this week – Bayreuther Festspiele  Opening Day at the Festspiele. Not that I have recovered from last weeks PROMS imPASSioned steamy DIE WALKUERE… but as a good little Wagnerite onward we go.

10 am Monday its TRISTAN with the HOT American Robert Dean Smith*  (from Kansas!), and Nina Stemme essaying Tristan and his Isolde.  Go to Operacast for schedule and stations.

* did you catch him in DIE WALKUERE  two years ago with Violeta Urmana?  it rivals the Dominog/Meier heard last week – I think it is actually hotter (you can’t imagine!! – the entire Bayreuth audience roared!)

Not many second chances to get a recording from the web for these so pay careful attention to the times and stations.

This is a non-RING year at the Festival – TRISTAN, LOHENGRIN, HOLLANDER, TANNHAUSER and PARSIFAL