I am looking forward to my trip to Karlsruhe in spring. When I looked at their season again, I discovered that it is possible to see Agneta Eichenholz in Die tote Stadt and the new Arabella with Irina Simmes, directed by Brigitte Fassbaender, on two consecutive evenings.

Eichenholz is much too rare on stage these days. Her Jenufa in Antwerp was unforgettable, so I am hoping for an equally satisfying Marietta. She is 55, so the role should still suit her well.

A production by Fassbaender is always worth seeing, and as an added bonus the young Irina Simmes makes her debut as Arabella. I saw her two years ago in Konwitschny’s Rheingold as a lovely Freia. It will be interesting to hear how she has developed since then.