Sumegi stars in Wagner’s ‘epic opera’
“When you enter the Wagner realm of opera singing, it’s perceived to be on a higher level, because of the scale and scope of the work."
Lohengrin, written by Richard Wagner, was first performed in 1850. The story goes that Wagner was unable to attend the premiere of the opera because he was in exile, forced to leave the direction to his friend Franz Liszt, and mourning the fact that the whole of Germany heard Lohengrin before he was able to. The first time the composer heard the opera was 11 years later in Vienna.
Another fun fact? The well-known Here Comes the Bride originated with Lohengrin, which has been described by Opera Australia as “a romance of mythical proportions”.
In a big coop, the latest Opera Australia production by French director Olivier Py will feature the world’s most in-demand tenor, Jonas Kaufmann, performing his first fully staged opera in Australia. Starring alongside Kaufmann is US-based Australian opera singer Daniel Sumegi.
“I’ve met him before, but I’ve never worked with him,” Sumegi told The AJN when talking about Kaufmann.
“I’m getting the opportunity to sing with the most famous singer in the world.”
Wagner was a visionary composer. He was also a well-known antisemite and his operas are banned in Israel. While Sumegi admits this can play on the minds of Jewish performers, there is a certain prestige associated with performing music on such a high level and presenting such beautiful music to the audience.
“When you enter the Wagner realm of opera singing, it’s perceived to be on a higher level, because of the scale and scope of the work,” Sumegi said.
“Banning it doesn’t make it go away. I understand it, but I do what I do, and I try to do it well.”
Py has taken a certain stance on the story, setting the opera as a battle between good and evil in the ruins of Berlin in the aftermath of World War II.
While Sumegi acknowledges that there are people who will not like the fact that the story has been reset, he also says it’s the same with every production.
“Lohengrin is a fairy tale, so it can stand a lot of bending, and he definitely has bent the story,” Sumegi said of Py’s interpretation.
“But you don’t get to hear this music live very often, so if you don’t like the production, close your eyes and listen to it. The music has not changed.”
Sumegi is thrilled to be bringing Lohengrin to the Melbourne stage, saying he holds the city warmly in his heart. Despite being from Sydney, it was the Victoria State Opera that gave the bass-baritone his first solo job while he was still a young artist.
“Support the opera – they’ve had a shocking two years, like everyone else with COVID, and it would be really great to have people come out to support it.”
Lohengrin is at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, from May 14-48. For tickets: opera.org.au
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