Netrebko triumphs as Aida

By James Imam, 12 August 2017

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“Muti's reading of the score is extraordinary, both for its sophistication and originality”

Reviewed at Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg on 9 August 2017

Verdi, Aida

Riccardo Muti, Conductor

Shirin Neshat, Director

Christian Schmidt, Set Designer

Tatyana van Walsum, Costume Designer

Ekaterina Semenchuk, Amneris

Francesco Meli, Radamès

Luca Salsi, Amonasro

Anna Netrebko, Aida

Roberto Tagliavini, King of Egypt

Dmitry Belosselskiy, Ramfis

Benedetta Torre, Priestess

Bror Magnus Tødenes, A messenger

Vienna Philharmonic

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Ernst Raffelsberger, Choirmaster / chorus director

Une céleste Aïda dans la fosse de l'Opéra Bastille

Stéphane Lelièvre, 24th September

L'opéra de Verdi en est à sa troisième nouvelle production en douze ans dans la Grande Boutique, pour un succès – une fois encore – avant tout musical…

***11

Kunstinstallation mit Sängerbeteiligung: Aida in Salzburg

Isabella Steppan, 19th August

Shirin Neshats Inszenierung bleibt trotz Überarbeitung und einem grundsätzlich interessanten Konzept problematisch; musikalisch stimmt an diesem Abend dafür (fast) alles.

****1

L’Orfeo, the world’s first great opera, premieres at Glyndebourne

Roy Westbrook, 14th June

One element of the Orpheus myth is about creativity, so at Glyndebourne, William Kentridge sets Monteverdi’s opera in an artist's studio,

****1

Darkness without passion: Damiano Michieletto’s Carmen at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 12th June

Despite Michieletto's visual gloom, the evening is redeemed by Myung-whun Chung’s masterful conducting and a cast that brings conviction to a production that rarely trusts the opera’s own dramatic power.

**111

Aldeburgh Festival dives in at the deep end with Pelléas et Mélisande

Eleanor Knight, 12th June

Rory Kinnear directs a minimally semi-staged performance of Debussy's problematic opera at Snape Maltings, but Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish SO provide the detail.

****1

Monteverdi and Ulisse return happily to Garsington Opera

David Karlin, 12th June

Laurence Cummings and John Caird’s second Garsington exploration of the operas of Monteverdi brims with wonderfully playing and singing in an attractive setting.

****1

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James Imam

James Imam is an arts journalist writing for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, Musical America and Opera magazine. He grew up in Manchester, read anthropology at Cambridge and has since lived in Milan. As a once-aspiring countertenor he has an abiding interest in Baroque music.

Netrebko triumphs as musical performances transcend Salzburg Festival staging of Aida