Figaro in Munich: great singing

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 09 December 2014

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Reviewed at Nationaltheater, Munich on 8 December 2014

Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)

Bavarian State Opera

Ivor Bolton, Conductor

Dieter Dorn, Director

Jürgen Rose, Costume Designer, Set Designer

Véronique Gens, Countess Almaviva

Anita Hartig, Susanna

Cecelia Hall, Cherubino

Gerald Finley, Count Almaviva

Luca Pisaroni, Figaro

Georg Zeppenfeld, Doctor Bartolo

Elsa Benoit, Barbarina, First Bridesmaid

Heike Grötzinger, Marcellina

Rachael Wilson, Second Bridesmaid

Alexander Kaimbacher, Don Basilio

Kevin Conners, Don Curzio

Peter Lobert, Antonio

Bayerischer Staatsopernchor

Bayerisches Staatsorchester

Jones’ wicked Hänsel und Gretel returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper

Mark Pullinger, 6th December

Even without a gingerbread house, there’s enough wickedness in Richard Jones’ staging of Humperdinck’s opera for sweet tooths to savour.

****1

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

Everlasting Everding: another beautiful Munich Zauberflöte revival

Laura Servidei, 4th January

August Everding’s Magic Flute is revived in Munich with a solid cast for the enjoyment of all ages.

***11

And they were the most divine gods: Das Rheingold in Munich

Phillip Richter, 3rd November

Tobias Kratzer's prelude to this new Ring cycle exceeds all expectations and scores a musical-theatrical success.

*****

All play and no work: an exuberant Figaro in Munich

Orsolya Gyárfás, 17th July

Evgeny Titov's new production is heavy on the jokes and light in substance, but delights anyway thanks to its high-class cast.

****1

Waltzing masks and masquerades in Kosky’s new Fledermaus

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd December

Expect sequins and swinging chandeliers in the Australian director's new Fledermaus at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

****1

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Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Ilana Walder-Biesanz is a product manager for Yahoo, a theatre and opera critic, and a classically trained mezzo-soprano. She explored theater and opera stagings as a Gates Scholar at Cambridge and as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany. She currently writes for Bachtrack, San Francisco Classical Voice, and Stark Insider. Twitter: @ilana_wb.

Figaro in Munich: great singing and acting on a blank backdrop