Just in: Bayreuth’s new Lohengrin is Piotr Beczala
mainJust as we predicted.
He’s the only big name left standing at short notice.
And the first Pole to sing a title role at the unreformed Wagner festival.
He knows the work, having made his Lohengrin debut in May 2016 at Dresden, opposite Anna Netrebko (who turned down Bayreuth).
Unlike the defecting Roberto Alagna, he is fluent in German and works well with the conductor Christian Thielemann.
UPDATE: Beczala – How Bayreuth messed me around
Now Bayreuth has a great cast!
… the Dresden cast of 2016, except for the two women.
Excellent choice. Yes, at least he knows German, unlike the illiterates Alagna and Netrebko.
Could I have a Pound every time you write “illiterates” and “fraudulent”?
I need money for my Bayreuth tickets.
PS: And maybe 50p every time you write “Franz Völker”?
Sorry, that was meant as a reply to Caravaggio.
You’d get more from NL if the conditions were ‘Rattle, new concert hall’ or, for even more funds, ‘Peter Gelb, new Met board’.
OK, Norm, you got me… What the devil does “at the unreformed Wagner festival” mean?
Maybe it means that we have keep clicking and commenting.
It was just announced that he pulled out? I’m confused.
The only Wagner opera Alagna should be doing is Taunhauser in the original French Paris version. I believe Jose Cura recently sung it in Monte Carlo and it went well for him.