Ocean voyage of Tristan und Isolde in Baden-Baden

By Ako Imamura, 30 March 2016

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden on 28 March 2016

Wagner, Tristan und Isolde

Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor

Mariusz Treliński, Director

Eva-Maria Westbroek, Isolde

Stuart Skelton, Tristan

Stephen Milling, King Marke

Dame Sarah Connolly, Brangäne

Roman Sadnik, Melot

Thomas Ebenstein, Shepherd

Michael Nagy, Kurwenal

Berliner Philharmoniker

Heroes and Beasts: Die Frau ohne Schatten in Warsaw

Hugo Shirley, 15th February

The Polish National Opera's first staging of Strauss' massive fairy tale feels like a bold statement of intent.

***11

Destiny has rarely been gloomier: Treliński's new Forza at the Met

Robert Levine, 26th February

The first new Forza at the Met for nearly 30 years is lustily sung, led by Norwegian soprano, Lise Davidsen, and Igor Golovatenko as her vengeful brother.

****1

Swedish première of Szymanowski’s King Roger in Stockholm

Laura Servidei, 19th March

Elin Rombo shines in a co-production of King Roger with the Royal Swedish Opera and Teatr Wielki, in Warsaw

***11

Off-the-mark Iolanta, but a terrifying Bluebeard at the Met

Robert Levine, 28th January

Mariusz Treliński's double bill pairing returns to the Metropolitan Opera with fine performances from Sonya Yoncheva and Gerald Finley in the leads.

****1

Occult, mystical, extreme: Prokofiev’s Fiery Angel in Aix

David Karlin, 5th July

With a stunningly inventive and modern-sounding score, strong acting performances and a staging full of theatrical illusion and coherent in spite of general weirdness, Aix's Fiery Angel impresses.

****1

A tawdry travesty of a Traviata in Warsaw

Jonathan Sutherland, 7th April

Mariusz Treliński's Traviata had nothing to do with Dumas, Piave or Verdi. It's as if he confused La Dame aux camélias with Lulu.

**111

More reviews...

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.