Barrie Kosky directs a ferocious new Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Ambur Braid (Katerina Izmailova)

Sean Panikkar (Sergey) and Ambur Braid (Katerina)

Dmitry Ulyanov (Boris)

Ambur Braid (Katerina) and Susan Zarrabi (Sonyetka)

By Zenaida des Aubris, 01 February 2026

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“Braid... did not simply sing the role; she inhabited its full arc”

Reviewed at Schillertheater: Großer Saal, Berlin on 31 January 2026

Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District

Komische Oper Berlin

James Gaffigan, Conductor

Barrie Kosky, Director

Rufus Didwiszus, Set Designer

Victoria Behr, Costume Designer

Olaf Freese, Lighting Designer

Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin

Chor der Komischen Oper Berlin

Dmitry Ulyanov, Boris Timofeyevich Izmailov

Elmar Gilbertsson, Zinoviy Borisovich Izmailov

Ambur Braid, Katerina Lvovna Izmailova

Sean Panikkar, Sergey

Susan Zarrabi, Sonyetka

Mirka Wagner, Aksinya

Marcell Bakonyi, Police inspector

Dimitry Ivashchenko, Priest

Stephen Bronk, Old Convict

Caspar Krieger, Tattered peasant

David Cavelius, Choirmaster / chorus director

Handel’s Belshazzar at Komische Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 28th March

The Baroque confectionery of Herbert Fritsch's production of Handel's oratorio belies a serious core which is all too close to today's headlines.

****1

Masks and obsessions: Evgeny Titov’s Salome at Komische Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 22nd November

Salome is faceless and the Dance of the Seven Veils becomes a sardonic commentary on seduction in Komische Oper Berlin's austere new staging.

****1

Opulent minimalism: Kosky directs a new staging of Akhnaten

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd March

Barrie Kosky's new production of Philip Glass' Akhnaten for Komische Oper at the Schillertheater removes any egyptological references.

****1

A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 17th November

With a brand new production by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin's first venture into the Sondheim repertoire mostly falls flat.

**111

Kirill Serebrennikov’s Marriage of Figaro challenges Edinburgh

David Smythe, 16th August

Komische Oper Berlin's The Marriage of Figaro is staged at the Edinburgh International Festival with a strong cast headed by Penny Sofroniadou and Peter Kellner.

****1

Kosky's Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 22nd March

It takes two to tango... but what about vaudeville? A rerun of Barrie Kosky's production of Oscar Straus' Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will owes most of its charm to the two leads.

***11

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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.

Barrie Kosky directs a ferocious new Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at Komische Oper