An effectively unsettling The Emperor of Atlantis at Oper Köln

By Cristina Burack, 03 March 2018

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“a powerfully dramatic work that showed off the house’s first-rate singers”

Reviewed at Außenspielstätte am Offenbachplatz, Cologne on 2 March 2018

Ullmann, The Emperor of Atlantis (Der Kaiser von Atlantis)

Oper Köln

Rainer Mühlbach, Conductor

Eike Ecker, Director

Darko Petrovic, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Nikolay Borchev, Emperor Overall

Lucas Singer, Death, Loudspeaker

Claudia Rohrbach, Bubikopf

Judith Thielsen, Drummer

Martin Koch, Harlequin

Dino Lüthy, Soldier

Gürzenich Orchestra

Andreas Grüter, Lighting Designer

Tanja Fasching, Dramaturgy

A very palpable hit: Hamlet in Cologne

Matthew Rye, 24th November

Brett Dean's operatic reworking of Shakespeare's Hamlet receives its German premiere in a powerful new staging by the work's librettist Matthew Jocelyn.

****1

An emotionally distant Peter Grimes at Oper Köln

Cristina Burack, 28th November

Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes is a nuanced, gripping tale that should pack an emotional punch. Despite fine moments, Oper Köln's production didn't serve the work.

**111

A conceptually bold Manon at Oper Köln

Cristina Burack, 15th March

This production fell just short of brilliance but showed how relevant and thought-provoking opera as an art form can be when tapping into today's headline debates.

****1

Oper Köln's delightful Orpheus enraptures all ages

Cristina Burack, 19th January

Oper Köln’s Orpheus in the Underworld proved age accessibility must not sacrifice humour and musical integrity. The tight ensemble piece was superbly acted and well-sung throughout.

****1

Fidelio: delightful Beethoven in Cologne

Brian Angus, 1st July

In a temporary home, Cologne Opera have mounted a remarkably joyful production of Beethoven’s single, wonderful opera.

****1

Not easily assimilated: Candide in Cologne

Matthew Rye, 7th December

The Staatenhaus venue forces one too many compromises on Bernstein's operetta, but the performance itself is saved by the accomplishment of much of the singing.

***11

More reviews...

Cristina Burack

Cristina Burack studied piano and flute for many years, before earning her BM in Voice and Opera performance at Northwestern University, with a strong focus on German Lieder, as well as a BA in History. After continuing her vocal studies in Vienna, she turned her professional focus to communications. She is a freelance journalist who particularly enjoys covering the intersection of music, history and politics.