Glitter and be gay: Villazón's directorial debut

By Christie Franke, 08 March 2015

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Reviewed at Deutsche Oper, Berlin on 8 March 2015

Puccini, La rondine

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Roberto Rizzi Brignoli, Conductor

Rolando Villazón, Director

Johannes Leiacker, Set Designer

Aurelia Florian, Magda

Charles Castronovo, Ruggero

Alexandra Hutton, Lisette

Alvaro Zambrano, Prunier

Stephen Bronk, Rambaldo

Carlton Ford, Périchaud

Elbenita Kajtazi, Bianca

Stephanie Lauricella, Suzy

Siobhan Stagg, Yvette

Matthew Newlin, Gobin

Noel Bouley, Crébillon

Thomas Lehman, Crébillon

Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin

L’italiana in Algeri in the wrestling ring at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 8th March

A classic opera buffa gets an update by Rolando Villazón to a produce a staging that celebrates the timeless vitality of Rossini’s comic imagination.

****1

Between ecstasy and abyss: Korngold’s Violanta at the Deutsche Oper

Zenaida des Aubris, 25th January

David Hermann directs a new production of Korngold’s teenage opera, conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

****1

Giordano's Fedora at the Deutsche Oper Berlin

Elena Luporini, 27th November

A new production of Fedora at the Deutsche Oper Berlin warms up the cold German winter, featuring strong lead performances by Vida Miknevičiūtė and Jonathan Tetelman.

***11

Thalheimer’s directs a static new Berlin Tristan und Isolde

Zenaida des Aubris, 1st November

At the start of his farewell to Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles shines with his orchestra, supplying the passion and tension withheld in Michael Thalheimer’s production.

****1

Anatomy of a love: Rebecca Saunders’ Lash at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Elena Luporini, 20th June

Nearing the close of the season, Deutsche Oper Berlin premieres Rebecca Saunders’ first opera Lash – Acts of Love, a visceral reflection on love and death.

*****

Upstairs, downstairs: Die Frau ohne Schatten at Deutsche Oper

Zenaida des Aubris, 26th January

Tobias Kratzer gives his third Strauss production in three seasons at Deutsche Oper Berlin another contemporary spin.

****1

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Christie Franke

Christie Franke is a Berlin-based writer and opera lover. Her blog, Tiny Doom’s Opernpalais, chronicles her adventures as an opera-lover and writer, serving as discussion ground for character profiles, operatic plot holes, and the magic of music in everyday life.

Glitter and be gay: Rolando Villazón's directorial debut in Puccini's La rondine at the Deutsche Oper