Three card trick: La Scala’s gamble pays off in Pique Dame

Asmik Grigorian (Liza)

Najmiddin Mavlyanov (Hermann) and Asmik Grigorian (Liza)

The grand ball, Act 2

Julia Gertseva (Countess)

Najmiddin Mavlyanov (Hermann) and ensemble

Najmiddin Mavlyanov (Hermann) and Julia Gertseva (Countess)

By Mark Pullinger, 24 February 2022

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“the orchestra vodka drenched, with grumbling low woodwinds matching the conductor’s growling”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 23 February 2022

Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame)

Teatro alla Scala

Valery Gergiev, Conductor

Matthias Hartmann, Director

Volker Hintermeier, Set Designer

Malte Lübben, Costume Designer

Mathias Märker, Lighting Designer

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Najmiddin Mavlyanov, Herman

Julia Gertseva, The Countess

Asmik Grigorian, Lisa

Roman Burdenko, Tomsky

Alexey Markov, Yeletsky

Elena Maximova, Polina

Alexei Botnarciuc, Surin

Evgeny Akimov, Chekalinsky

Maria Nazarova, Masha

Olga Savova, The Governess

Olga Syniakova, Milovzor

Sergei Radchenko, Chaplitsky

Matías Moncada, Narumov

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

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Three card trick: La Scala’s gamble pays off in their new Pique Dame