Fidelio in Zurich: singing fine, but staging, “Nein!”

By Sarah Batschelet, 23 January 2020

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“Kampe... simply electrified the house”

Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 21 January 2020

Beethoven, Fidelio

Zurich Opera

Markus Poschner, Conductor

Andreas Homoki, Director

Henrik Ahr, Set Designer

Barbara Drosihn, Costume Designer

Andreas Schager, Florestan

Oliver Widmer, Don Fernando

Wolfgang Koch, Don Pizarro

Dimitry Ivashchenko, Rocco

Anja Kampe, Leonore

Mélissa Petit, Marzelline

Spencer Lang, Jaquino

Thomas Erlank, First prisoner

Oleg Davydof, Second prisoner

Franck Evin, Lighting Designer

Alexander du Prel, Video

Werner Hintze, Dramaturgy

Janko Kastelic, Choirmaster / chorus director

Zusatzchor der Oper Zürich

Zurich Opera Chorus

Orchester der Oper Zürich

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

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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.