Peter Konwitschny returns to the Semperoper with Les Huguenots

By Laura Servidei, 01 July 2019

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“Gimadieva dazzled with the agility of her voice and her ease on the high notes”

Reviewed at Semperoper, Dresden on 29 June 2019

Meyerbeer, Les Huguenots

Semperoper Dresden

Stefan Soltész, Conductor

Peter Konwitschny, Director

Johannes Leiacker, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Venera Gimadieva, Marguerite de Valois

Štěpánka Pučálková, Urbain

John Osborn, Raoul de Nangis

Jennifer Rowley, Valentine

John Relyea, Marcel

Christoph Pohl, Le Comte de Nevers

Jürgen Müller, Bois-Rosé

Mateusz Hoedt, Maurevert

Aaron Pegram, Tavannes

Simeon Esper, Cossé

Tilmann Rönnebeck, Thoré, Le Comte de Saint-Bris

Chao Deng, De Retz

Magnus Piontek, Méru

Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden

Staatskapelle Dresden

Thielemann bids farewell to Dresden with an excellent new FroSch

Ako Imamura, 27th March

David Bösch directs a creative and thoughtful new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten at the Semperoper in Christian Thielemann's final opera as Principal Conductor.

*****

Detlev Glanert's Die Jüdin von Toledo premieres at the Semperoper

Zenaida des Aubris, 10th February

Robert Carsen stages the world premiere production of Glanert's opera, based Franz Grillparzer's 1851 play, in stringent, minimalist style.

*****

Moving singing, but missed opportunities in Dresden’s new Aida

Zoltán Szabó, 17th March

Katharina Thalbach offers a traditional staging at the Semperoper, with fine vocal performances led by Krassimira Stoyanova, Francesco Meli and Oksana Volkova.

***11

Nabucco marks a successful debut of Saioa Hernández as Abigaille

Laura Servidei, 25th May

Saioa Hernández leads a solid cast in Dresden in a somewhat disappointing new production by David Bösch.

***11

Folk rhythms and changing times in Dresden's Bartered Bride

John Johnston, 25th April

What brought real distinction and authenticity to the evening, as so often in this house, was the outstanding playing of the Staatskapelle conducted by Tomaš Netopil. From the start of the overture with its rapidly scurrying fugato for strings and pointed phrasing from the woodwind one felt the true sense of Smetana’s Czech inflected rhythms and harmonies

***11

A miraculous Ariadne auf Naxos in Dresden

Ako Imamura, 12th December

Christian Thielemann led a memorable performance of Strauss's chamber opera Ariadne auf Naxos with a strong cast in a new straightforward production by David Hermann.

*****

More reviews...

Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.