A faltering Lucrezia Borgia in Budapest

By Orsolya Gyárfás, 20 November 2021

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“Fridman a thrillingly good fit for Lucrezia, handling the demands of the role with impressive ease”

Reviewed at Müpa: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on 18 November 2021

Donizetti, Lucrezia Borgia

Andriy Yurkevych, Conductor

Ferenc Anger, Director

Mónika Szelei, Costume Designer

Lidia Fridman, Lucrezia Borgia

Paola Gardina, Maffio Orsini

Stefan Pop, Gennaro

Gábor Bretz, Duke Alfonso

Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra

A new Traviata with passions running low in Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 24th September

Although with a promising concept, the Hungarian State Opera’s new production ultimately proved underdirected.

**111

Fine Budapest cast tears into lacerating Lear

Jenny Camilleri, 30th January

In a reconstruction of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production for the world première of Reimann’s soul-pummelling Lear, the staging stands the test of time, but the cast and orchestra leave the biggest impression.

****1

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Chiaroscuro extinguished: a self-indulgent Poppea in Copenhagen

Mengguang Huang, 26th April

Christoph Marthaler’s staging of Monteverdi’s Poppea for the Royal Danish Opera is a study in boredom.

**111

Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre

John Gilks, 25th April

Some 30 years after its first appearance, Robert Lepage’s double bill of Duke Bluebeards Castle and Erwartung is still strikingly effective and very modern-looking music theatre.

*****

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Orsolya Gyárfás

A university student in Budapest, currently pursuing a degree in Aesthetics, Orsolya is an opera fan, particularly interested in the works of Mozart and Wagner.

Lidia Fridman a star in the making, but a faltering Lucrezia Borgia in Budapest