AT 7pm, at the Nationaltheater :

RUSALKA, by A. Dvořák

Edward Gardner: Conductor

Martin Kušej: Staging

Pavol Breslik: The prince

Elena Guseva: The foreign princess

Asmik Grigorian: Rusalka

Christof Fischesser: The lake’s spirit

Okka von der Damerau: The witch

Tansel Akzeybek: The forest warden

Ekaterine Buachidze: The kitchen boy

Mirjam Mesak: 1^st woodland spirit

Arnheidur Eiríksdóttir: 2^nd woodland spirit

Natalie Lewis: 3^rd woodland spirit

Vitor Bispo: A hunter

Relatively unknown just a few decades ago, Dvořák’s Rusalka is increasingly being performed in opera houses. Inspired by a fairy tale by Andersen, Rusalka tells the story of an undine who chooses to live on the surface of the water to live out her love with a prince. It is the story of an adolescent girl’s quest to emancipate herself from her family and move towards a world that is not necessarily favourable to her. In Martin Kušej‘s highly acclaimed direction, the emphasis is on the aquatic world. Here, the mermaid is in no way protected by her fairytale family; family secrets hang over this nightmarish world. The moral of the tale is considerably renewed here. As for Dvořák’s music, it is as sumptuous as ever, especially when conducted by Edward Gardner (Pappano’s successor at London’s prestigious Covent Garden) and sung by the flamboyant Asmik Grigorian in the role of the Little Mermaid..

At 6pm, at the Nationaltheater :

LOHENGRIN, by R. Wagner

In co-production with Shangai Opera House

Sebastian Weigle: Conductor

Kornél Mundruczó: Staging

René Pape: Henri l’Oiseleur

Piotr Beczała: Lohengrin

Rachel Willis-Sørensen: Elsa von Brabant

Wolfgang Koch: Friedrich von Telramund

Anja Kampe: Ortrud

Kostas Smoriginas:  The King’s Herald

Lohengrin was a pivotal opera in Wagner’s career. Subtitled a “romantic opera”, the work foreshadowed the Ring Tetralogy and Parsifal. In the same way, the figure of the “swan knight” deeply moved King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who became the composer’s generous patron. This production, directed by Kornél Mundruczó, was warmly received at its premiere in 2022. For its revival, the audience even gave it a standing ovation! Wagner’s music is always magnificently showcased at the Bavarian State Opera, where the composer is a pillar of the repertoire. Succeeding François-Xavier Roth, the German Sebastian Weigle is admittedly less well known here than the French conductor. But the current Music Director of the Frankfurt Opera is an immense musician who masters the intricacies of the Wagner orchestra like no other. After Klaus Florian Vogt, Poland’s Piotr Beczała is the most melodious Lohengrin. Returning to their roles, René Pape, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Wolfgang Koch and the incredible Anja Kampe make up the most dazzling cast. It promises to be a great evening of opera.