Claus Guth presents The Makropulos Case as tragicomedy in Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 14 February 2022

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“Marlis Petersen... in her element as the self-centred, cold, calculating yet vulnerable diva”

Reviewed at Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin on 13 February 2022

Janáček, The Makropulos Case (Věc Makropulos)

Staatsoper Berlin

Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor

Claus Guth, Director

Étienne Pluss, Set Designer

Ursula Kudrna, Costume Designer

Sebastian Alphons, Lighting Designer

Staatskapelle Berlin

Staatsopernchor Berlin

Marlis Petersen, Emilia Marty / Elina Makropoulos

Natalia Skrycka, Kristina

Adriane Queiroz, A Cleaning Woman

Ludovit Ludha, Albert Gregor

Jan Ježek, Count Hauk-Šendorf

Spencer Britten, Janek

Peter Hoare, Vítek

Žilvinas Miškinis, A Stage Technician

Bo Skovhus, Baron Jaroslav Prus

Jan Martiník, Dr Kolenatý

Anna Kissjudit, Chambermaid

Eyes wide shut for Berlin’s new Ballo

Mark Pullinger, 29th March

At the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Rafael R Villalobos addresses the problems he perceives with Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, although the musical performances – led by Anna Netrebko – compensate.

***11

Young stars shine in the Staatsoper Berlin’s Rosenkavalier

Mark Pullinger, 28th March

Patricia Nolz makes an outstanding role debut as Christian Thielemann conducts a thrusting Rosenkavalier to open the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage.

*****

Love is in the hare: a new Cunning Little Vixen opens in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 28th February

The Staatsoper's new production of Janáček's opera buzzes with life thanks to Sir Simon Rattle's conducting and an excellent cast led by Vera-Lotte Boecker and Magdalena Kožená.

****1

Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz premieres at Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Elena Luporini, 14th January

On a snowy January evening, the premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s new opera Das kalte Herz fails to warm up the Berlin public.

**111

Happy 100th birthday, Wozzeck! Thielemann leads Berlin revival

Elena Luporini, 14th December

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden celebrates the 100th birthday of Alban Berg's masterpiece with a stellar cast in Andrea Breth’s revived production.

***11

Low on laughs: Die schweigsame Frau in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 19th July

Newly General Music Director Christian Thielemann and Jan Philipp Gloger bring Richard Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau to the Staatsoper Berlin for the first time, but la commedia is hardly stupenda.

**111

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.