Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Johannes Leiacker

Pappano and Loy bring empathy to Elektra at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 12 January 2024

Christof Loy’s thoughtful staging enlightens the character of the protagonists in Sophocles’ tale of matricide; Sir Antonio Pappano extracts great nuance and beauty from Strauss’ score.

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London

12 Jan 2024

Pappano and Loy bring empathy to Elektra at Covent Garden

By David Karlin

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Curtain rises on ENO’s Traviata revival

By Dominic Lowe, 23 October 2023

Peter Konwitschny's production of La traviata has its flaws, but in an age of protracted media there is much to be said for his taut production of Verdi's most famous tragedy.

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London

23 Oct 2023

Curtain rises on ENO’s Traviata revival

By Dominic Lowe

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Salzburg

A superb Orfeo ed Euridice opens the Salzburg Whitsun Festival

By Laura Servidei, 26 May 2023

Gianluca Capuano and Les Musiciens du Prince open the Pfingstfestspiele with a bang in a profound interpretation of Gluck’s masterpiece, where Cecilia Bartoli shines in her debut as Orfeo.

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Salzburg

26 May 2023

A superb Orfeo ed Euridice opens the Salzburg Whitsun Festival

By Laura Servidei

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Amsterdam

Marc Albrecht returns to Amsterdam with a Humperdinck rarity

By Nicolas Nguyen, 06 October 2022

Christof Loy directs a new production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s rarely performed second opera, Königskinder.

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Amsterdam

06 Oct 2022

Marc Albrecht returns to Amsterdam with a Humperdinck rarity

By Nicolas Nguyen

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Schreker's Der Schatzgräber: Deutsche Oper Berlin's treasure hunt proves rewarding

By Zenaida des Aubris, 01 May 2022

Christof Loy unearths hidden treasure with an opera by Franz Schreker long since buried after taking Europe by storm in the 1920s.

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Berlin

01 May 2022

Schreker's Der Schatzgräber: a rewarding treasure hunt in Berlin

By Zenaida des Aubris

Glyndebourne

A compelling, pared back Luisa Miller from Christof Loy at Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger, 01 August 2021

Christof Loy would seem to be the perfect director for Covid-era opera, his stripped back production of Verdi's rare middle period opera directed remotely from Austria.

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Glyndebourne

01 Aug 2021

A compelling Luisa Miller from Christof Loy at Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger

A “poem of blood and lust” reconsidered: Deutsche Oper Berlin’s Francesca da Rimini

By Kevin Wells, 14 March 2021

If you have dismissed this opera as overstuffed kitsch in the past, you might want to take a look at this production. It could well change your mind.

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Berlin

14 Mar 2021

A “poem of blood and lust” reconsidered at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Kevin Wells

Konwitschny’s controversial Don Carlos a must-see at the Wiener Staatsoper

By Chanda VanderHart, 04 October 2020

A five-hour operatic marathon as the full, five-act French version of Verdi's epic Don Carlos returns to the Staatsoper after a seven-year hiatus.

*****

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Vienna

04 Oct 2020

Konwitschny’s controversial Don Carlos a must-see in Vienna

By Chanda VanderHart

Salzburg

School for lovers: Loy’s bitter lessons at the Salzburg Festival

By Mark Pullinger, 02 August 2020

It's difficult to believe Salzburg could have cast a finer Così in Loy's Covid-reduced production in the Großes Festspielhaus.

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Salzburg

02 Aug 2020

School for lovers: Loy’s bitter lessons at the Salzburg Festival

By Mark Pullinger

Dresden

Peter Konwitschny returns to the Semperoper with Les Huguenots

By Laura Servidei, 29 June 2019

John Osborn leads a very successful premiere of Peter Konwitschny's new production of Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots in Dresden

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Dresden

29 Jun 2019

Peter Konwitschny returns to the Semperoper with Les Huguenots

By Laura Servidei

Hamburg

Thrills, chills and an immersive auto-da-fé: Konwitschny's Don Carlos sizzles in Hamburg

By Mark Pullinger, 30 May 2019

From stylised 16th-century dress to a 1970s sitcom ballet, Konwitschny's Staatsoper staging is full of brilliantly inventive touches, splendidly realised in this excellently sung revival.

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Hamburg

30 May 2019

An immersive auto-da-fé: Konwitschny's Don Carlos sizzles

By Mark Pullinger

Amsterdam

Glorious ensembles in Dutch National Opera’s new Tannhäuser

By Jenny Camilleri, 06 April 2019

Orchestra and chorus reach great Wagnerian heights in this new production by Christof Loy, a study of an artist in revolt against hypocritical sexual mores.

