Opera singers Juha Uusitalo (L) as Der Wanderer and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Juha Uusitalo (L) as Der Wanderer and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (L) as Siegfried and Ain Anger as Fafner perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (front) as Siegfried and Ain Anger as Fafner perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Stephen Gould as Siegfried performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Stephen Gould as Siegfried performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Stephen Gould as Siegfried performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (L) as Siegfried and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (L) as Siegfried and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (R) as Siegfried and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Stephen Gould (R) as Siegfried and Herwig Pecoraro as Mime perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" in Vienna's State Opera April 22, 2008. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere on April 27, 2008. REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Eva Johansson as Bruennhilde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Eva Johansson as Bruennhilde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Juha Uusitalo as Wotan performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Eva Johansson as Bruennhilde performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Eva Johansson as Bruennhilde and Juha Uusitalo as Wotan perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Michaela Schuster as Fricka performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Michaela Schuster as Fricka and Juha Uusitalo as Wotan perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Ain Anger as Hunding (L) and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde (L), Eva Johannson as Bruennhilde (R) and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde (L), Eva Johannson as Bruennhilde (R) and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde (L), Eva Johannson as Bruennhilde (R) and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Austrian maestro Franz Welser-Moest and a musician look at the score of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere night December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singer Johan Botha as Siegmund performs during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere night December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Nina Stemme as Sieglinde and Johan Botha as Siegmund perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere night December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Opera singers Eva Johansson as Bruennhilde and Juha Uusitalo as Wotan perform during a dress rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie) in Vienna's State Opera, November 27, 2007. The opera is directed by German Sven-Eric Bechtolf and will have its premiere night December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

German actor and director Sven-Eric Bechtolf addresses a news conference in Vienna's State Opera November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader (AUSTRIA) 

Austrian actor Peter Simonischek (L), as Jedermann (Everyman), and German actor Sven-Eric Bechtolf, as Teufel (Devil), perform during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmansthal's drama Jedermann in Salzburg July 23, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Austrian actor Peter Simonischek (R), as Jedermann (Everyman), and German actor Sven-Eric Bechtolf, as Guter Gesell (Good Fellow), perform during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmansthal's drama Jedermann in Salzburg July 23, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Austrian actor Peter Simonischek (L), as Jedermann (Everyman), and German actor Sven-Eric Bechtolf (R), as Guter Gesell (Good Fellow), perform during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmansthal's drama Jedermann in Salzburg July 23, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

German actor Sven-Eric Bechtolf, as Teufel (Devil), performs during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmansthal's drama Jedermann (Everyman) in Salzburg July 23, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

German actress Marie Baeumer, as Buhlschaft, Austrian actor Peter Simonischek (C), as Jedermann (Everyman), German actor Sven-Eric Bechtolf (R), as Guter Gesell (Good Fellow), perform during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmansthal's drama Jedermann in Salzburg July 23, 2007. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (R) and Sabine Haupt perform on stage as Der Graf and Die Schauspielerin during a dress rehearsal of an reuptake of Arthur Schnitzler's 'Reigen' at Vienna's Burgtheater October 12, 2006. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA) 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) and Birgit Minichmayr perform on stage as Der Graf and Die Dirne during a dress rehearsal of an reuptake of Arthur Schnitzler's 'Reigen' at Vienna's Burgtheater October 12, 2006. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA) 

Am 16. Dezember 2005 hat am Wiener Burgtheater Gotthold Ephraim Lessings "Minna von Barnhelm oder das Soldatenglueck" unter der Regie von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenbild spielen Cornelius Obonya den Paul Werner, Sven-Eric Bechtolf den Major von Tellheim und Pauline Knof die Franziska. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS 

Am 16. Dezember 2005 hat am Wiener Burgtheater Gotthold Ephraim Lessings "Minna von Barnhelm oder das Soldatenglueck" unter der Regie von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenbild spielen Sven-Eric Bechtolf den Major von Tellheim (R) und Sabine Haupt die Minna. REUTERS 

Am Wiener Burgtheater hat am 30. April 2004 Friedrich Schillers "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" unter der Regier von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenausschnitt spielen Sven-Eric Bechtolf als Philipp II. (L) und Denis Petkovic als Marquis von Posa. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS PR/ 

Am Wiener Burgtheater hat am 30. April 2004 Friedrich Schillers "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" unter der Regier von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenausschnitt spielen v.L.n.R. Cornelius Obonya die Rolle des Domingo, Sven-Eric Bechtolf den Philipp II. (L) und Nicholas Ofczarek den Herzog von Alba. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS PR/ 

Am Wiener Burgtheater hat am 30. April 2004 Friedrich Schillers "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" unter der Regier von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenausschnitt spielen Christiane von Poelnitz als Prinzessin von Eboli (Mitte L) und Sven-Eric Bechtolf als Philipp II. (Mitte R). REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS PR/ 

Am Wiener Burgtheater hat am 30. April 2004 Friedrich Schillers "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" unter der Regier von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenausschnitt spielen Sven-Eric Bechtolf als Philipp II. (L) und Phillipp Hauss als Don Carlos. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS PR/ 

