Handel’s Belshazzar at Komische Oper Berlin

Belshazzar

By Zenaida des Aubris, 30 March 2026

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“a society intoxicated by its own image, blind to impending collapse”

Reviewed at Schillertheater: Großer Saal, Berlin on 28 March 2026

Handel, Belshazzar

Komische Oper Berlin

George Petrou, Conductor

Herbert Fritsch, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Olaf Freese, Lighting Designer

Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin

Chorsolisten der Komischen Oper Berlin

Agustín Gómez, Belshazzar

Soraya Mafi, Nitocris

Susan Zarrabi, Cyrus

Ray Chenez, Daniel

Philipp Meierhöfer, Gobrias

Vocalconsort Berlin

David Cavelius, Choirmaster / chorus director

Barrie Kosky directs a ferocious new Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Zenaida des Aubris, 31st January

Shostakovich's opera is laid bare in Berlin, to devastating effect, with a distinguished cast led by Ambur Braid.

****1

Masks and obsessions: Evgeny Titov’s Salome at Komische Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 22nd November

Salome is faceless and the Dance of the Seven Veils becomes a sardonic commentary on seduction in Komische Oper Berlin's austere new staging.

****1

Opulent minimalism: Kosky directs a new staging of Akhnaten

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd March

Barrie Kosky's new production of Philip Glass' Akhnaten for Komische Oper at the Schillertheater removes any egyptological references.

****1

A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 17th November

With a brand new production by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin's first venture into the Sondheim repertoire mostly falls flat.

**111

Kirill Serebrennikov’s Marriage of Figaro challenges Edinburgh

David Smythe, 16th August

Komische Oper Berlin's The Marriage of Figaro is staged at the Edinburgh International Festival with a strong cast headed by Penny Sofroniadou and Peter Kellner.

****1

Kosky's Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 22nd March

It takes two to tango... but what about vaudeville? A rerun of Barrie Kosky's production of Oscar Straus' Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will owes most of its charm to the two leads.

***11

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Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.

Baroque confectionery with a serious core: Handel’s Belshazzar at Komische Oper Berlin