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Rossini in Wildbad

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Rossini in Wildbad
The Königliches Kurtheater [de] during the festival, 2008
GenreBel canto opera
BeginsJune
EndsJuly
Frequencyannual
LocationsBad Wildbad, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Inaugurated1989; 37 years ago (1989)
Websiterossini-in-wildbad.de

Rossini in Wildbad is an annual bel canto opera festival in Bad Wildbad, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, specialising in the lesser-known operas of Gioachino Rossini and his contemporaries. The festival, which commemorates Rossini's stay at the spa town in 1856, was founded in 1989 by a group of people interested in restoring and reviving the spa facilities, especially the theatre. Usually held in June and July, it features also compositions of other composers from the bel canto period. Performances are held at various historic spa facilities including the former Royal spa theatre, in or near the spa park. Many productions have been recorded.

History

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Rossini at the Spa, sculpture by Karl-Henning Seemann [de], Kurpark Bad Wildbad

Gioachino Rossini, a prolific composer of Italian opera, stayed at Wildbad and used its spa for several weeks in 1856,[1] which apparently invigorated him enough to start composing again.[2] His wife Olympe Pélissier is said to have recommended the place because its water was very mild.[3] Early in his career, until age 37, he had composed operas, many masterpieces that remained in the repertoire, but also operas that were neglected. After a hiatus of decades, he began to compose again after the spa visit,[3] on German paper.[4] He would later call his late compositions his "sins of old age" (Péchés de vieillesse).[3]

The Rossini in Wildbad festival was founded in 1989 on an initiative of Margarete Bott. She and others wanted to see the Kurtheater Bad Wildbad [de], formerly Königliches Kurtheater (Royal spa theatre), restored and used again. She collaborated with the conductor Wilhelm Keitel [de] as artistic director and the cultural manager Rüdiger Krüger [de] responsible for organisation and management.

Jochen Schönleber [de] became artistic director in 1992 and has been Intendant since 2000. Antonino Fogliani, an Italian conductor focused on Rossini, first worked at the festival in 2004 and was appointed music director in 2011.[5]

Theme

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The festival is focused on the complete operas by Rossini, both his well-known operas and the neglected repertoire.[1][8] It also features compositions of other composers from the bel canto period, as well as different setting of librettos that Rossini used. Many festival productions have been broadcast and recorded on CD or DVD, in collaboration with labels Naxos and Bongiovanni.[9] The festival works with young singers and has a regular orchestra, Virtuosi Brunensis, from Brno.[4]

Venues

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Neue Trinkhalle

The first opera performances were held at the Kurhaus, while the theatre was restored. From 2010 the main venue for opera performances and recordings was the Neue Trinkhalle [de], the hall where spa guests used to drink the mineral water. It seats 500 people.[4] The Kurhaus venue was then used for rehearsals and concerts; the last scenic production at the Kurhaus was La gazza ladra in 2009.[9]

The Königliches Kurtheater, reopened in 2014, seats 250.[4] Another venue, Forum König-Karls-Bad, is in the König-Karls-Bad [de], formerly a bathing house called Haus des Gastes, now a conference centre. The festival also uses several open air locations for events. In 2026, the Kurhaus again became a festival venue.[9]

All venues are in or near the Kurpark. It is connected to Pforzheim, the closest city, via the Enz Valley Railway which is part of the Stadtbahn Karlsruhe net. The starting times of performances are planned with respect to the tram's time table.

Academy

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An academy was founded in 2004, named Akademie BelCanto, in order to train young singers in the art of bel canto. Schönleber has been its director, and instructors have included Alberto Zedda and Kurt Widmer as well as Joyce DiDonato when she made a recording of La Cenerentola with the SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern. Singers who were students of the academy include Michael Spyres, Olga Peretyatko, Diana Haller and Marina Viotti.[9]

