French director Cyril Teste does not interpret the opera Salome, which was banned by the censors at the time of its creation, as a mere tragedy. Nor does he set it during the Roman occupation of Palestine at the time of Christ, but in the context of an illustrious evening party, underlining one aspect of the play: the traumatisation of a four-teen-year-old child by her family. Live video projections onto the back wall of the stage are showing us faces, expressions and actions that help flesh out the action. Swedish soprano Malin Byström “is the central star that carries the evening scenically and vocally. […] She shows a present torn woman who is ground between powerful men.” (Wiener Zeitung) “The Vienna State Opera Orchestra was on excellent form too, full of rich, warm tone in which to luxuriate, yet ever precise and directed” (Seen and Heard International) by the Wiener Staatsoper’s musical director Philippe Jordan – “a master of sound dramaturgy” (Kurier).“The Vienna State Opera simply has Strauss in its DNA.” Kurier
Goldberg Variations
Simply Clavier-Übung bestehend in einer Aria mit verschiedenen Veraenderungen, Johann Sebastian Bach titled his Goldberg Variations in 1742 – and composed a fascinating compendium of variations, canons and fugues. In 1993, the Swiss choreographer Heinz Spoerli took up the challenge of meeting Bach’s opus summum of piano literature with dance – and created one of his signature works: a dance drama about man, his joys and fears, loneliness and lusts, bonds and ruptures, youth and old age, which builds up
from making music with the body. Now, 30 years after its creation, it’s been brought to the stage of the Wiener Staatsoper in a new set and costume design, especially for the Wiener Staatsballett – “a wonderful addition to the repertoire” (Tanz). “The courage to choreograph Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations for piano was rewarded. Spoerli has succeeded in creating a highly attractive and musical exploration of the variations, which shows pure dance in many colorful facets. […] The spectrum ranges from large group scenes to solos and pas de deux. All highlights.” (Kurier)
Il barbiere di Siviglia
“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.
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).
Tosca
The appeal of Margarethe Wallmann’s »Tosca« production has stood the test of time since 1958. The staging has also garnered interest on account of its symbolic allure with the impressive number of renowned artistic personalities who have appeared before the Viennese audience in this very production with these very decorations and in these very costumes in memorable performances. The gallery of outstanding performers will now be continued with Viennese role debut of international audience favourite: Anna Netrebko as Tosca. “Anna Netrebko as Tosca in Vienna: fan-tastic!” (Kurier)