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Amsterdam

06 Apr 2019

Glorious ensembles in Dutch National Opera’s new Tannhäuser

By Jenny Camilleri

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Antwerp

Mob mentality: a powerful La Juive at Opera Vlaanderen

By Mark Pullinger, 10 March 2019

Peter Konwitschny's production strips away much of the religious symbolism, presenting the difference between Jews and Christians as little more than the dyed colour of their hands.

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Antwerp

10 Mar 2019

Mob mentality: a powerful La Juive at Opera Vlaanderen

By Mark Pullinger

A psychological drama: Weber's Euryanthe in Vienna

By Ako Imamura, 28 December 2018

Vienna's Theater an der Wien stage a seldom performed opera by Carl Maria von Weber with an excellent cast, orchestra, and chorus.

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Vienna

28 Dec 2018

A psychological drama: Weber's Euryanthe in Vienna

By Ako Imamura

Frankfurt am Main

Words or music? Collaboration or resistance? A new Capriccio in Frankfurt

By John Johnston, 24 January 2018

Camilla Nylund’s rich, ample voice bloomed in the glorious setting of the sonnet, cosseted by burnished horn playing, in Strauss' unsurpassed operatic farewell to the soprano voice.

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Frankfurt am Main

24 Jan 2018

Words or music? Collaboration or resistance? A new Capriccio in Frankfurt

By John Johnston

Stuttgart

In Konwitschny's modern Medea, monsters are made by men

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 27 December 2017

Director Peter Konwitschny's staging of Cherubini's Medea critiques rejection and mistreatment of refugees. A strong new German translation and a talented cast make this a must-see.

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Stuttgart

27 Dec 2017

In Konwitschny's modern Medea, monsters are made by men

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Hamburg

Guy Joosten’s La bohème a feast for voyeurs in Hamburg

By Jonathan Sutherland, 19 December 2017

Johannes Laiacker’s inspired set designs were a perfect example of how a modern setting can avoid being gratuitously iconoclastic.

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Hamburg

19 Dec 2017

Hamburg Bohème a feast for voyeurs

By Jonathan Sutherland

Seattle

Two Violettas in 24 hours: Seattle Opera fields double-casts in Konwitschny's Traviata

By Kevin W Ng, 14 January 2017

Two fascinating casts make Peter Konwitschny's stripped-down Traviata a must-see artistic event in Seattle.

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Seattle

14 Jan 2017

Two Violettas in 24 hours in Seattle

By Kevin W Ng

Zurich

Zürich revives Loy's magnificently entertaining Alcina

By Katherine Syer, 02 January 2017

This revival of Christof Loy's 2014 production of Alcina launched the New Year at Oper Zürich in magnificent fashion.

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Zurich

02 Jan 2017

Zürich revives Loy's magnificently entertaining Alcina

By Katherine Syer

“Es gibt keinen Ausweg”: a dark, clever Hamlet at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart, 18 September 2016

Anno Schreier's successful new opera Hamlet is the first of a series of three Shakespeare-inspired offerings from Theater an der Wien this season.

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Vienna

18 Sep 2016

A dark, clever Hamlet at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart

Amsterdam

Loy's minimalist staging clarifies Khovanshchina in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 27 February 2016

Christof Loy’s minimalist staging for Khovanshchina at Dutch National Opera has the advantage of clarifying a reputedly fragmented plot.

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Amsterdam

27 Feb 2016

Loy's minimalist staging clarifies Khovanshchina in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Forceful Peter Grimes a must-see at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart, 14 December 2015

Though certainly not the most heartwarming of tales this Christmas season, this is a production one shouldn’t miss.

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Vienna

14 Dec 2015

Peter Grimes a must-see in Vienna

By Chanda VanderHart

Salzburg

Rihm's Conquest of Mexico: glorious philosophy in music at the Salzburg Festival

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 26 July 2015

Konwitschny's bold approach to Rihm's musical dialectic surprises, challenges, and bewilders. The glorious soundscape created in the Felsenreitschule makes this Eroberung von Mexico a unique, unmissable operatic experience.

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Salzburg

26 Jul 2015

Glorious philosophy in music at the Salzburg Festival

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Munich

Tristan und Isolde in Munich: surprising and triumphant

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 08 July 2015

The bright colours and childishness of Konwitschny’s production for the Bayerische Staatsoper shock but succeed. The cast and orchestra shine, especially in the final act.

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Munich

08 Jul 2015

Tristan und Isolde in Munich: surprising and triumphant

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Glitter and be gay: Rolando Villazón's directorial debut in Puccini's La rondine at the Deutsche Oper

By Christie Franke, 08 March 2015

Rolando Villazon's new production of Puccini's La rondine for the Deutsche Oper Berlin charms with 1920s glamour.

