Mahagonny in Zurich: a tale of excess and depravity

By Sarah Batschelet, 06 November 2017

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“Christopher Ventris sang the rugged lumberjack Paul Ackermann with confidence and conviction”

Reviewed at Opernhaus, Zurich on 5 November 2017

Weill, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Zurich Opera

Fabio Luisi, Conductor

Sebastian Baumgarten, Director

Barbara Ehnes, Set Designer

Joki Tewes, Costume Designer

Karita Mattila, Leokadia Begbick

Annette Dasch, Jenny Smith

Christopher Purves, Trinity Moses

Michael Laurenz, Fatty

Iain Milne, Jacky O'Brien

Christopher Ventris, Jimmy Mahoney

Jonathan Abernethy, Tobby Higgins

Cheyne Davidson, Billy

Ruben Drole, Joe

Orchester der Oper Zürich

Zurich Opera Chorus

A Baroque Netflix evening: Zurich’s star-studded Giulio Cesare

Mengguang Huang, 28th March

Davide Livermore’s high-octane production transforms Handel into a lavish blockbuster. While the superstars shine, the relentless entertainment-first approach often sacrifices musical refinement and dramatic logic for Netflix-style spectacle.

***11

A Rosenkavalier in vivid hues opens the Zurich Opera season

Laura Servidei, 21st September

Lydia Steier stages Strauss’ masterpiece to open Zurich Opera’s first premiere under the new artistic direction – a triumphant success.

****1

Handel’s Serse as a quirky modern tale in Zurich

Laura Servidei, 29th September

Christophe Dumaux shines as Arsamene in Nina Russi’s enjoyable production of Handel’s masterpiece revived at the Opernhaus Zürich under the baton of Enrico Onofri.

***11

Anna Pirozzi shines as a queen bee Turandot

Laura Servidei, 3rd July

Anna Pirozzi and Piero Pretti bring Italian sunshine to Baumgarten’s confused production at the Opernhaus Zürich.

**111

A feast for the eyes and ears: Lehár’s Merry Widow in Zurich

Thomas Schacher, 20th February

Barrie Kosky stages the famous Viennese operetta as a whirlwind spectacle. Marlis Petersen shines in the title role vocally and theatrically. Michael Volle does not live up to expectations.

****1

Werther in the sky at Opernhaus Zürich

Laura Servidei, 23rd January

Benjamin Bernheim leads a very good cast in a revival of Tatjana Gürbaca's interesting 2017 production.

***11

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Sarah Batschelet

Sarah Batschlelet, long based in Switzerland, took a degree in Art History from Smith College, Northampton, Massachuetts, and lives as a freelance writer and editor near Zurich.

Brecht and Weill’s Mahagonny in Zurich: a tale of excess and depravity