Gluck's Alceste at the Vienna Staatsoper: Chronicle of a death foretold

By Snapdragon, 19 November 2012

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 15 November 2012

Gluck, Alceste

Vienna State Opera

Christof Loy, Director

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

Gustav Mahler Chor

Ivor Bolton, Conductor

Thomas Wilhelm, Choreography

Véronique Gens, Alceste

Joseph Kaiser, Admète

Ileana Tonca, Soprano

Juliette Mars, Mezzo-soprano

Benjamin Bruns, Tenor

Alessio Arduini, Baritone

Clemens Unterreiner, Baritone

Adam Plachetka, Bass-baritone

Gebhard Heegmann, Bass

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

More reviews...

Snapdragon

Snapdragon is an experienced concert- and opera-goer in Vienna and other music metropoles. Musical emphases include opera (especially Baroque opera) and piano music. As an Austrian native, Snapdragon can’t resist an operetta every now and then.