“Oh world within the world!”: FroSch in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 29 November 2014

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Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 27 November 2014

Strauss R., Die Frau ohne Schatten

Zurich Opera

Fabio Luisi, Conductor

Sir David Pountney, Director

Robert Israel, Set Designer

Marie-Jeanne Lecca, Costume Designer

Evelyn Herlitzius, Barak the Dyer's Wife

Emily Magee, Empress

Birgit Remmert, Nurse

Roberto Saccà, Emperor

Thomas Johannes Mayer, Barak, the Dyer

Judit Kutasi, A Voice From Above

Martin Zysset, The Hunchback, Barak's Brother

Reinhard Mayr, The Messenger of Keikobad

Zhang Wen Wei, The One-Armed Man, Barak’s Brother

Valeriy Murga, The One-Eyed Man, Barak’s Brother

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.

Die Frau ohne Schatten: a Strauss extravaganza in Zurich