2017 Year-End Letter

Dear Friends of the Berlin Staatsoper,

As 2017 ends, we look back on another successful year of engagement with our world renown Staatsoper, Staatskapelle and General Music Director, Maestro Daniel Barenboim.

Last January, Carnegie Hall hosted the Staatskapelle’s performance of the Bruckner symphonies, and the American Friends hosted them at a Gala Performance and Dinner on January 23rd. Maestro Barenboim greeted friends and autographed CD’s following the concert and a good time was had by all.

In April, American Friends traveled to Berlin for the Berlin Festival Days and presented the Staatsoper with a $100,000 donation to support the Staatsoper’s Sub-title translation program, its” Name your Seat” dedication program, and other activities surrounding the reopening of the House after seven years of renovation, expansion, and bringing its technical proficiency to the highest of world standards.

October 3 was the official reopening of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and the American Friends joined in the celebration with Chancellor Merkel and other leading politicians as well as guests from around the world. Maestro Barenboim and Guest Conductor Zubin Mehta led the opera and concerts, with Alfred Brendel guest pianist.

The December 7thconcertmarked the 275-year anniversary of the Staatsoper & the 25th birthday of the German Association of Friends and Sponsors. December 8th was the premiere of “Hänsel und Gretel,” and December 9th, the premiere of “L'incoronazione di Poppea.”

Plans are underway for two New York events in the next 2 or 4 months as well as travel in March to Berlin for the Festival Days. By keeping your membership up to date, you make these events possible and enjoy the personal pleasure of meeting and greeting Maestro Daniel Barenboim, the outstanding singers of the Staatsoper ensemble and the unsurpassed musicians of the Staatskapelle. U.S. tax law changes underway as I write may make it costlier to provide support in the future and therefore I ask you to please consider making your 2018 donations before January 1, 2018. You may send a check or donate on our website at the addresses below.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with glorious music from our beloved ensemble of singers, chorus and musicians.

Harvey Traison

President