A disconcerting Entführung in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 07 November 2016

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Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 6 November 2016

Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Harem)

Zurich Opera

Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor

David Hermann, Director

Bettina Meyer, Set Designer

Esther Geremus, Costume Designer

Olga Peretyatko, Konstanze

Claire de Sévigné, Blonde

Pavol Breslik, Belmonte

Michael Laurenz, Pedrillo

Nahuel Di Pierro, Osmin

Sam Louwyck, Bassa Selim

Franck Evin, Lighting Designer

Jürg Hämmerli, Choirmaster / chorus director

Beate Breidenbach, Dramaturgy

Orchestra La Scintilla Zurich

Zurich Opera Extra Choir

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

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Sarah Batschelet

Sarah Batschlelet, long based in Switzerland, took a degree in Art History from Smith College, Northampton, Massachuetts, and lives as a freelance writer and editor near Zurich.

A disconcerting Entführung in Zurich explores the realms of “why not?”