Sex and violence in the ghetto: Pique Dame

By Ako Imamura, 07 July 2017

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“The second half of the opera unfolded in a thrilling manner”

Reviewed at Staatsoper Stuttgart, Stuttgart on 6 July 2017

Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame)

Staatsoper Stuttgart

Sylvain Cambreling, Conductor

Jossi Wieler, Director

Anna Viebrock, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Rebecca von Lipinski, Lisa

Yuko Kakuta, Masha

Stine Marie Fischer, Polina

Helene Schneiderman, The Countess

Maria Theresa Ullrich, The Governess

Gergely Nemeti, Chaplitsky

Torsten Hofmann, Chekalinsky

Erin Caves, Herman

Shigeo Ishino, Yeletsky

Vladislav Sulimsky, Tomsky

Michael Nagl, Narumov

David Steffens, Surin

Sergio Morabito, Director

Reinhard Traub, Lighting Designer

Johannes Knecht, Choirmaster / chorus director

Staatsopernchor Stuttgart

Staatsorchester Stuttgart

Bang to rights: a rare outing for an opera from the former GDR

Matthew Rye, 13th November

Die Verurteilung des Lukullus, Paul Dessau and Bertolt Brecht's political satire about a Roman general judged for his deeds after death, has lost none of its relevance in Staatsoper Stuttgart's new production.

****1

In Konwitschny's modern Medea, monsters are made by men

Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 27th December

Director Peter Konwitschny's staging of Cherubini's Medea critiques rejection and mistreatment of refugees. A strong new German translation and a talented cast make this a must-see.

****1

Rousseau and a boxing ring: Ariodante in Stuttgart

Jonathan Sutherland, 17th December

In Jussi Wieler and Sergio Morabito’s pugilistic production of Ariodante, the singers needed as much physical and gymnastic dexterity as vocal finesse.

***11

Devil in the detail: Gounod's Faust in Stuttgart

Matthew Rye, 3rd November

A thrilling new staging of Gounod's opera from the team that brought Bayreuth its current Ring, with musical rewards to match.

*****

Modern terror: Salome in Stuttgart

Ako Imamura, 1st December

Director Kirill Serebrennikov gives us a frightening new reality of the modern world beset by war and terrorism in his reimagining of Strauss's Salome

****1

Im Sog der Radikalisierung: Die Meistersinger in Stuttgart

Alexandra Richter, 1st March

Die neue Produktion von Wagners komischer Oper beeindruckt mit einer stimmlichen Top-Besetzung auch aus dem eigenen Ensemble; die Regie dagegen versucht konzeptionell zu viel und bleibt dabei auf der Strecke.

***11

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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.

Sex and violence in the ghetto: Pique Dame in Stuttgart