Quirky staging, superb singing: Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 04 February 2019

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“British baritone Leigh Melrose stood at the pinnacle of an outstandingly gifted cast”

Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 3 February 2019

Ligeti, Le Grand Macabre

Zurich Opera

Tito Ceccherini, Conductor

Tatjana Gürbaca, Director

Henrik Ahr, Set Designer

Barbara Drosihn, Costume Designer

Alina Adamski, Amanda

Sinead O'Kelly, Amando

Alexander Kaimbacher, Piet the Pot

Leigh Melrose, Nekrozar

Jens Larsen, Astradamors

Sarah Alexandra Hudarew, Mescalina

David Hansen, Prince Go-Go

Eir Inderhaug, Chief of the Gepopo, Venus

Yuriy Tsiple, Ruffiack

Dean Murphy, Schobiack

Richard Walshe, Schabernack

Martin Zysset, White-Party Minister

Oliver Widmer, Black-Party Minister

Orchester der Oper Zürich

Zurich Opera Chorus

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

A Rosenkavalier in vivid hues opens the Zurich Opera season

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.