Die Lustige Witwe à l’Opéra de Paris : une fête en demi-teinte

By Jean-Marc Piriou, 16 September 2017

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“on ne peut résister à son incarnation idéale, désopilante du comte Danilowitsch”

Reviewed at Opéra national de Paris: Opéra Bastille, Paris on 14 September 2017

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow)

Opéra national de Paris

Marius Stieghorst, Conductor

Jorge Lavelli, Director

Antonio Lagarto, Set Designer

Francesco Zito, Costume Designer

Véronique Gens, Hanna Glawari

Valentina Naforniţă, Valencienne

Thomas Hampson, Count Danilo Danilovich

José Van Dam, Baron Mirko Zeta

Stephen Costello, Camille de Rosillon

Alexandre Duhamel, Vicomte Cascada

Chœurs de l'Opéra national de Paris

Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris

Pomp meets ping-pong: Nixon in China lands again in Paris

David Karlin, 14th March

Excellent vocal acting from Thomas Hampson, Renée Fleming, Xiaomeng Zhang and a magnificent orchestral performance conducted by Kent Nagano can't make Valentina Carrasco's production fully grip.

***11

Thomas Adès’ high-flying Exterminating Angel in Paris

Erwan Gentric, 29th February

The French premiere of the British composer's opera will be the undisputed high point of the Grande Boutique's season: a perfect confluence of music, staging and cast.

*****

Shock and awe in Paris with Bernstein's A Quiet Place

David Karlin, 9th March

In the expert hands of both director Warlikowski and conductor Kent Nagano, the sequel to Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti proves to be even darker and more dramatic.

*****

A long road to nowhere for Igor at the Bastille

Mark Pullinger, 1st December

Barrie Kosky's makes a limited impact in his debut at Opéra de Paris, apart from an hallucinogenic Polovtsian Dances.

***11

Les Indes galantes: with Alarcón, Rameau conquers the Bastille

Philippe Ramin, 28th September

The new production of Les Indes galantes at Opéra Bastille is exceptional, from the vocal cast to the choreography by Bintou Dembélé. But the stand-out performance of the evening comes from conductor Leonardo Garcia Alarcón.

*****

Don Giovanni according to Ivo van Hove: a puritan despite himself?

Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut, 16th June

Don Giovanni returns to the Palais Garnier. The production by Ivo van Hove lacks energy but is wonderfully served by a cast of great young talents.

***11

More reviews...

Jean-Marc Piriou

Diplômé de l’École Centrale Paris et titulaire d’un Doctorat en Biophysique Moléculaire, Jean-Marc occupe différentes fonctions dans le secteur de l’environnement. Passionné de musique depuis l’enfance, il étudie le saxophone, le piano, puis se forme au chant lyrique (ténor). S’il s’intéresse à tous les styles et toutes les formes de musique, l’opéra est sa grande passion.