An opera director takes center stage: Peter Bernhardab August will be playing the lust-driven Duke of Mantua in Verdi's greatest success "Rigoletto" on the open-air stage of the Schenkenberg Opera.
"I was born with a lot of energy!" Peter Bernhard is the opera director of the "Oper Schenkenberg" festival and is also singing one of the leading roles again, this time the role of the Duke of Mantua in "Rigoletto": "I love opera, and I draw an incredible amount of energy from it for my current double role," says the musical man of conviction. The actor has been on stage as a singer for 20 years, and "Rigoletto" is the third opera he has produced for Oper Schenkenberg. With only four and a half hours of sleep, Peter Bernhard manages his current daily routine, in which the organization of the opera production is the main focus: Photo shoots, choir rehearsals and organizing accommodation for some of the performers who will be travelling from abroad.
The whole region is involved
"We are deliberately involving the local population in our production," says the opera CEO and classical tenor. "There are opera fans who are very happy to host one of the singers, which is an enrichment for both sides." Many of the choir members also come from the region. Bernhard is also working hard on the future and has good news. "From next year, there will be an opera performance every year," says Bernhard. "We are now working with Solothurn Classics, which means that from now on we will perform an opera every year - in the even years in Brugg-Windisch and in the odd years in Solothurn. This new development will make the opera director's work easier, as he will have the support of a commercial director.
"Rigoletto is for everyone!"
Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Rigoletto" was already a resounding success when it premiered in Venice in 1851; no wonder: the story of the arrogant Duke of Mantua, who is a womanizer and falls in love by mistake, may have a bad ending, but it contains a number of operatic hits. Anyone who has never heard "La donna è mobile" or "Bella figlia dell'amore" live and wants to be beguiled by international singing stars should make a pilgrimage to Brugg-Windisch in August. Soprano Sen Guo, soloist at Zurich Opera House, baritone Anooshah Golesorkhi, who also sings at the New York Met, and Peter Bernhard will provide plenty of emotion and passion.
OPERA SCHENKENBERG
11-27.08.16, Mülimattwiese Brugg-Windisch
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