Breaking the Waves in Karlsruhe: an der Grenze des Menschlichen

Martha Eason (Bess McNeill)

Breaking the Waves

Barbara Dobrzanska (Bess' Mutter), Martha Eason (Bess McNeill) und Marie-Sophie Janke (Dodo McNeill)

Barbara Dobrzanska (Bess' Mutter) und Martha Eason (Bess McNeill)

Breaking the Waves

By Christoph Wurzel, 03 February 2026

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“Christoph von Bernuth hat diese Tragödie unerbittlich realistisch auf die Bühne gebracht”

Reviewed at Badisches Staatstheater: Kleines Haus, Karlsruhe on 31 January 2026

Mazzoli, Breaking the Waves

Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe

Giuseppe Barile, Conductor

Ulrich Wagner, Conductor

Christoph von Bernuth, Director, Lighting Designer

Oliver Helf, Set Designer

Tatjana Ivschina, Costume Designer

Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe

Badischer Staatsopernchor Karlsruhe

Maximilian Decker, Lighting Designer

Anna-Teresa Schmidt, Dramaturgy

Martha Eason, Bess McNeill

Tomohiro Takada, Jan Nyman

Marie-Sophie Janke, Dodo McNeill

Matthias Wohlbrecht, Dr Richardson

Barbara Dobrzanska, Bess' Mother

Oğulcan Yılmaz, Terry

Liangliang Zhao, Church Councilman

Siroe, Re di Persia: a majestic and true-to-form Karlsruhe revival

Mengguang Huang, 28th February

Ulrich Peters' 2024 production justifies the artistic value of Handel’s unjustly neglected opera and the literary value of Metastasio's libretto.

****1

Rinaldo conducts Rinaldo at the Karlsruhe Handel Festival

Mengguang Huang, 26th February

With dazzling set designs and powerhouse sopranos, Karlsruhe’s Rinaldo upholds the opera's Baroque fantasy allure in a flawed yet fascinating production, conducted by Rinaldo Alessandrini.

***11

Handel's Alcina in Karlsruhe: a great production with great singing

Sandra Bowdler, 23rd February

Handel's Alcina at the Karlsruhe 2019 Handel Festival scores on all fronts, with two Australians taking the main roles.

****1

Handel's Serse – the Vegas version – in Karlsruhe

Sandra Bowdler, 15th February

The problem with on-stage vulgarity is that, while it might be sophisticated and knowing satire, it ends by being what it is parodying.

***11

Overflowing with emotions: Adriana Lecouvreur

Zenaida des Aubris, 6th May

Musically and scenically sumptuous melodrama with a solid cast in Karlsruhe.

*****

Twilight of the Wagner Clan

John Johnston, 28th April

An astringent sorbet between the courses of a heavily sauced Wagnerian banquet.

****1

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Christoph Wurzel

Nach dem Studium der Germanistik, Politikwissenschaft, Philosophie und Musikwissenschaft war Christoph Wurzel lange im pädagogischen Bereich tätig. Er interessiert sich besonders für die gesellschaftlich relevanten Aspekte der Musik. Er lebt in Baden – Baden und schreibt für verschiedene Magazine in Deutschland.

An der Grenze des Menschlichen: Breaking the Waves in Karlsruhe