Masks and obsessions: Evgeny Titov’s Salome at Komische Oper Berlin

Salome at Komiscje Oper Berlin

Matthias Wohlbrecht (Herodes)

Nicole Chevalier (Salome)

Salome at Komische Oper Berlin

Agustín Gómez (Narraboth) and Karolina Gumos (Herodias)

By Zenaida des Aubris, 24 November 2025

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“Titov’s dramaturgy leans toward stark symbolism, sometimes to the point of austerity”

Reviewed at Schillertheater: Großer Saal, Berlin on 22 November 2025

Strauss R., Salome

Komische Oper Berlin

James Gaffigan, Conductor

Evgeny Titov, Director

Rufus Didwiszus, Set Designer

Esther Bialas, Costume Designer

Sebastian Alphons, Lighting Designer

Nicole Chevalier, Salome

Karolina Gumos, Herodias

Matthias Wohlbrecht, Herodes

Agustín Gómez, Narraboth

Günter Papendell, Jochanaan

Susan Zarrabi, Herodias' Page

Ivan Turšić, 1st Jew

Johannes Dunz, 2nd Jew

Thoma Jaron-Wutz, 3rd Jew

Ferdinand Keller, 4th Jew

Andrew Nolen, 5th Jew

Junoh Lee, 1st Nazarene

Christoph Späth, 2nd Nazarene

Philipp Meierhöfer, 1st Soldier

Andrew Harris, 2nd Soldier

Martina Borroni, Choreography

Handel’s Belshazzar at Komische Oper Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 28th March

The Baroque confectionery of Herbert Fritsch's production of Handel's oratorio belies a serious core which is all too close to today's headlines.

****1

Barrie Kosky directs a ferocious new Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Zenaida des Aubris, 31st January

Shostakovich's opera is laid bare in Berlin, to devastating effect, with a distinguished cast led by Ambur Braid.

****1

Opulent minimalism: Kosky directs a new staging of Akhnaten

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd March

Barrie Kosky's new production of Philip Glass' Akhnaten for Komische Oper at the Schillertheater removes any egyptological references.

****1

A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 17th November

With a brand new production by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin's first venture into the Sondheim repertoire mostly falls flat.

**111

Kirill Serebrennikov’s Marriage of Figaro challenges Edinburgh

David Smythe, 16th August

Komische Oper Berlin's The Marriage of Figaro is staged at the Edinburgh International Festival with a strong cast headed by Penny Sofroniadou and Peter Kellner.

****1

Kosky's Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 22nd March

It takes two to tango... but what about vaudeville? A rerun of Barrie Kosky's production of Oscar Straus' Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will owes most of its charm to the two leads.

***11

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Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.

Masks and obsessions: Evgeny Titov’s incisive Salome at Komische Oper Berlin