Upstairs, downstairs: Die Frau ohne Schatten at Deutsche Oper

Die Frau ohne Schatten

Jordan Shanahan (Barak) and Catherine Foster (The Dyer's Wife)

Marina Prudenskaya (Nurse) and Daniela Köhler (Empress)

By Zenaida des Aubris, 29 January 2025

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“Kratzer carries his concept to a logical, if unconventional, ending”

Reviewed at Deutsche Oper, Berlin on 26 January 2025

Strauss R., Die Frau ohne Schatten

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Sir Donald Runnicles, Conductor

Tobias Kratzer, Director

Rainer Sellmaier, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Stefan Woinke, Lighting Designer

Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Jonas Dahl, Video

Jörg Königsdorf, Dramaturgy

Clay Hilley, Emperor

Daniela Köhler, Empress

Marina Prudenskaya, Nurse

Jordan Shanahan, Barak, the Dyer

Catherine Foster, Barak the Dyer's Wife

Patrick Guetti, The Messenger of Keikobad

Hye-Young Moon, The Guardian of the Threshold, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Chance Jonas-O'Toole, The Apparition of a Youth

Nina Solodovnikova, The Voice of a Falcon

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, A Voice From Above, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Philipp Jekal, The One-Eyed Man, Barak’s Brother

Thomas Cilluffo, The Hunchback, Barak's Brother

Padraic Rowan, The One-Armed Man, Barak’s Brother

Alexandra Oomens, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Lilit Davtyan, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Martina Baroni, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Arianna Manganello, Voices of Six Unborn Children

Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Christian Lindhorst, Choirmaster / chorus director

Jeremy Bines, Choirmaster / chorus director

Stephen Marsh, Baritone

Jared Werlein, Bass

Geon Kim, Bass

L’italiana in Algeri in the wrestling ring at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 8th March

A classic opera buffa gets an update by Rolando Villazón to a produce a staging that celebrates the timeless vitality of Rossini’s comic imagination.

****1

Between ecstasy and abyss: Korngold’s Violanta at the Deutsche Oper

Zenaida des Aubris, 25th January

David Hermann directs a new production of Korngold’s teenage opera, conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

****1

Giordano's Fedora at the Deutsche Oper Berlin

Elena Luporini, 27th November

A new production of Fedora at the Deutsche Oper Berlin warms up the cold German winter, featuring strong lead performances by Vida Miknevičiūtė and Jonathan Tetelman.

***11

Thalheimer’s directs a static new Berlin Tristan und Isolde

Zenaida des Aubris, 1st November

At the start of his farewell to Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles shines with his orchestra, supplying the passion and tension withheld in Michael Thalheimer’s production.

****1

Anatomy of a love: Rebecca Saunders’ Lash at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Elena Luporini, 20th June

Nearing the close of the season, Deutsche Oper Berlin premieres Rebecca Saunders’ first opera Lash – Acts of Love, a visceral reflection on love and death.

*****

A tribute to bad taste: a new Macbeth at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd November

When does opera direction go too far? Marie-Ève Signeyrole provides the answers in her tasteless, explicit staging of Verdi's Macbeth in Berlin.

**111

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Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.

Upstairs, downstairs, Richard Strauss style: Die Frau ohne Schatten at Deutsche Oper