“Il barbiere di Siviglia” is commonly considered as Gioachino Rossini’s masterpiece. It premiered in Rome in 1816, ever since it has been one of the most popular and successful works in the world of opera. For his new production at the Vienna State Opera, the director Herbert Fritsch has created a colourful slapstick party” (Der Standard) and assembled a gifted and dedicated ensemble of excellent vocal quality and marvelous acting skills, with Bel canto star Juan Diego Flórez as Conte Almaviva, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya as Rosina and Étienne Dupuis as Figaro. Rossini specialist Michele Mariotti sweeps the Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper into lusty playing.
Orlando
Orlando is the first work commissioned from a woman for the Vienna State Opera. Olga Neuwirth, for a long time one of the great composers of the present, succeeds with this opera in creating a captivating arc across many musical genres. An exciting, socially critical production by Polly Graham who puts a fantastically singing and playing Kate Lindsey in the center of the action. Opernwelt made it “First performance of the year” in its annual hit list. “The premiere of the season” Die Zeit
Idomeneo
Idomeneo is considered as the first of the seven uncontested masterworks of Mozart’s dramatic œuvre and it is perhaps even the most revolutionary and forward-looking of his work. In “Kasper Holten’s coherent production” (Die Presse) Bernard Richter was “a cultivated bright tenor with beautiful expressive moments” (Kronen Zeitung). “Valentina
Nafornita performed the role of Ilia with passion and reached every height with ease and Irina Lungu portrayed Elettra as a great tragic figure and unfolded her soprano with verve in the final aria” (Kurier). Conductor Tomáš Netopil provided with the orchestra “gripping moments from the virtuoso overture onwards” (Kronen Zeitung).
Peer Gynt
In this story ballet, choreographer Edward Clug merges the distinct versions of Peer Gynt by Edward Grieg and Henrik Ibsen into a new ballet experience. “A brilliant narrator” (Kronenzeitung), Clug captures the fantastic adventures of the boastful peasant boy, who sets off to become emperor of the world, with the help of the bold stage and costume design by Marko Japelij and Leo Kulaš. The result are “magical scenes, never seen like this in conventional ballets” (Kurier) with “an outstanding cast, down to the smallest roles” (Opernfreund).
The Cunning Little Vixen
After quarter of a century, legendary director Otto Schenk returns to the Wiener Staatsoper to stage Leoš Janácek’s musical fairy tale The Cunning Little Vixen, conducted by Tomáš Netopil. Although the opera premiered in 1924, it took more than 90 years for The Cunning Little Vixen to enter the stage of the magnificent Wiener Staatsoper. To celebrate the fact that the work is heard at the house on the Ring for the very first time, none other than Austrian theatre luminary Otto Schenk devotes himself to staging the adventures of the clever fox and accompanying wildlife. Otto Schenk’s take on Janácek’s opera leaves nothing to be desired: “A triumph!” (Kronen Zeitung). “Tremendous applause for Schenk, the living legend!” (Wiener Zeitung).
Ariadne auf Naxos
Here is one of the truly overwhelming successes in recent opera history: Christian Thielemann’s sensational return to the Vienna State Opera to conduct his first-ever performances there of Richard Strauss, with an ideal cast in an acclaimed production of Ariadne auf Naxos, featuring Peter Matic, Sophie Koch, Soile Isokoski and Johan Botha, stage directed by Sven-Eric Bechtolf. “A triumph […] world stars and ensemble shine” (Die Presse). “Strauss in all his glory”(Wiener Zeitung).
Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake (Schwanensee)
To mark the 50th anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev’s legendary production of Tschaikovsky’s ballet in 1964, the Vienna State Opera is now reviving it with new sets and costumes designed by Julia Spinatelli, whose concept is inspired by the fairytale phantasy world of King Ludwig II incorporating simple, painted backdrops and few accessories, to present a new Swan Lake.
Puccini, La fanciulla del West
A celebrated new production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West from the Vienna State opera featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Nina Stemme. Stage by Marco Arturo Marelli, who sets it in a modern-day mining village. ‘Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann are the opera’s must-see couple for a generation’ (Financal Times). ‘Excellent singing from top to bottom, tight orchestral playing, beautiful lighting, and a decisive lack of cowboys, saloons and other “Wild West” clichés.’ (Bachtrack.com)
La Fille du Régiment
French soprano Natalie Dessay, not only a dazzling singer but also a gifted actress, effortlessly sweeps her castmates along in this turbulent buffo delight of an opera. ‘She laughed, mugged, cried and danced through her part … And she sang. Oh, how she sang,’ gushed George Jahn (Associated Press). Her partner is Juan Diego Flórez, one of the leading young tenors of our time. Clad in lederhosen, he cheerfully seduces Marie – and the audience – with his voice and his looks.