Rediscovering Meyerbeer's Bloody "Les Huguenots" During #Reformation500

Germany is kicking off a year-long celebration of the 500th anniversary celebration of the Protestant Reformation in the built-up to October 31, 2017, which marks half a millennium since Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the doors of All Saints Church in Wittenberg. Alongside Luther-inspired toys, a pop oratorio, limited edition beers and even graphic novels, Giacomo Meyerbeer's grand opéra Les Huguenots, about the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, is getting a starry new production by David Alden at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, serving perhaps as a stern reminder of the turmoil and bloodshed that the Reformation unleashed.

Once ubiquitous, now forgotten, Meyerbeer has been undergoing a critical re-evaluation, leading to an unlikely popular embrace in Germany over the past few years. With this new production - one of a whopping three in Germany this season - the Meyerbeer renaissance seems to be reaching a crescendo, over a century after the Jewish composer's place in the operatic canon was usurped by his professional rival Richard Wagner.

The November performances are headlined by Juan Diego Flórez and Patrizia Ciofi. Michele Mariotti conducts. It returns in late January for two performances with Ido Arad conducting Siobhan Stagg and Yosep Kang,

Read my review of the November 17th performance in Opera News.

#reformation500 #deutscheoper #martinluther #meyerbeer #juandiegoflorez #mariotti #ciofi #davidalden #opera