A game of light and darkness: Don Carlo in Riga

Gómez Bohórquez (Jester) and Arnold Rutkowski (Don Carlo)

Don Carlo at Latvian National Opera

Gómez Bohórquez (Jester) and Ester Pavlů (Eboli)

Jānis Apeinis (Posa) and Günther Groissböck (Philip II)

Julija Vasiljeva (Elisabetta) and chorus

By Richard Bratby, 07 October 2023

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“Chaslin let fly with a raw, volcanic blast of low brass”

Reviewed at Latvian National Opera, Riga on 5 October 2023

Verdi, Don Carlo(s)

Latvian National Opera

Frédéric Chaslin, Conductor

Claus Guth, Director

Étienne Pluss, Set Designer

Petra Reinhardt, Costume Designer

Olaf Freese, Lighting Designer

Latvian National Opera Orchestra

Latvian National Opera Choir

Marcelo Persch-Buscaino, Revival Director

Günther Groissböck, Filippo II

Arnold Rutkowski, Don Carlo

Julija Vasiljeva, Elisabetta di Valois

Jānis Apeinis, Rodrigo, Marchese di Posa

Ester Pavlů, La Principessa Eboli

Tadas Girininkas, Il Grande Inquisitore

Gómez Bohórquez, Actor

Salome in Riga, Winehouse at the Western Wall... with robots

Eleanor Knight, 21st February

The limitations of AI are demonstrated in Alvis Hermanis’ problematic new production of Salome at Latvian National Opera.

**111

Mushroom clouds of fantasy: The Tales of Hoffmann in Riga

Peter Quantrill, 4th October

A new steampunk staging for Latvian National Opera stays true to the fantastical invention of Hoffmann and Offenbach.

****1

Sparkling new L'elisir d'amore from Latvian National Opera

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

The leafy parks and cobbled streets of Riga’s old town are far removed from the intense heat of the little village in the Basque Country in which Donizetti set his L'elisir d'amore, but a new production at the Latvian National Opera captures much of the spirit of the work, adroitly balancing comedy with the joys and pain of love.

****1

Four house debuts in Latvian National Opera's Bohème

David Karlin, 16th March

With four singers making their debuts and two more experienced singers making strong impression, Latvian opera singing appears to be in safe hands.

****1

Youthful style in Latvia National Opera's Fledermaus

David Karlin, 10th December

Edmunds Freibergs and Latvian National Opera give us a Fledermaus that's high on style and sheer entertainment, with a notable Adele from Inga Šļubovska.

****1

Semele at Dutch National Opera: myth, desire and fantasy

Mengguang Huang, 23rd January

Guth’s Semele turns myth into a contemporary domestic drama, where desire becomes obsession and illusion consumes reality. Handel’s music remains the true engine, driven by a thrilling, physically intense ensemble.

****1

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Richard Bratby

Richard Bratby is a critic and cultural historian writing for The Spectator, Gramophone and The Critic, as well as providing programme notes and concert marketing copy for orchestras, festivals and concert promoters in Europe, the USA and Australasia. Formerly a concerts manager for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestras, he is the author of Forward: 100 Years of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Classical Music: An Illustrated History. He is currently writing a history of the Academy of Ancient Music. A very rusty cellist and extremely occasional horn player, he lives in Lichfield, UK.