Götz Friedrich
Encyclopedia
Götz Friedrich was a German opera and theatre director.
He was a student and assistant of Walter Felsenstein
at the Komische Oper Berlin
in (East) Berlin, where he went on to direct his early productions. He first came to international prominence with a controversial 1972 production of Wagner's Tannhäuser at Bayreuth. He defected to the West whilst working on a production of Jenufa in Stockholm later the same year.
From 1972-81 he was principal director at the Hamburg State Opera. Between 1977 and 1981 he was also director of productions at the Royal Opera House
at Covent Garden
in London
, where he staged the first British performances of the three-act completion of Berg's Lulu. In 1981 he took up the post of general director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
where he stayed until his death in 2000, staging productions across the whole of the operatic repertoire.
He was partciularly known for his productions of Wagner. He staged his first production of the Ring at Covent Garden (1973-76, conducted by Colin Davis). The designs by Josef Svoboda centred on a revolving hydraulic platform. In the 1980s he directed a new production for the Deutsche Oper in Berlin (the so-called 'Time Tunnel' Ring). Covent Garden later imported this production to replace a planned production by Yuri Lyubimov, which had been abandoned after Das Rheingold. Bernard Haitink conducted complete cycles of the second Friedrich Ring in 1992. The production was also staged in Washington and Japan.
In 1976 he directed the world première of Josef Tal's Die Versuchung (The Temptation) in Munich. He directed the world premières of Luciano Berio
's Un re in ascolto
, Ingvar Lidholm
's "Ett Drömspel" and Henze's Raft of the Medusa.
He was the initiator of the 1986 founded The American Berlin Opera Foundation (ABOF), located in New York City
.
Among his productions available on DVD are a 1974 film of Salome (with Teresa Stratas
) and a 1981 film of Elektra (with Leonie Rysanek and Astrid Varnay), both conducted by Karl Böhm; a 1979 Falstaff
(with Gabriel Bacquier
) and a 1992 Die Frau ohne Schatten (with Cheryl Studer and Thomas Moser), both conducted by Georg Solti; and a 1982 Bayreuth production of Lohengrin (with Peter Hofmann
and Karan Armstrong), conducted by Woldemar Nelsson. His "controversial" 1972 Bayreuth production of Tannhäuser is also available on DVD.
Friedrich was married to Ruth Maria Kubitschek, with whom he had a son, Alexander. From his marriage to soprano Karan Armstrong
, he had another son, Johannes.
He was a student and assistant of Walter Felsenstein
Walter Felsenstein
Walter Felsenstein was an Austrian theater and opera director.He was one of the most important exponents of textual accuracy, productions in which dramatic and musical values were exquisitely researched and balanced...
at the Komische Oper Berlin
Komische Oper Berlin
The Komische Oper Berlin is an opera company in Berlin, Germany, which specializes in German language productions of opera, operetta and musicals....
in (East) Berlin, where he went on to direct his early productions. He first came to international prominence with a controversial 1972 production of Wagner's Tannhäuser at Bayreuth. He defected to the West whilst working on a production of Jenufa in Stockholm later the same year.
From 1972-81 he was principal director at the Hamburg State Opera. Between 1977 and 1981 he was also director of productions at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he staged the first British performances of the three-act completion of Berg's Lulu. In 1981 he took up the post of general director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...
where he stayed until his death in 2000, staging productions across the whole of the operatic repertoire.
He was partciularly known for his productions of Wagner. He staged his first production of the Ring at Covent Garden (1973-76, conducted by Colin Davis). The designs by Josef Svoboda centred on a revolving hydraulic platform. In the 1980s he directed a new production for the Deutsche Oper in Berlin (the so-called 'Time Tunnel' Ring). Covent Garden later imported this production to replace a planned production by Yuri Lyubimov, which had been abandoned after Das Rheingold. Bernard Haitink conducted complete cycles of the second Friedrich Ring in 1992. The production was also staged in Washington and Japan.
In 1976 he directed the world première of Josef Tal's Die Versuchung (The Temptation) in Munich. He directed the world premières of Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
's Un re in ascolto
Un re in ascolto
Un re in ascolto is an opera by Luciano Berio, who also wrote the libretto. The libretto is based on an idea by Italo Calvino, incorporating excerpts from Friedrich Einsiedel and Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter's eighteenth century libretto on Shakespeare's The Tempest as well as W. H. Auden's The Sea...
, Ingvar Lidholm
Ingvar Lidholm
Ingvar Natanael Lidholm is a Swedish composer.Ingvar Lidholm was born in Jönköping. He was a pupil of Hilding Rosenberg from 1943 to 1945, becoming a viola player with the Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra. Having been awarded the Jenny Lind Fellowship for 1946–7, he travelled to France, Switzerland...
's "Ett Drömspel" and Henze's Raft of the Medusa.
He was the initiator of the 1986 founded The American Berlin Opera Foundation (ABOF), located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Among his productions available on DVD are a 1974 film of Salome (with Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas, OC , is a retired Canadian operatic soprano. She is especially well-known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu.-Early life and career:...
) and a 1981 film of Elektra (with Leonie Rysanek and Astrid Varnay), both conducted by Karl Böhm; a 1979 Falstaff
Falstaff (opera)
Falstaff is an operatic commedia lirica in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV. It was Verdi's last opera, written in the composer's ninth decade, and only the second of his 26 operas to be a comedy...
(with Gabriel Bacquier
Gabriel Bacquier
Gabriel Bacquier is a French operatic baritone. One of the leading baritones of the 20th century and particularly associated with the French and Italian repertories, he is considered a fine singing-actor equally at home in dramatic or comic roles.-Life and career:Gabriel Bacquier was born in...
) and a 1992 Die Frau ohne Schatten (with Cheryl Studer and Thomas Moser), both conducted by Georg Solti; and a 1982 Bayreuth production of Lohengrin (with Peter Hofmann
Peter Hofmann
Peter Hofmann was a German tenor who had a successful performance career within the fields of opera, rock, pop, and musical theatre. He first rose to prominence in 1976 as a heldentenor at the Bayreuth festival where he drew critical acclaim for his performance of Siegmund in Richard Wagner's Die...
and Karan Armstrong), conducted by Woldemar Nelsson. His "controversial" 1972 Bayreuth production of Tannhäuser is also available on DVD.
Friedrich was married to Ruth Maria Kubitschek, with whom he had a son, Alexander. From his marriage to soprano Karan Armstrong
Karan Armstrong
Karan Armstrong is an American operatic soprano who has had an active international career since the 1960s.-Biography:...
, he had another son, Johannes.