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

Nikola Majtanova (Berenice) and Katleho Mokhoabane (Tito)

Katleho Mokhoabane (Tito) and Emily D'Angelo (Sesto)

Emily D'Angelo (Sesto) and Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (Vitellia)

La clemenza di Tito at the Wiener Staatsoper

Cecilia Molinari (Annio), Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (Vitellia) and Matheus França (Publio)

By Chanda VanderHart, 13 March 2026

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“Emily D’Angelo’s Sesto... most completely transcended the surrounding conceptual noise”

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 12 March 2026

Mozart, La clemenza di Tito

Vienna State Opera

Pablo Heras-Casado, Conductor

Jan Lauwers, Director, Set Designer, Choreography

Lot Lemm, Costume Designer

Ken Hioco, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Emily Hehl, Regiemitarbeit

Elke Janssens, Dramaturgy

Katleho Mokhoabane, Tito

Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, Vitellia

Emily D'Angelo, Sesto

Cecilia Molinari, Annio

Florina Ilie, Servilia

Matheus França, Publio

Paul Blackman, Ko-Choreografie

At half mast: Simon Boccanegra revived in Vienna

Orsolya Gyárfás, 19th April

Marco Armiliato’s conducting thrills and Federica Lombardi's radiant Amelia stands out in the Wiener Staatsoper’s latest revival of Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Anna Netrebko shines in Vienna’s timeless Tosca

Laura Servidei, 18th April

In a world where opera productions often stray into the abstract, the Wiener Staatsoper’s Tosca offers a refreshing return to tradition – and Anna Netrebko delivers a splendid performance.

****1

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

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.

*****

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Chanda VanderHart

Dr. Chanda VanderHart is a pianist, musicologist and creative who lives, works and plays in Vienna, Austria. For more on Chanda and her projects, click here.