Golden Age Spain meets Soviet Russia in Geneva’s season opener

Dmitry Ulyanov (Philippe II)

Stéphane Degout (Rodrigue), Ève-Maud Hubeaux (Eboli) and Charles Castronovo (Don Carlos)

Don Carlos

Stéphane Degout (Rodrigue) and Charles Castronovo (Don Carlos)

By Laura Servidei, 16 September 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“what is the “altar” that this Stalin needs to kneel at?”

Reviewed at Grand Théâtre de Genève, Geneva on 15 September 2023

Verdi, Don Carlo(s)

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Marc Minkowski, Conductor

Lydia Steier, Director

Momme Hinrichs, Set Designer, Video

Ursula Kudrna, Costume Designer

Felice Ross, Lighting Designer

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Chorus of the Grand Théâtre de Genève

Mark Schachtsiek, Dramaturgy

Dmitry Ulyanov, Philippe II

Charles Castronovo, Don Carlos

Stéphane Degout, Rodrigue, marquis de Posa

Liang Li, Le Grand Inquisiteur

Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Elisabeth de Valois

Ève-Maud Hubeaux, La princesse Eboli

William Meinert, Un moine

Ena Pongrac, Thibault

Julien Henric, Le comte de Lerme

Giulia Bolcato, Une voix céleste

Alan Woodbridge, Choirmaster / chorus director

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

Laura Servidei, 28th March

Rameau’s Castor et Pollux returns to the stage in a new production that brings together Baroque repertoire and contemporary theatrical aesthetics, conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and performed by Cappella Mediterranea with an international cast.

***11

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

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.