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Berlin

08 Mar 2015

Glitter and be gay: Villazón's directorial debut

By Christie Franke

La traviata: Lightning fails to strike twice in ENO revival of Konwitschny’s production

By Mark Pullinger, 09 February 2015

Two years ago, when this controversial production by Peter Konwitschny was first seen at English National Opera, I was completely knocked sideways by it. Could it deliver the same emotional blow to the solar plexus this time around?

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London

09 Feb 2015

La traviata: Lightning fails to strike twice

By Mark Pullinger

Stemme and Gould light up Tristan und Isolde at the Royal Opera

By David Karlin, 05 December 2014

First class performances from Stephen Gould and Nina Stemme are backed by a magnificent orchestral performance in the Royal Opera's revival of Christof Loy's spartan production.

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London

05 Dec 2014

Stemme and Gould light up Tristan und Isolde

By David Karlin

Verdi's Falstaff given a playful make-over at the Deutsche Oper

By David Larkin, 29 November 2014

After his final opera, Falstaff (1893), Verdi founded a home for retired musicians. Director Christof Loy related these two achievements by setting the opera in the nursing home...

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Berlin

29 Nov 2014

Verdi's Falstaff given a playful make-over

By David Larkin

A wild night with Falstaff at the Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Christie Franke, 17 November 2013

Christof Loy’s new production of Falstaff for the Deutsche Oper Berlin is a conundrum. While the opera itself tells a story of comeuppance, Loy’s production seemed to be about the positive physical effects of playing pranks on your neighbors.

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Berlin

17 Nov 2013

Deutsche Oper: Falstaff

By Christie Franke

These are not your father's Huns: Konwitschny's bold new Attila at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart, 10 July 2013

Giuseppe Verdi’s Attila is not an opera that one hears often. Composed during his self-styled “galley period” – before he found his mature musical voice with Rigoletto – Attila has inherent musical and dramaturgical weaknesses. With one foot still firmly rooted in bel canto tradition, the numerous cabalettas can be exhausting, even ridiculous, considering the dramatic nature of the text.

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Vienna

10 Jul 2013

These are not your father's Huns: Konwitschny's bold new Attila at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart

Paris

Rustic chivalry and clowns in Paris: Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

By David Karlin, 06 May 2012

In each case, you know the murder is coming. In each case the music is explosive and closes the opera: there is nothing left to say except Canio's simple words: "La commedia è finita.

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Paris

06 May 2012

Rustic chivalry and clowns in Paris: Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

By David Karlin

Lera Auerbach's Gogol: a world premiere at the Theater an der Wien

By Zwölftöner, 15 November 2011

Before writing a note of Gogol, composer Lera Auerbach immersed herself in the writer’s complete works and over twenty books written about him. It would take similar efforts to begin to understand this opera: taking us inside the fevered mind of its title character, Gogol is less a biographical narrative set to music than a phantasmagorical, psychological investigation.

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Vienna

15 Nov 2011

Lera Auerbach's Gogol: a world premiere at the Theater an der Wien

By Zwölftöner

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Give me fever: Pique Dame an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Snapdragon, 30 June 2025

Anna Netrebko singt ihr Rollendebüt als Lisa – wie so oft – auf allerhöchstem Niveau.

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Vienna

30 Jun 2025

Give me fever: Pique Dame an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Snapdragon

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Barcelona

Buscando un lago en el mundo. Rusalka inunda el Gran Teatre del Liceu bajo las voces de Grigorian y Beczała

By Maria Sánchez, 22 June 2025

Las voces para esta ópera fantástica de Dvořák serán recordadas en el Liceu; un plantel internacional en el que no faltó la excelencia y una dirección magistral del gran Pons.

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Barcelona

22 Jun 2025

Rusalka inunda el Liceu bajo las voces de Grigorian y Beczała

By Maria Sánchez

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Frankfurt am Main

Ein rätselhaftes Sehen: Parsifal an der Oper Frankfurt

By Alexandra Richter, 24 May 2025

Brigitte Fassbaender inszeniert Parsifal an der Oper Frankfurt. Doch ihre Regie wirft mehr Fragen auf, als sie beantwortet. Thomas Guggeis hingegen triumphiert mit seinem Dirigat.

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Frankfurt am Main

24 May 2025

Ein rätselhaftes Sehen: Parsifal an der Oper Frankfurt

By Alexandra Richter

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Geneva

Complots russes au Grand Théâtre de Genève avec le retour de Fedora

By Stéphane Lelièvre, 17 December 2024

Le rare opéra de Giordano, inégal mais intéressant, fait son retour dans l'institution genevoise avec un plateau vocal de grande qualité, emmené par le duo Roberto Alagna-Aleksandra Kurzak.

