Wozzeck in Geneva: grit and light

By Elodie Olson-Coons, 03 March 2017

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“Mark Stone commands the stage, a tortured electricity shining in his wide eyes and nervous salutes”

Reviewed at L'Opéra des Nations, Geneva on 2 March 2017

Berg, Wozzeck

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Stefan Blunier, Conductor

Sir David McVicar, Director

Vicki Mortimer, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Mark Stone, Wozzeck

Jennifer Larmore, Marie

Stephan Rügamer, Captain

Tom Fox, Doctor

Dana Beth Miller, Margret

Tansel Akzeybek, Andres

Charles Workman, Drum major

Fabrice Farina, Madman

Alexander Milev, Second Apprentice

Erlend Tvinnereim, First Apprentice

Grand Théâtre Opera Chorus

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Alan Woodbridge, Choirmaster / chorus director

Andrew George, Choreography

Christopher Maravich, Lighting Designer

Paule Constable, Lighting Designer

Bal Impérial & Boléro: multi-layered work challenges in Geneva

Daniel Pratt, 19th November

The premiere of Bal Impérial by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui challenges and interrogates to great effect in Geneva.

****1

Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva

Elodie Olson-Coons, 26th October

A maximalist production of Pelléas et Mélisande at Geneva's Grand Théâtre shines, but tries a little too hard.

****1

Penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

Mark Pullinger, 22nd January

The Grand Théâtre de Genève is certainly not risk-averse and Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó controversially translates the action to a penthouse bar in New York.

*****

An arthouse staging for Messiaen's testament of beauty in Geneva

Peter Quantrill, 11th April

Installation art sounds a dissonant note with the sublime harmony of Saint François d’Assise in Adel Abdessemed's creation at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

****1

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents Idomeneo as a confused ballet in Geneva

Laura Servidei, 2nd March

The Grand Théâtre de Genève presents a new production of Mozart’s opera seria where the focus is all on dancing and rope twirling. Nevertheless, a good cast, led by Federica Lombardi as Elettra, manages to shine through.

**111

Justice in Geneva: musically appealing but missing its mark

David Karlin, 22nd January

Director Milos Rau, composer Hèctor Parra and librettist Fiston Mwanza Mujila put the operatic spotlight on the fight for justice after a mining disaster in the DRC, with mixed results.

**111

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Elodie Olson-Coons

Originaire de Lorraine, Elodie Olson-Coons a fait ses études littéraires à Cambridge. Mezzo-soprano et pianiste, elle est particulièrement intéressée par la musique contemporaine et vocale.