(Credit: Cingo Hoehn) Finding a performance of a Zarzuela in Spain is rare enough, but in Switzerland? And put on by a German stage director? Definitely in the category of rare occurrences! It so happens that the Zarzuela genre is Christof Loy’s special passion and he is doing all he can to introduce new audiences to this unique Spanish blend {…}
Full disclosure: my definition of purgatory is a Christof Loy opera staging. They are not infernal—there is always some redemption—and they used to be good. But now, they are definitely not for me. That mono-scenario, that preference for milk-aisle lighting and the somewhat surreal stagings. I get it, some people might like it. I am even friends with some of {…}
(Credit: © Michal Novak) Christof Loy has announced the creation of his own Zarzuela company. The new company, “Los Paladines,” will see Loy collaborate with conductor José Miguel Pérez-Sierra and singers David Oller, Cristina Toledo, Carmen Artaza, and Santiago Sánchez. Regarding the origins of the company, Loy said, “If ‘Die Zauberflöte’ had been written in Spanish, it would be considered a zarzuela. ‘Cavalleria {…}
(Photo: Monika Ritterschaus) Opéra Bastille is in the midst of presenting a new production of Puccini’s “Il Trittico” (The Triptych) from April 29 to May 28, directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Carlo Rizzi. The triptych features three operas of different natures, all juxtaposed to demonstrate the breadth of the Italian composer’s genius. Contrary to Puccini’s own instructions, the {…}
(Photo : Vincent PONTET) From March 21 to April 6, the Théâtre des Champs Elysées presents a new production of Jules Massenet’s “Werther,” staged by Christof Loy and directed by Silvia Aurea De Stefano. It’s probably no exaggeration to consider it one of the best of the first quarter of 2025, at least. In fact, it’s been a long time {…}
(Photo: © Javier del Real /Teatro Real de Madrid) The Teatro Real’s recent staging of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” offers a profound and intimate exploration of love, regret, and honor, brought to life by a stellar cast. Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov delivers a convincing portrayal of Eugene Onegin, capturing the character’s evolution from detached arrogance to profound remorse. His performance is {…}
(Photo credit: © ROH 2024/Tristram Kenton) Had a family bust-up over the holidays? Don’t worry – it could be worse. Richard Strauss’ “Elektra,” with a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal from his 1903 play of the same, took a dysfunctional family of the opera stage to new extremes, boiling up Sophocles’ tale of matricide in the Freudian pressure cooker of {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera) I suppose anything with “Destiny” in the title will always be a bit profound. In fact, “La Forza” is about as profound and gloomy, if not downright dark as it gets, even by Verdi’s standards. At around four and a half hours, it’s also his longest work. It’s a story of love, death, and revenge. Mainly revenge. {…}
Photo: © Genevieve Girling Christof Loy’s new production of “Tosca” for English National Opera, which first appeared in Helsinki in 2018, replaces Catherine Malfitano’s show, which received two revivals during its tenure and last appeared on the Coliseum stage in 2016. The production sees Leo Hussain return to the Coliseum pit – a distinguished Music Director of Opéra de Rouen and {…}
(Credits: GoDirect Artists Management official website / Pia Clodi / Linda Rabisch) After a six-month hiatus, the Theater an der Wien – Das Opernhaus will open its doors to the public on Sep. 16 2020 with a new production of Leoncavallo’s opera “Zazà.” The performance will star Svetlana Aksenova, Christopher Maltman, Dorothea Herbert, Nikolai Schukoff, Enkelejda Shkosa, Juliette Mars, Tobias {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / www.codalario.com) Ópera XXI de España has announced that it will present its awards ceremony in a virtual event which will be held on October 25, 2020. The ceremony was initially planned for March 2020, but had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Ópera XXI de España has been working on the new {…}