Castor et Pollux in Geneva: among the stars, with shadows

Castor et Pollux

By Laura Servidei, 30 March 2026

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“Reinoud van Mechelen, as Castor, offered the most beautiful voice of the evening”

Reviewed at Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, Geneva on 28 March 2026

Rameau, Castor et Pollux

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Leonardo García-Alarcón, Conductor

Edward Clug, Director, Choreography

Marko Japelj, Set Designer

Leo Kulaš, Costume Designer

Tomaz Premzl, Lighting Designer

Cappella Mediterranea

Rok Predin, Video

Chorus of the Grand Théâtre de Genève

Mark Biggins, Choirmaster / chorus director

Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève

Reinoud Van Mechelen, Tenor

Andreas Wolf, Bass

Sophie Junker, Soprano

Charlotte Bozzi, Soprano

Alexandre Duhamel, Bass

Giulia Bolcato, Soprano

Sahy Ratia, Tenor

Ève-Maud Hubeaux, Mezzo-soprano

Bal Impérial & Boléro: multi-layered work challenges in Geneva

Daniel Pratt, 19th November

The premiere of Bal Impérial by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui challenges and interrogates to great effect in Geneva.

****1

Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva

Elodie Olson-Coons, 26th October

A maximalist production of Pelléas et Mélisande at Geneva's Grand Théâtre shines, but tries a little too hard.

****1

Penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

Mark Pullinger, 22nd January

The Grand Théâtre de Genève is certainly not risk-averse and Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó controversially translates the action to a penthouse bar in New York.

*****

An arthouse staging for Messiaen's testament of beauty in Geneva

Peter Quantrill, 11th April

Installation art sounds a dissonant note with the sublime harmony of Saint François d’Assise in Adel Abdessemed's creation at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

****1

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents Idomeneo as a confused ballet in Geneva

Laura Servidei, 2nd March

The Grand Théâtre de Genève presents a new production of Mozart’s opera seria where the focus is all on dancing and rope twirling. Nevertheless, a good cast, led by Federica Lombardi as Elettra, manages to shine through.

**111

Justice in Geneva: musically appealing but missing its mark

David Karlin, 22nd January

Director Milos Rau, composer Hèctor Parra and librettist Fiston Mwanza Mujila put the operatic spotlight on the fight for justice after a mining disaster in the DRC, with mixed results.

**111

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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.

Among the stars, with shadows: Rameau’s Castor et Pollux in Geneva