List of operas performed

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Year Composer Work Venue, notes Conductor
2026WeckerlinLe mariage en posteKönigliches Kurtheater, salon opera with piano, first revival[9]
2026ArrietaMarina [es]Kurhaus, zarzuela[9]José Miguel Pérez-Sierra
2026Rossini / CarafaSémiramisKurhaus, in French, revival of the Paris version of 1860 including ballet music, concert performance[3][9]Andriy Yurkevych
2026RossiniL'occasione fa il ladroKönigliches KurtheaterAntonio Fogliani[5] / Jacopo Brusa[9]
2026RossiniLa gazza ladraKurhaus,[9] merge of versions from Naples 1819 and 1820Pérez-Sierra
2025RossiniLa CenerentolaKönigliches KurtheaterPérez-Sierra
2025RossiniL'inganno feliceKönigliches KurtheaterFogliani
2025GarcíaUn avvertimento ai gelosiKönigliches Kurtheater, production by opera studio of Teatro Carlo Felice in Genovawith piano
2025PoniatowskiPierre de MédicisTrinkhalle, concert performance, by Passionart and Filharmonia K. Szymanowskiego KrakowiePérez-Sierra
2025RossiniOtelloTrinkhalle, revival of 1820 version from Rome, with lieto fine Nicola Pascoli
2024CarafaMasanielloTrinkhalle, concert performance, recording Pascoli[10]
2024RossiniLe comte OryTrinkhalle, Rossini's first French operaFogliani[10]
2024RossiniL'italiana in AlgeriKönigliches Kurtheater, production of the academyPérez-Sierra[10]
2023RossiniIl signor BruschinoKönigliches KurtheaterPérez-Sierra
2023RossiniIl barbiere di SivigliaTrinkhalleFogliani
2023PaciniGli arabi nelle Gallie ossia Il trionfo della fedeTrinkhalle, concert performanceMarco Alibrando
2023RossiniIl vero omaggiotower of the BaumwipfelpfadFogliani
2022RossiniAdina ossia Il califfo di BagdadKönigliches KurtheaterLuciano Acocella
2022RossiniErmioneTrinkhalleFogliani
2022RossiniArmidaTrinkhallePérez-Sierra
2021RossiniElisabetta, regina d'Inghilterraopen hall, with PassionartFogliani
2021RossiniLa scala di setapool, open airPérez-Sierra
2021AuberLe philtreopen hall, first revivalAcocella
2021GarcíaI tre Gobbipool, open airPaolo Raffo
2020GarcíaL'isola disabitataopen air, with pianoAndrés Jesús Gallucci
2019MeyerbeerRomilda e Costanzafirst revivalAcocella
2019RossiniMatilde di ShabranTrinkhallePérez-Sierra
2019RossiniTancrediKönigliches Kurtheater, with Passionart, KrakovFogliani
2019GarcíaI tre GobbiKönigliches Kurtheater, first revivalGallucci
2019MayrL'accademia di musicaKönigliches Kurtheater
2018RossiniPetite messe solennelle / Giovanna d'ArcoForum König-Karls-Bad[11]
2018RossiniL'equivoco stravaganteKönigliches Kurtheater, production from the Bulgarian National Opera[11]
2018RossiniLa cambiale di matrimonioKönigliches Kurtheater, Rossini's first farsa[11]
2018RossiniMoïseTrinkhalle[11]
2018RossiniZelmiraTrinkhalle, concert performance, German premiere[11]
2018RossiniLe nozze di Teti e di PeleoTrinkhalle, staged wedding cantata[11]
2017GarciaLe cinesi
2017RossiniL'occasione fa il ladrorecordingFogliani[9]
2017RossiniMaometto secondoFogliani[5]
2017RossiniAureliano in Palmiraconcert version
2017RossiniEduardo e Cristinaconcert versionGianluigi Gelmetti[12]
2016BalducciIl conte di MarsicoKönigliches Kurtheater, guest performance by Teatro Sarrià, Barcelona[13]
2016BelliniBianca e Gernandoconcert version
2016RossiniSigismondo
2016RossiniDemetrio e Polibio
2015RossiniL'inganno felice
2015GarcíaLe cinesiguest performance by Teatro Sarrià, Barcelona[13]
2015RossiniBianca e Falliero
2015RossiniL'italiana in Algericoncert version[11]
2015LindpainterIl vespro sicilianoconcert version
2014RossiniIl viaggio a Reimsconcert version
2014RossiniIl viaggio a ReimsFogliani[5]
2014RossiniAdelaide di Borgognathird scenic production, broadcast by DeutschlandfunkAlcocella[8]
2014MorlachiTebaldo ed Isolinaconcert version
2013RossiniGuillaume TellFogliani[5]
2013AdamLe Chalet
2013RossiniRicciardo e Zoraide
2012MercadanteI brigantifirst revival[1]Fogliani[5]
2012RossiniAdina
2012RossiniSemiramideconcert version
2011BalducciIl noce di Benevento[13]
2011PavesiSer Marcantonio
2011Rossini / TadoliniStabat MaterVersion from 1833, orchestrated by Antonino Fogliani
2011RossiniGiovanna d'Arcoorchestrated by Marco Taralli
2011RossiniIl turco in Italia
2010GeneraliAdelina
2010RossiniLa cenerentola
2010RossiniLe siège de Corintheconcert version
2009RossiniIl signor Bruschino
2009RossiniLa gazza ladraKurhaus[9]
2009VaccaiLa sposa di Messinaconcert version[1]
2008PaciniIl convitato di pietra
2008RihmKolonosWorld premiere, in double bill with Edipo a Colono[14]
2008RossiniEdipo a Colonoconcert version
2008RossiniL'italiana in Algericoncert version
2008RossiniOtello ossia Il moro di VeneziaFogliani[5]
2007BalducciBoabdil, re di Granata[13]
2007RossiniLa gazzetta
2007RossiniLa scala di seta
2007MercadanteDon Chisciotte alle nozze di Gamaccioconcert version
2006RossiniI due Figaro (Carafa)
2006BalducciI gelosi[13]
2006RossiniLa cambiale di matrimonioKurhaus, Rossini's first farsa[11]
2006RossiniLa donna del lago
2006RossiniMosè in Egitto
2005MeyerbeerSemiramide riconosciutasemi-staged
2005RossiniL'inganno felice
2005RossiniL'occasione fa il ladro
2004MayrL'amor coniugale
2004RossiniLa cenerentolaconcert version
2004RossiniCiro in Babilonia
2004RossiniIl barbiere di Sivigliaconcert version
2003RossiniTorvaldo e Dorliska
2003MayrL'accademia di musica
2003MoscaL'italiana in Algeri
2002WinterMaometto
2002RossiniMaometto secondo
2002RossiniLe comte Ory
2001RossiniLa pietra del paragone
2001PucittaVertersometimes attributed to Simon Mayr
2000RossiniL'equivoco stravagante
1999RossiniElisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra
1998RossiniMatilde di Shabran
1997RossiniEduardo e Cristina
1996RossiniAureliano in Palmira
1995RossiniSigismondo
1994RossiniLe nozze di Teti e di Peleostaged cantata
1993RossiniL'equivoco stravaganteRossini's first opera, in the first own production[11]
1992RossiniEdipo a Colono
1991RossiniSemiramide
1990RossiniL'occasione fa il ladro
1989RossiniLa scala di seta

