This week the Staatsoper Berlin is set to stage Leoš Janáček’s satirical opera “Die Ausflüge des Herrn Brouček” for the very first time in the company’s history. Leading the production will be Robert Carsen, one of opera’s most acclaimed and greatest directors.

Interestingly enough Carsen has never directed the Staatsoper Berlin, so the occasion will be his debut. Throughout his career, Carsen has been acclaimed for his dynamic productions and for his dramatic depth, poetry, humor, and artistic sophistication. He has worked at the Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, Royal Opera House Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Komische Oper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, and Teatro Real to name a few.

For his debut in Berlin, Carsen will bring his production of “Die Ausflüge des Herrn Brouček” from the National Theatre Brno. When the production opened it received praise with many noting Carsen’s “visual creativity and imaginative reimagining of the story.” For the production, Carsen chose to set it in the late 60s of the last century.

For those not in Staatsoper Berlin, the production was recorded at the Brno festival.

Recordings

It’s hard to choose which production to recommend from Carsen’s work but one that stands out is “Eugene Onegin” recorded from the Metropolitan Opera and “Falstaff,” also recorded by the Met. There is also the acclaimed “Don Giovanni” from the Teatro alla Scala, which featured a unique star cast.