Germany Wagner, Lohengrin: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Bayerische Staatsoper / François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Nationaltheater, Munich, 3.12.2022. (ALL)
Production:
Director – Kornél Mundruczó
Production assistant – Marcos Darbyshire
Set design – Monika Pormale
Costumes – Anna Axer Fijalkowska
Lighting – Felice Ross
Dramaturgy – Kata Wéber, Malte Krasting
Chorus grasp – Tilman Michael
Cast:
Heinrich der Vogler – Mika Kares
Lohengrin – Klaus-Florian Vogt
Elsa von Brabant – Johanni van Oostrum
Friedrich von Telramund – Johann Reuter
Ortrud – Anja Kampe
The King’s Herald – Andrè Schuen
Four Brabantine Elders – Liam Bonthrone, Granit Musliu, Gabriel Rollinson, Roman Chabaranok
This is the second time after Così fan tutte that the Bayerische Staatsoper has requested a celebrated film director for a brand new manufacturing. Kornél Mundruczó, celebrated on the Cannes Film Festival and on Netflix, had already given us an intense Makropoulos Case in Geneva (assessment right here). Expectations have been excessive, however Wagner’s operas are works of a really totally different nature than Janáček’s. While they final a number of hours, the motion is concentrated in a couple of minutes. The artwork of the director consists in illustrating all these moments when time stops.
In a co-production with Shanghai Grand Theatre, Mundruczó’s fundamental Konzept was not with out curiosity. Lohengrin isn’t a saviour fallen from the sky, however a ‘normal’ man from the group. But is there anything to report? This is a manufacturing which is considerably shallow. Who are these lots in tracksuits…? What is the hidden that means of the stones and the references to nature…? All this isn’t very clear, not very fascinating, a bit of disappointing and maybe not all that essential, both.
But we’re in Munich and the musical high quality is of the best order. François-Xavier Roth was making his debut right here on this pit and, I consider, his debut with an opera by Wagner. Under his baton, the orchestra displayed considerably lighter textures within the Prelude to the primary act with minimal vibrato strings. Overall, nevertheless, the ensemble was theatrical in one of the best sense of the phrase. The singers have been supported with nice care. The third act had a very irrestible momentum.
The refrain was magnificent. The staging itself appeared to have little use for them, and but they have been fastidiously distributed on stage in order that the sound got here by with color and energy. The whole forged was very excessive class. Andrè Schuen is a Herald of nice authority, who will definitely be heard once more in lots of Wagnerian roles. Johann Reuter’s voice makes for a darkly colored Telramund. Anja Kampe made her debut right here as Ortrud. She is probably the Brünnhilde of our era, however her intelligence with the textual content and the ability of the voice greater than compensated for the truth that she doesn’t have the colors of a mezzo. The South African Johanni van Oostrum made her debut as Elsa. Her German diction was not as clear as her colleagues and he or she was extra relaxed with the lyrical than with the dramatic a part of her position, however van Oostrum more and more gained confidence over the course of the night. The position of Lohengrin might be preferrred for Klaus-Florian Vogt, who displayed unbelievable vocal method with what should be the perfect head voice it requires, whereas on the identical time, proudly owning the textual content with real tenorial colors. Finally, Mika Kares gave a slightly extraordinary studying of King Henry. We know the ability of his singing, however his efficiency, particularly within the first act, had an authority that recalled the work of the good Kurt Moll on this half.
The viewers hailed the musicians triumphantly at this premiere in a packed home. This Lohengrin might be repeated a number of instances in December earlier than being revived for the pageant in July. Here is one other reminder that it’s not essential to go to Bayreuth to expertise Wagner at such a excessive stage.
Antoine Lévy-Leboyer