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 ""Rossini in Wildbad – I briganti". Deutschlandfunk (in German). 28 July 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  2. ↑ Loomis, George (24 July 2012). "Rossini and Contemporaries, Snuggly at Home in the Black Forest". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Rossini à la française – Intendant Schönleber zum Start von Rossini in Wildbad". SWR (in German). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Fischer, Claus (16 July 2018). ""Rossini in Wildbad – I briganti". Deutschlandfunk (in German). Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Schönleber, Jochen (31 August 2026). "Infos des Tages (Montag, 31. August 2026)". Online Merker (in German). Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  6. ↑ Jochen Schönleber, Intendanz und künstlerische Leitung (in German) Rossini in Wildbad, 23 September 2021, retrieved 28 August 2023
  7. ↑ Antonino Fogliani, Musikalische Leitung (in German) Rossini in Wildbad, 23 September 2021, retrieved 28 August 2023
  8. 1 2 ""Rossini in Wildbad" – Adelaide di Borgogna". Opera World (in German). 23 July 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Molke, Thomas (2026). "Rossini in Wildbad / Belcanto Opera Festival". Online Musik Magezin (in German). Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Molke, Thomas (2024). "Rossini in Wildbad / Belcanto Opera Festival". Online Musik Magezin (in German). Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Molke, Thomas (2018). "Rossini in Wildbad / Belcanto Opera Festival". Online Musik Magezin (in German). Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Belcanto-Festival in Wildbad mit vier Rossini-Opern". Musik heute (in German). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Molke, Thomas (July 2016). "Hausfrauenpower". Online Musik Magezin (in German). Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Rihm's Kolonos". Universal Edition. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
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