Holliger’s new Lunea: pages from a poet’s Life

By Sarah Batschelet, 06 March 2018

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“one of the season’s most unforgettable, if pointedly cerebral, musical encounters”

Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 4 March 2018

Holliger, Lunea

Zurich Opera

Heinz Holliger, Conductor

Andreas Homoki, Director

Frank Philipp Schlößmann, Set Designer

Klaus Bruns, Costume Designer

Christian Gerhaher, Lenau

Juliane Banse, Soprano

Ivan Ludlow, Tenor

Sarah Maria Sun, Soprano

Judith Schmid, Mezzo-soprano

Annette Schönmüller, Mezzo-soprano

Franck Evin, Lighting Designer

Federico Ituarte, Vocals

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.

Heinz Holliger’s new Lunea: pages from a poet’s life