The Kurt Awards for Summer 2013: the nominations

Well, the Academy has sat, and come up with the list of nominations for the Kurt Awards of 2013.

They sat in my bed, because the Academy (like all effective Academies) consists of one person. And this time its ME!

I've spent April to October in Germany, and I've had a splendid time in opera houses, theatres and concert-halls, mostly in Berlin, but with side trips to such as Vienna, Dessau and Biedenkopf. Most of what I've seen was good to great, very little was self-indulgent and weak. So what was the best?  Well, I don't do 'best this' and 'best that'. That's far too presumptuous. Chuckle. Even for an Academy with my credentials!

I do 'my favourites'. The people and productions -- large or small -- which have given me the most pleasure. And after mature consideration and discussion with myself, here they are! 

My favourite opera performances :

Michael Volle in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER

Alex Esposito in LUCREZIA BORGIA

Andrezej Dobber in RIGOLETTO

Roberto Tagliavini in ATTILA

Agnes Zwierko in BALL IM SAVOY

Hila Fahima in LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES

Alexandra Hutton in LES CONTES D’HOFFMAN

I am putting Madame Gruberova hors concours, likewise Olesaya Golovneva who sang in RIGOLETTO while her alter ego acted.

My favourite staging of an opera:

Basel Theatre/Staatsoper DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER

Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau: ESCLARMONDE

Deutsche Oper/Tischlerei: LES CONTES D’HOFFMAN

My favourite musical theatre performance:

Veit Schäfermeier in TANZ DER VAMPIRE

Annemieke van Dam in ELISABETH

Katie Bolding in TOI C’EST MOI

Lisa-Marie Joch in EINGEFÄDELT

My favourite Concert:

Radialsystem: Deutsches Rundfunkchor: Brahms THE HUMAN REQUIEM

Spiegelsaal: TRIO DAN (piano, violin, flute)

Piano Salon Christophoroi:  Bele Kumberger and Lena Haselmann (vocal duets)

Philharmonie: Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Petr Migunov  Shostakovitch 14th

Kurt’s Lemon for my Worst Experience of the year

Staatsoper DER FREISCHUTZ

Berliner Ensemble PETER PAN
Ronacher, Vienna NATÜRLICH BLONDE
Konzerthaus: Slaughtered Strauss by the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie

Hold your breaths, the winners will be announced when I've had time to discuss a little further with myself, and see if my right hand votes the same as my left ..