Thielemann presides over a triumphant Die Frau ohne Schatten

Elza van den Heever (Empress) and Tanja Ariane Baumgartner (Nurse)

Michael Volle (Barak the Dyer) and Elena Pankratova (The Dyer's Wife)

Michael Volle (Barak the Dyer) and Elza van den Heever (Empress)

Elza van den Heever (Empress) and Elena Pankratova (The Dyer's Wife)

Tanja Ariane Baumgartner (Nurse) and Andreas Schager (Emperor)

By Ako Imamura, 18 October 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“the evening, however, belonged to Thielemann at the helm of one of the best orchestras in the world”

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 17 October 2023

Strauss R., Die Frau ohne Schatten

Vienna State Opera

Christian Thielemann, Conductor

Vincent Huguet, Director

Aurélie Maestre, Set Designer

Clémence Pernoud, Costume Designer

Bertrand Couderc, Lighting Designer, Video

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Louis Geisler, Dramaturgy

Andreas Schager, Emperor

Elza van den Heever, Empress

Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Nurse

Michael Volle, Barak, the Dyer

Elena Pankratova, Barak the Dyer's Wife

Clemens Unterreiner, The Messenger of Keikobad

Maria Nazarova, The Guardian of the Threshold, The Voice of a Falcon

Ileana Tonca, The First Maid

Anna Bondarenko, The Second Maid

Szilvia Vörös, The Third Maid

Stephanie Maitland, A Voice From Above

Thomas Ebenstein, The Hunchback, Barak's Brother

Evgeny Solodovnikov, The One-Armed Man, Barak’s Brother

Martin Häßler, The One-Eyed Man, Barak’s Brother

Thomas Lang, Choirmaster / chorus director

At half mast: Simon Boccanegra revived in Vienna

Orsolya Gyárfás, 19th April

Marco Armiliato’s conducting thrills and Federica Lombardi's radiant Amelia stands out in the Wiener Staatsoper’s latest revival of Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Anna Netrebko shines in Vienna’s timeless Tosca

Laura Servidei, 18th April

In a world where opera productions often stray into the abstract, the Wiener Staatsoper’s Tosca offers a refreshing return to tradition – and Anna Netrebko delivers a splendid performance.

****1

Tragedy in the mirror: Minghella’s Madama Butterfly in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 14th March

Ermonela Jaho returns to one of her signature roles as Cio-Cio-San, delivering a searing and deeply nuanced portrayal.

****1

Too much and too little: Jan Lauwers’ restless Clemenza in Vienna

Chanda VanderHart, 12th March

The creative team behind the new Staatsoper Clemenza is unwilling to trust that Mozart’s opera is interesting enough to stand on its own.

***11

An Idomeneo shattered to pieces at the Wiener Staatsoper

Orsolya Gyárfás, 23rd January

A committed cast struggles to lend a spark of life to Kasper Holten's static staging of Mozart's first mature opera.

**111

A holiday Bohème: Puccini, Zeffirelli and tradition in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 21st December

Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a luxuriant reading with a cast anchored by Juan Diego Flórez and Nicole Car, in Zeffirelli’s familiar, generous, unabashedly emotional production.

***11

More reviews...

Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Christian Thielemann presides over a triumphant Die Frau ohne Schatten in Vienna