Zwischen Kitsch und Enttäuschung: Madama Butterfly an der Staatsoper

Sonya Yoncheva (Cio-Cio-San) und Charles Castronovo (Pinkerton)

Charles Castronovo (Pinkerton) und Boris Pinkhasovich (Sharpless)

Sonya Yoncheva (Cio-Cio-San)

By Isabella Steppan, 01 July 2023

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Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 29 June 2023

Puccini, Madama Butterfly

Vienna State Opera

Antonello Manacorda, Conductor

Anthony Minghella, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Han Feng, Costume Designer

Peter Mumford, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Sonya Yoncheva, Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly)

Charles Castronovo, Pinkerton

Boris Pinkhasovich, Sharpless

Isabel Signoret, Suzuki

Evgeny Solodovnikov, The Bonze

Hiroshi Amako, Prince Yamadori

Andrea Giovannini, Goro

Alma Neuhaus, Kate Pinkerton

Nikita Ivasechko, The Imperial Commissioner

Blind Summit Theatre, Puppeteer

Mark Down, Puppeteer

Nick Barnes, Puppeteer

Carolyn Choa, Choreography

Tragedy in the mirror: Minghella’s Madama Butterfly in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 14th March

Ermonela Jaho returns to one of her signature roles as Cio-Cio-San, delivering a searing and deeply nuanced portrayal.

****1

Too much and too little: Jan Lauwers’ restless Clemenza in Vienna

Chanda VanderHart, 12th March

The creative team behind the new Staatsoper Clemenza is unwilling to trust that Mozart’s opera is interesting enough to stand on its own.

***11

An Idomeneo shattered to pieces at the Wiener Staatsoper

Orsolya Gyárfás, 23rd January

A committed cast struggles to lend a spark of life to Kasper Holten's static staging of Mozart's first mature opera.

**111

A holiday Bohème: Puccini, Zeffirelli and tradition in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 21st December

Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a luxuriant reading with a cast anchored by Juan Diego Flórez and Nicole Car, in Zeffirelli’s familiar, generous, unabashedly emotional production.

***11

Stikhina, Tézier and Tetelman outstanding in classic Vienna Tosca

Mark Pullinger, 20th September

It may be on its 663rd outing, but Margarethe Wallmann's Tosca is a classic for a reason, as proved in this outstanding performance at the Wiener Staatsoper.

*****

Lise auf Naxos: Davidsen makes a triumphant return to Ariadne

Mark Pullinger, 28th January

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to Sven-Eric Bechtolf's lean but polished production with an outstanding cast, outstandingly conducted.

****1

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Isabella Steppan

Isabella lebt in Graz und unterrichtet Deutsch und Philosophie/Psychologie. Ihre Freizeit verbringt sie am liebsten in der Oper, in klassischen Konzerten oder im Theater. Ihr Herz schlägt besonders für die Oper des 19. und frühen 20. Jahrhunderts und die Operette. Als @operafangirl ist sie auf Twitter aktiv.

Zwischen Kitsch und Enttäuschung: Madama Butterfly an der Wiener Staatsoper