Am Wiener Burgtheater hat am 30. April 2004 Friedrich Schillers "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" unter der Regier von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im Probenausschnitt spielen Sven-Eric Bechtolf als Philipp II. (L) und Johanna Wokalek als Elisabeth von Valois. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS PR/ 

Sven Eric Bechtolf (L) plays Friedrich Hofreiter and Birgit Minichmayr
plays Erna during a dress rehearsal of Arthur Schnitzler's play "Das
weite Land" at the Salzburg Festival July 26, 2003. The world famous
cultural Salzburg Festival lasts from Friday July 25 to Sunday August
31 and the play has its premiere Monday July 28, 2003. Picture taken
July 26. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

LF/CRB 

Sven Eric Bechtolf is seen as Friedrich Hofreiter, Corinna Kirchhoff as
Genia and Werner Woelbern as Dr. Mauer during a dress rehearsal of
Arthur Schnitzler's play "Das weite Land". Picture taken at the
Salzburg Festival July 26, 2003. The world famous cultural Salzburg
Festival lasts from Friday July 25 to Sunday August 31 and the play has
its premiere Monday July 28, 2003. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger REUTERS

LF/ 

Sven Eric Bechtolf is seen as Friedrich Hofreiter and Birgit Minichmayr
as Erna during a dress rehearsal of Arthur Schnitzler's play "Das weite
Land". Picture taken at the Salzburg Festival July 26, 2003. The world
famous cultural Salzburg Festival lasts from Friday July 25 to Sunday
August 31 and the play has its premiere Monday July 28, 2003.
REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger REUTERS

LF/ 

Sven Eric Bechtolf is seen as Friedrich Hofreiter and Birgit Minichmayr
as Erna during a dress rehearsal of Arthur Schnitzler's play "Das weite
Land". Picture taken at the Salzburg Festival July 26, 2003. The world
famous cultural Salzburg Festival lasts from Friday July 25 to Sunday
August 31 and the play has its premiere Monday July 28, 2003.
REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger REUTERS

LF/ 

Sven Eric Bechtolf is seen as Friedrich Hofreiter and Birgit Minichmayr
as Erna during a dress rehearsal of Arthur Schnitzler's play "Das weite
Land" at the Salzburg Festival July 26, 2003. The world famous cultural
Salzburg Festival lasts from Friday July 25 to Sunday August 31 and the
play has its premiere Monday July 28, 2003. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

LF/WS 

Am 20. Dezember 2002 hat am Wiener Akademietheater Gotthold Ephraim
Lessings "Emilia Galotti" unter der Regie von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im
Szenenausschnitt vom 16. Dezember 2002 spielen Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L)
und Roland Koch in den Rollen des Hettore Gonzaga und des Marinelli.
REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS

PR/ 

Am 20. Dezember 2002 hat am Wiener Akademietheater Gotthold Ephraim
Lessings "Emilia Galotti" unter der Regie von Andrea Breth Premiere. Im
Szenenausschnitt vom 16. Dezember 2002 spielen Wolfgang Michael (L) und
Sven-Eric Bechtolf in den Rollen des Malers und des Hettore Gonzaga.
REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS

PR/ 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) and Martin Schwab perform as Gennadij Demjanytsch and Arkadij in Alexander Ostrowskij's play "Der Wald" during a dress rehearsal on stage of Vienna's Akademietheater April 29, 2002. [The play is directed by Tamas Ascher and will have its premiere on May 3. ] 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) and Kirsten Dene perform as Gennadij Demjanytsch and Raissa Pawlowna Gurmyschskaja in Alexander Ostrowskij's play "Der Wald" during a dress rehearsal on stage of Vienna's Akademietheater April 29, 2002. [The play is directed by Tamas Ascher and will have its premiere on May 3. ] 

Am 3. Mai 2002 hat am Wiener Akademietheater Alexander Ostrowskijs "Der
Wald" Premiere. Im Szenenausschnitt Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) als Gennadij
Demjanytsch und Florentin Groll als Iwan Petrowitsch Wosmibratow.
REUTERS/Herwig Prammer REUTERS

PR/ 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) and Martin Schwab perform as Gennadij
Demjanytsch and Arkadij in Alexander Ostrowskij's play "Der Wald"
during a dress rehearsal on stage of Vienna's Akademietheater April 29,
2002. The play is directed by Tamas Ascher and will have its premiere
on May 3. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer

PR/ 

Actors Sven-Eric Bechtolf (L) and Kirsten Dene perform as Gennadij
Demjanytsch and Raissa Pawlowna Gurmyschskaja in Alexander Ostrowskij's
play "Der Wald" during a dress rehearsal on stage of Vienna's
Akademietheater April 29, 2002. The play is directed by Tamas Ascher
and will have its premiere on May 3. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer

PR/ 

Am 11. Maerz 2001 hat am Wiener Burgtheater Georg Buechners "Leonce und Lena" unter der Regie Sven - Eric Bechtolfs Premiere. Im Szenenausschnitt spielen Nicholas Ofczarek Leonce (R) und Regina Fritsch Rosetta.

PR/