Vienna State Opera, Première December 22, 2001
First performance at Vienna in original language
of Charles Gounod's
opera
Roméo
et Juliette
Famous opera première of Roméo et Juliette at the
Vienna State Opera -
Light, music, voices, movements and costumes melt to a fascinating unit
It was a risk. Stage director Jürgen Flimm had the
idea and it went well. For the first time in the history of opera with
Patrick Woodroffe a light designer of the rock scene (Rolling Stones,
Elton John, Rod Steward, Tina Turner a.m.o.) created the stage for an
opera. A successful venture, which should be imitated. A symphony of
visual and musical stimuli, which has been brought by the high quality
of the singers, choir and orchestra to an absolute opera highlight.
Marcello Viotti at the desk of the Vienna Philharmonics conducted on one
side with great lyrical flow, to be in other moments lively and buoyant,
always drawing many colors out of the orchestra, always well-disposed
towards the singers.
Stefania Bonfadelli
Photos: Axel Zeininger
Neil Shicoff brought in voice and acting a formidable
performance as Roméo and not
least also in condition because he is almost the whole
two-and-a-half-hour-lasting opera on stage and in the last three acts
after the intermission permanently singing. Stefania Bonfadelli, who was
already celebrated in the première of La Sonnambula at the Vienna State
Opera in October 2001 as the new Prima Donna at the coloratura-heaven,
impressed by her with great easiness conducted voice and the beading tones
in a portrayal of Juliette, which reaches from Madonna-double to an
innocent virgin. Highlights of the evening were also the appearances of
Adrian Eröd (Mercutio), Angelika Kirchschlager (Stephano), Walter Fink (Frère
Laurent), Alfred Sramek (Capulet) and Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Le Duc).
Responsible for the costumes were Birgit Hutter, for the choreography
especially of the ball and battle scenes is the chef of the Vienna State
Opera Ballet Renato Zanella. Birgit Popp
Photoimpressions
and Contents
part 1
Photoimpressions
and Contents
part 2
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