Elza van den Heever nominated for the International Opera Awards

Elza van den Heever has been nominated for the International Opera Awards in the Female Singer category alongside Maria Agresta, Lise Davidsen, Christine Goerke, Kate Lindsey and Lisette Oropesa. Winners will be announced at the 2020 International Opera Awards on Monday 4th May at Sadler’s Wells.

Die Frau ohne Schatten role debut

Building on the collaboration which produced the masterpieces Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier and Ariadne auf Naxos in the space of just a few years, Strauss collaborates once again with his favourite librettist, the poet Hofmannsthal, for a new operatic venture in a similar vein to Die Zauberflöte. The heroine is an immortal whose inability to bear children is symbolised by her lack of a shadow. She can only become truly human and give birth if she relinquishes her immortality. Strauss expresses this dilemma in a singspiel in which two couples, one immortal and the other mortal, reveal themselves on an initiatory journey littered with obstacles. The work blends fantasy and tragedy in order to highlight an intensely humanist message of solidarity. Composed during the very darkest days of World War I, Die Frau ohne Schatten is unprecedented in operatic terms for its expression of the workings of barbarity, whilst envisaging a positive outcome for a world in mourning. The intelligence and richness of the libretto, expressed in dazzling symphonic and vocal writing, make this one of the most mysterious and appealing works penned by the Strauss-Hofmannsthal duo.

This February, Elza van den Heever makes role debut as The Empress in a concert version of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten, joining Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a three city tour. The performances take place on February 17 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, February 20 at the Konzerthaus Dortmund and February 23 at the Rotterdam Philharmonic. The cast also features Stephan Gould, Michaela Schuster, Michael Volle, Lise Lindstrom, Katrien Baerts, Thomas Oliemans, Bror Magnus Tødenes, Andreas Conrad, Michael Wilmering and Nathan Berg.

Debut in Wozzeck at the Metropolitan Opera

From December 27 until January 22, Elza van den Heever stars as Marie, making her role debut as Wozzeck’s unfaithful mate in Berg’s opera of the same name, opposite Peter Mattei as the title character.

The William Kentridge production sets Berg’s masterpiece in an apocalyptic pre–World War I environment, with Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium. The commanding cast also includes Christopher Ventris as the Drum-Major, Christian Van Horn as the Doctor, and Gerhard Siegel as the Captain.

Verdi’s Requiem in London

On October 12, Elza van den Heever joins the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra led by Edward Gardner, as well as Ekaterina Gubanova, Arsen Soghomonyan and Gábor Bretz as the other soloists, in performing Verdi’s epic Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall.

When Giuseppe Verdi wrote his Requiem, he refused to let his imagination be constrained by the conventions of sacred music. Instead, he brought all his dramatic power to bear on a story of tragedy, redemption, and the end of time. The result is one of the mightiest of all choral masterpieces.

Elza van den Heever returns to Frankfurt as Norma

From June 7 – 28, Elza van den Heever graces the stage of the Oper Frankfurt, in which she portrays the Gallic seer Norma, who enters into a relationship with the Roman proconsul Pollione (Stefano La Colla), her people’s deadly enemy. They are joined by Dshamilja Kaiser, who sings Adalgisa, James Creswell as Oroveso and Julia Moorman as Clotilde. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts.

May performances

On May 3, 4 and 5, Elza van den Heever travels to Berlin to perform under the baton of Bertrand de Billy. The program starts with Beethoven’s Egmont overture, and after the intermission the audience will be treated to Richard Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder with Ms. van den Heever as the soloist. The evening ends with Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloë, Suite No. 2.

She then graces the stage of the Festspielhaus Bregenz on May 16 and 18, to sing one of the soprano solos in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. With Kirill Petrenko on the podium, she’s also joined by Sarah Wegener, Letizia Scherrer, Claudia Mahnke, Diana Haller, Norbert Ernst, Boaz Daniel and Kwangchul Youn.

Tune in to Rigoletto from the Met tomorrow

Elza will be the intermission interview for tomorrow night’s Rigoletto radio broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera.

Click here to listen to the broadcast online!