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

Samuel Hasselhorn (Peter) and Sunnyi Melles (Azaël)

Samuel Hasselhorn (Peter) and Sophia Burgos (Clara)

Rosie Aldridge (Anubis) and Samuel Hasselhorn (Peter)

Matthias Pintscher

By Elena Luporini, 16 January 2026

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“the emotional core of the opera... is accompanied by the baring of an already bare stage”

Reviewed at Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin on 14 January 2026

Pintscher, Das kalte Herz

Staatsoper Berlin

Matthias Pintscher, Conductor

James Darrah Black, Director

Adam Rigg, Set Designer

Molly Irelan, Costume Designer

Yi Zhao, Lighting Designer

Staatskapelle Berlin

Samuel Hasselhorn, Peter

Rosie Aldridge, Anubis

Katarina Bradić, Mother

Sophia Burgos, Clara

Adriane Queiroz, Old woman

Sunnyi Melles, Azaël

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

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

A Norma cooking on medium at Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Elena Luporini, 13th April

Despite excellent performances from Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Elmina Hasan, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's new production of Norma lacks a pinch of salt.

***11

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Elena Luporini

After completing their Master's degree in Musicology in Rome, Elena has now moved to Berlin to dedicate themselves to more things musical. With a publication on Béla Bartók and a seminar at the Humboldt-Universität underway, their interests mostly veer toward 20th-century opera, with some forays into queer musicology. Some of their latest undertakings also include oboe lessons, stencil-making and tea-making.

Hardly a fairy tale: Matthias Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz premieres in Berlin