Emojis instead of emotions in Simon Stone's Traviata in Vienna

By Laura Servidei, 19 September 2021

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“Ludovic Tézier... elegant phrasing and the warm, mellow timbre of his voice gave Germont authority”

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 18 September 2021

Verdi, La traviata

Vienna State Opera

Nicola Luisotti, Conductor

Simon Stone, Director

Robert Cousins, Set Designer

Alice Babidge, Costume Designer

James Farncombe, Lighting Designer

Zakk Hein, Video

Pretty Yende, Violetta Valéry

Frédéric Antoun, Alfredo Germont

Ludovic Tézier, Giorgio Germont

Stephanie Maitland, Annina

Szilvia Vörös, Flora Bervoix

Carlos Osuna, Gastone de Letorières

Sergey Kaydalov, Baron Douphol

Ilja Kazakov, Dr Grenvil

Michael Arivony, Marquis d'Obigny

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Tragedy in the mirror: Minghella’s Madama Butterfly in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 14th March

Ermonela Jaho returns to one of her signature roles as Cio-Cio-San, delivering a searing and deeply nuanced portrayal.

****1

Too much and too little: Jan Lauwers’ restless Clemenza in Vienna

Chanda VanderHart, 12th March

The creative team behind the new Staatsoper Clemenza is unwilling to trust that Mozart’s opera is interesting enough to stand on its own.

***11

An Idomeneo shattered to pieces at the Wiener Staatsoper

Orsolya Gyárfás, 23rd January

A committed cast struggles to lend a spark of life to Kasper Holten's static staging of Mozart's first mature opera.

**111

A holiday Bohème: Puccini, Zeffirelli and tradition in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 21st December

Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a luxuriant reading with a cast anchored by Juan Diego Flórez and Nicole Car, in Zeffirelli’s familiar, generous, unabashedly emotional production.

***11

Stikhina, Tézier and Tetelman outstanding in classic Vienna Tosca

Mark Pullinger, 20th September

It may be on its 663rd outing, but Margarethe Wallmann's Tosca is a classic for a reason, as proved in this outstanding performance at the Wiener Staatsoper.

*****

Lise auf Naxos: Davidsen makes a triumphant return to Ariadne

Mark Pullinger, 28th January

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to Sven-Eric Bechtolf's lean but polished production with an outstanding cast, outstandingly conducted.

****1

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.