“Così fan tutte” contains some of Mozart’s loveliest arias and the greatest number of ensembles in any of his operas. Although its libretto is often said to be frivolous, it is a foil for Mozart’s lucid and utterly non-Romantic view of the sexes. Director Roberto de Simone captures both the comedic and tragic core of the work from within and makes its depth palpable. Since the beginning of the 1990s, conductor Riccardo Muti has been increasingly making a name for himself as a Mozart specialist.
Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald (Tales From The Vienna Wood)
Ödön von Horváth’s 1931 play “Tales from the Vienna Woods” takes a twisted view of Johann Strauss Jr’s 1868 waltz of the same title. During his lifetime, he considered
teaming up with Kurt Weil to make an opera of the work. Three-quarters of a century later, the Bregenz Festival has finally accomplished this job, by asking Viennese
composer Heinz Karl Gruber to write the opera – and “Gruber is a worthy substitute for Weil” states the Financial Times.
R. Strauss, Capriccio
American soprano Renée Fleming, renowned for her commanding musicianship, intelligence and interpretive abilities, sings one of her signature roles, the elegant Countess in Richard Strauss’s Capriccio in this delightful production from the Vienna State Opera. Renée Fleming stars alongside the Danish baritone Bo Skovhus and conductor Christoph Eschenbach, who leads the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Also performing are Michael Schade, Markus Eiche, Kurt Rydl and Angelika Kirchschlager.
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
This production from the Chorégies d’Orange Festival, one of the festivals with the longest and richest traditions in France, is directed by the French conductor Michel Plasson, whose interpretation of the operatic works by Offenbach, Gounod and Massenet were considered to be the most excellent of our time. Performing is baritone José van Dam, one of today’s most famous and sought after interpreters of the bass-baritone repertoire.