Ain Anger rehearsing - credit Metropolitan Opera
©Photo: Metropolitan Opera

Ain Anger 2024 Highlights

21/6/2024

From Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra to Hagen in Götterdämmerung, Ain Anger’s magnificent bass harnesses power and precision to devastating effect. Here we take a look at some of his season highlights and the upcoming performances to look forward to:

February 2024: Ain Anger​’s return to Teatro alla Scala as Fiesco in Daniele Abbado’s production of Simon Boccanegra under Lorenzo Viotti.

“Another valuable interpreter is undoubtedly the Estonian Ain Anger, a perfectly phrased Fiesco, who is embodied in the limpid natural sound of the deep bass capable at the same time of very pleasant adherence to the singing lines” – GB Opera, February 2024

Simon Boccanegra - Trailer (Teatro alla Scala) © Teatro alla Scala

March 2024: Prince Gremin in Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production of Eugene Onegin at the Wiener Staatsoper under Lothar Koenigs

“There were more acting facets in Ain Anger’s work. Prince Gremin of the Kammersänger was not, as is usually the case, a stiff old moneybag, but had a sovereign nonchalance. And Anger’s great aria in the sixth scene: Chapeau.” – Der Standard, March 2024

Ain Anger, sitting white shirt - credit Martin Ahven

May 2024: Hermann in Romeo Castellucci’s production of Tannhäuser for Bayerische Staatsoper under Sebastian Weigle, returning for the festival in July .

“Ain Anger shone as Landgrave Hermann with a soft, carrying, timbre-rich bass voice. ” – Das Opernmagazin, May 2024

Ain Anger- Tannhauser production - credit Wilfried Hoesl

In June, Ain returns to the Hong Kong Philharmonic for performances as Daland in Der fliegender Holländer under Jaap van Zweden on 21 and 23 June. The performances are set to be recorded by Naxos. Daland is a role Ain has sung across the world with performances for the Bayerische Staatsoper, Washingon National Opera, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and also marking his debut for Teatro alla Scala, with critics writing: 

“As the ideal of the gruff sailor, with a raspy voice, colored by salt water and grain, he impresses with his broad, distinctive bass foundation” – Bachtrack 2021

Ain Anger, auditorium - credit Kiur Kaasik

Ain’s season draws to a close at the Helsinki Music Festival as Dosifei in Khovanshchina. Performed in a previously unheard concert version compiled and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen with performances in Helsinki on 20 and 21 August and in Stockholm on 23 August, it promises to be a very special end to the season. On his interpretation of the role for Wiener Staatsoper, critics remarked: 

“Ain Anger, as Dosifey, stamped his mark on the role from the moment he appeared on the stage. A large man, with powerful facial features, he exuded authority. Throughout the evening, he bore himself with a noble dignity, his resonant bass always measured and stable, with a solidity that enhanced his uncompromising firmness… His strong presence matched by his powerful bass were more than a match for Khovansky.” – Opera Wire

Khovanshchina can be heard next season at the Salzburg Easter Festival where Ain is once again set to sing Dosifei under Esa-Pekka Salonen, this time in Simon McBurney’s new production.