production of the distorted fairytale boasts an exquisite stage design meticulously crafted by Aurélie Maestre. The evocative atmosphere is further enhanced by the minimalist yet striking costume designs by Clémence Pernoud, while Bertrand Couderc’s masterful work in light and video design adds a mesmerizing visual dimension to the production.
Under the baton of Christian Thielemann, Ms. van den Heever graces the stage alongside a stellar ensemble, including Andreas Schager as the Emperor, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner as the Nurse, Michael Volle as Barak and Elena Pankratova as Barak’s wife, and Clemens Unterreiner as Spirit Messenger. Christian
