The new opera company was founded by Seiji Ozawa, music director of the Vienna State Opera.
Elektra is directed by Robert Carsen, and stars Deborah Polaski, Agnes Baltsa, Christine Goerke, and Franz Grundheber. Carsen and Ozawa have worked together twice before, on Jenufa in 2001, and on La bohme in 2004. In April and May, the two will collaborate on Manon Lescaut in Vienna.
The Elektra performances take place within a 10-day all-Strauss event, which includes a concert by the Tokyo Opera Nomori Orchestra with the Alpine Chorus and soprano Ricarda Merberh, and chamber concerts by mezzo-soprano Mitsuko Shirai and pianist Hartmut H‹ll.
Ozawa has announced plans for the new company through the 2008 season, including repertoire by Verdi in 2006, including a co-production of Otello with the Vienna State Opera; works by Wagner in 2007, including Tannhauser directed by Carsen and conducted by Ozawa; and works by Tchaikovsky in 2008, featuring Eugene Onegin.
