Successful debuts for Damrau and Deshayes in Zürich's Anna Bolena

By Laura Servidei, 07 December 2021

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“Damrau dazzled with her easy high notes and the sheer beauty of her silvery soprano”

Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 5 December 2021

Donizetti, Anna Bolena

Zurich Opera

Enrique Mazzola, Conductor

David Alden, Director

Gideon Davey, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Martin Gebhardt, Lighting Designer

Michael Küster, Dramaturgy

Luca Pisaroni, Enrico

Diana Damrau, Anna Bolena

Karine Deshayes, Giovanna

Stanislav Vorobyov, Lord Rochfort

Alexey Neklyudov, Riccardo Percy

Nadezhda Karyazina, Smeton

Nathan Haller, Hervey

Orchester der Oper Zürich

Zurich Opera Chorus

Ernst Raffelsberger, Choirmaster / chorus director

A Baroque Netflix evening: Zurich’s star-studded Giulio Cesare

Mengguang Huang, 28th March

Davide Livermore’s high-octane production transforms Handel into a lavish blockbuster. While the superstars shine, the relentless entertainment-first approach often sacrifices musical refinement and dramatic logic for Netflix-style spectacle.

***11

A Rosenkavalier in vivid hues opens the Zurich Opera season

Laura Servidei, 21st September

Lydia Steier stages Strauss’ masterpiece to open Zurich Opera’s first premiere under the new artistic direction – a triumphant success.

****1

Handel’s Serse as a quirky modern tale in Zurich

Laura Servidei, 29th September

Christophe Dumaux shines as Arsamene in Nina Russi’s enjoyable production of Handel’s masterpiece revived at the Opernhaus Zürich under the baton of Enrico Onofri.

***11

Anna Pirozzi shines as a queen bee Turandot

Laura Servidei, 3rd July

Anna Pirozzi and Piero Pretti bring Italian sunshine to Baumgarten’s confused production at the Opernhaus Zürich.

**111

A feast for the eyes and ears: Lehár’s Merry Widow in Zurich

Thomas Schacher, 20th February

Barrie Kosky stages the famous Viennese operetta as a whirlwind spectacle. Marlis Petersen shines in the title role vocally and theatrically. Michael Volle does not live up to expectations.

****1

Werther in the sky at Opernhaus Zürich

Laura Servidei, 23rd January

Benjamin Bernheim leads a very good cast in a revival of Tatjana Gürbaca's interesting 2017 production.

***11

More reviews...

Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.

Successful role debuts for Damrau and Deshayes in Oper Zürich's Anna Bolena