(Photo: Geoffroy Schied) Beethoven’s only opera has always occupied a singular and somewhat anomalous position in the repertory. Despite repeated revisions, the composer never entirely reconciled the conventions of Singspiel with the elevated moral and philosophical aspirations that animated the work. Yet it is precisely this unresolved tension that has guaranteed “Fidelio” its enduring fascination. At once a domestic drama, {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) In 1822, Rossini’s opera “Zelmira” premiered at Naples’ Teatro San Carlo to widespread acclaim and was quickly taken up by theaters across Europe, including Vienna, London and Paris. However, like most of the composer’s works, it quickly fell by the wayside and had to wait for over 100 years to be revived, with a performance in 1965 {…}
(Photo: Herwig Prammer / OnP) A very promising night indeed: Paris Opera takes its first step toward its new Ring under the direction of Calixto Bieito—one of the most exciting artists in his field—and with a promising cast. The stakes are particularly high for the company president, Alexander Neef, who would crowd his tenure with a Wagner Ring in continental {…}
(Photo: ) Giuseppe Verdi’s “I vespri siciliani” recounts the story of a historical revolution: the uprising of the Sicilian people against their French rulers in 1282, leading to the liberation of the island from their occupation. The political narrative is intertwined with the personal lives of the main characters. Duchess Elena, whose brother was killed by the French, seeks vengeance {…}
(Photo credit: Vincent Pontet-OnP) A few years ago, when Bieito’s staging of “Simon Boccanegra” premiered at the Paris Opera, the reviews were abysmal. Few things are as catchy in the opera world as negative consensus. I got to see the same production with a very similar cast last weekend, and, somehow, I think it was one of the most emotional {…}
Paris Opera’s “Carmen” staging was sold as the same production staged last November, yet everything was different. Adding one or two gestures here and there can almost completely change the characters’ psychology. Calixto Bieito’s staging remains impressive and provocative. He emphasizes the importance of true meaning to the detriment of the exploitation of empty forms. The impact of such a {…}
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus) Elites within society are nothing new. However, over the latter part of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century, we have witnessed the emergence of an increasingly powerful elite who possess significant global interests yet apparently display little attachment to any specific country. It is an elite that is accumulating wealth and income {…}
(Photo: Festival Janacek Brno) Human beings need love and friendship to flourish and to pursue normal, balanced lives. Remove this support and replace it with abuse, neglect and contempt, and a person will become unable to function successfully. They will become maladjusted, unable to relate to others with ease and confidence, and suffer increasing periods of loneliness and isolation. Desperate {…}
This review is based on performances on Nov. 15 & 18, 2022. In every opera house, there is always an informal smoker’s meeting outside in the entr’acte. It is the best place to “feel the mood” of how an opera performance is being received. Hence, I am there solely for journalistic reasons, and nothing more. On this occasion, I went {…}
(Photo Credit: Zdeněk Sokol) As part of its “Musica non grata” series, the National Theatre Opera in Prague is set to present Erwin Schulhoff’s “Flammen” for the first time since its world premiere in 1932. The opera opens on June 12, 2022 and runs through Nov. 22, 2022. The work, which is a unique take on the Don Juan myth, {…}
(Credit: Paul Marc Mitchell) The English National Opera is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” starting on Jan. 29, 2020. The famed work will be presented in a production directed by Calixto Bieito that explores the relationship of the sexes at the end of Francisco Franco’s rule in Spain. This version is a co-production with the Den Norske Opera and Ballet. {…}