Tannhäuser's long and tortuous journey of the spirit

By Alexander Hall, 18 June 2018

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“Dich, teure Halle.. addressed to the splendidly resonating walls of the Béla Bartók auditorium”

Reviewed at Müpa: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on 17 June 2018

Wagner, Tannhäuser

Ádám Fischer, Conductor

Matthias Oldag, Director

Thomas Gruber, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Stephen Gould, Tannhäuser

Tünde Szabóki, Elisabeth

Sophie Koch, Venus

Markus Eiche, Wolfram von Eschenbach

Tivadar Kiss, Heinrich der Schreiber

Tibor Szappanos, Walther von der Vogelweide

Gábor Bretz, Landgraf Hermann

Jürgen Linn, Biterolf

Ferenc Cserhalmi, Reinmar von Zweter

Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Hungarian State Opera Chorus, Choir

Honvéd Male Choir

Budapest Studio Choir

Sylvie Gábor, Revival Director

Stuck in purgatory: Tannhäuser at Budapest’s Wagner Days

Orsolya Gyárfás, 29th June

Individual performances impress, but conducting and production both prove too meandering in this year’s Wagner Days Tannhäuser.

***11

Eine Groteske zwischen Tragik und Komik: die Neue Oper Wien präsentiert Schostakowitschs Die Nase

Simon Haasis, 28th September

Schostakowitschs geniales Jugendwerk Die Nase in einer prägnanten Aufführung an der Kammeroper in Wien.

****1

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.

Tannhäuser's long and tortuous journey of the spirit in Budapest