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Geneva

17 Dec 2024

Complots russes à Genève avec le retour de Fedora

By Stéphane Lelièvre

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Strasbourg

L’Opéra national du Rhin tire Guercœur des oubliettes

By Erwan Gentric, 28 April 2024

Absent des scènes françaises depuis sa création en 1931, le chef-d'œuvre d'Albéric Magnard revient à la vie et bénéficie de l'incarnation convaincante de Stéphane Degout dans le rôle-titre.

***11

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Strasbourg

28 Apr 2024

L’Opéra national du Rhin tire Guercœur des oubliettes

By Erwan Gentric

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Valencia

Rusalka visibiliza la discapacidad en Les Arts

By Daniel Martínez Babiloni, 03 February 2024

Christof Loy convierte la fábula Rusalka en una sensible y fina escenificación de la discapacidad.

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Valencia

03 Feb 2024

Rusalka visibiliza la discapacidad en Les Arts

By Daniel Martínez Babiloni

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Frankfurt am Main

Ein magisches Fest: Die Nacht vor Weihnachten an der Oper Frankfurt

By Alexandra Richter, 25 December 2023

Weihnachten mal anders: Die Oper Frankfurt zeigt eine Rimsky-Korsakow Rarität und beschert so ein Fest fernab der gewohnten „Weihnachtsopern“.

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Frankfurt am Main

25 Dec 2023

Ein magisches Fest: Die Nacht vor Weihnachten an der Oper Frankfurt

By Alexandra Richter

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Zum Zerreißen spannend: Francesca da Rimini an der Deutschen Oper Berlin

By Christoph Wurzel, 19 May 2023

Christof Loy ist an der Deutschen Oper Berlin mit der selten gespielten Oper Francesca da Rimini von Riccardo Zandonai ein echter Opernthriller gelungen.

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Berlin

19 May 2023

Zum Zerreißen spannend: Francesca da Rimini an der Deutschen Oper

By Christoph Wurzel

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Triunfal regreso de El milagro de Heliane a la Deutsche Oper

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro, 08 March 2023

La ópera de Korngold se abre camino en los escenarios tras un largo e injusto olvido con un elegante montaje de Christof Loy y una modélica dirección musical de Marc Albrecht.

*****

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Berlin

08 Mar 2023

Triunfal regreso de El milagro de Heliane a la Deutsche Oper

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro

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Graz

Regie-Klassiker mit ersten Altersschwächen: La traviata an der Oper Graz

By Isabella Steppan, 19 November 2022

In der Wiederaufnahme von Peter Konwitschnys Inszenierung ist die Personenregie schwammiger als seinerzeit bei der Premiere; musikalisch gelang der Abend gut bis ausgezeichnet.

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Graz

19 Nov 2022

Regie-Klassiker mit ersten Altersschwächen: La traviata in Graz

By Isabella Steppan

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Toulouse

Au Capitole, un Barbier frénétique voit triompher Sempey et Amiel

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer, 22 May 2022

Dernière production de la saison toulousaine, le Barbier mis en scène par Josef Ernst Köpplinger est un spectacle qui fourmille de détails réjouissants, défendu par une distribution en grande forme.

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Toulouse

22 May 2022

Au Capitole, un Barbier frénétique voit triompher Sempey et Amiel

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer

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Helsinki

Happy End für Salome? Christof Loys Inszenierung an der Finnischen Nationaloper Helsinki

By Rainer Zerbst, 07 April 2022

Christof Loy ist eine glaubhafte psychologische Durchdringung der Handlung und ihrer Protagonisten gelungen, die in jeder Sekunde aus der Musik heraus empfunden ist.

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Helsinki

07 Apr 2022

Happy End für Salome? Christof Loys Inszenierung in Helsinki

By Rainer Zerbst

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Spiel mit der Obsession: Pique Dame an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Isabella Steppan, 30 January 2022

Unter der Leitung von Valery Gergiev bestachen das Staatsopernorchester und ein überwiegend russisches Sängerensemble in Tschaikowskys vorletzter Oper.

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Vienna

30 Jan 2022

Spiel mit der Obsession: Pique Dame an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Isabella Steppan

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Zeiten(w)ende: Der Rosenkavalier erstmals an der Volksoper Wien

By Snapdragon, 31 October 2021

Das Experiment „Wiener Rosenkavalier II“ ist dank Josef Ernst Köpplingers Erfolgsinszenierung definitiv geglückt.

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Vienna

31 Oct 2021

Zeiten(w)ende: Der Rosenkavalier erstmals an der Volksoper Wien

By Snapdragon