Staatsoper Wien's Six Hour Marathon, Holender's the Belle of the Ball

 

Six hours after the concert started, historic big cheese of Staatsoper Wien, Ioan Holender, was out with a quickness (well, more like a slowness since he's pushing 80). 

A dozen conductors and roughly 50 opera singers gathered in Vienna last night to party at a farewell gala for the old dude. Placido Domingo, Zubin Mehta, Natalie Dessay, Thomas Quasthoff, Barbara Frittoli, Thomas Hampson, and Anna Netrebko (and friends -- that's totally not a code name for her bewbs) raged all night and toasted the guest of honor, Holender.

Holender has served Staatsoper Wien since 1992 and when he officially ends his contract this summer, he'll be the General Director with the most years of leadership in the opera house's history.

Awesome video here (we're pretty sure Holender gave a frat house style, "Animal House" belch at the end)

Comments

[Newberry]

I hope the capture above of Anna was taken at the end of the night which would explain her bad posture!

[vale]

It's all so confusing.
Not one real good singer left amongst them...

[sumiet]

@vale.....isokoski frittoli stoyanova sang like goddesses! impeccaable technique and taste like singera of the old days... what do you mean no real good singer? and Bieczala was incredible! so were waltraud meyer and urmana

[walter]

@sumiet... I was there and don't agree with you at all. It all depends on taste.
If that's what you like, ok.

[angeladorable]

Anna's lost weight--she looks great.

[Jen]

Walter was there? WHY BOTHER??

[Tara Marsalata]

Christ, Anna sounded absolutely awful. What is the matter with her - can't someone teach this woman how to sing? Where's Julie Andrews when you need her eh?!