Kušej's new Entführung disappointingly toothless

By Mark Valencia, 04 July 2015

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“There's no sand in this French maestro's boots”

Reviewed at Théâtre de l'Archevêché, Aix-en-Provence on 3 July 2015

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

Jérémie Rhorer, Conductor

Martin Kušej, Director

Heide Kastler, Costume Designer

Annette Murschetz, Set Designer

Jane Archibald, Konstanze

Rachele Gilmore, Blonde

Daniel Behle, Belmonte

David Portillo, Pedrillo

Franz-Josef Selig, Osmin

Tobias Moretti, Bassa Selim

Musica Aeterna

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

No fairy tale: Kušej’s Rusalka works with devastating force in Munich

Orsolya Gyárfás, 26th July

Asmik Grigorian leads a searing performance in Martin Kušej’s 15-year-old, yet ever-fresh, outstanding production of Dvořák's opera.

****1

High on Cherubino: Kušej’s drugged-up Figaro in Salzburg

Mark Pullinger, 5th August

Martin Kušej gives Mozart and Da Ponte's commedia per musica a sinister mafia setting, which is low on laughs but outstandingly performed, led by Lea Desandre's charismatic Cherubino.

***11

A study in black and terror in Naples

Lorenzo Fiorito, 15th April

Many scenes could risk to be particularly disturbing, but their overt brutality appeared functional, to the structure of the drama. A dark, gloomy story as unambiguously told as it should be.

****1

An anti-clerical Forza del destino in Munich

David Karlin, 7th May

Martin Kušej's production of La forza del destino is hard hitting and intelligent: an imperfect orchestral performance is more than compensated for by an outstanding cast of singers.

****1

Martin Kušej's Idomeneo as political power struggle

Mark Pullinger, 3rd November

“Here be dragons!” warned seafaring maps of yore, denoting uncharted territories. Martin Kušej, undertaking his first Royal Opera exploration, excised the sea monster from his vision of Mozart’s Idomeneo.

****1

Harteros and Kaufmann shine in Munich Forza

Ako Imamura, 28th July

Martin Kušej’s modern production of La forza del destino emphasizes that familial and religious oppressions can be one and the same, destroying the love of free spirits.

****1

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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.

Martin Kušej's new Entführung a disappointingly toothless affair