Description

Barcelonas prestigious Gran Teatre del Liceu presents Mozarts beloved singspiel in an elegant, dramaturgically twisted production with a sparkling cast of top-rank international stars headed by coloratura soprano Diana Damrau as Konstanze and rising opera star Olga Peretyatko as Blonde. German soprano Diana Damrau achieved a huge success and was hailed by critics as a thrilling Konstanze. Christoph Strehl, a tall and aristocratic tenor of important means and burnished technique, made Belmontes difficult music sound easy. Franz Josef Selig was celebrated by critics as one the best Osmins that had ever performed in that role. Christoph Loy has conjured up a thought-provoking and strikingly original scenario in which both Konstanze and Blonde are feeling respect, admiration and even profound love for their captors. The result is a tantalising approach that overturns the traditional patterns of good and evil. Review Diana Damrau achieved a huge success at the Barcelona Liceu. –Opera News Franz-Josef Selig, the best Osmin I have ever seen. –Opera News Ivor Bolton’s conducting is relaxed and affectionate, and really there is no respect in which this performance falls short of being a triumph. ***** –BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 Damrau scored a notable success as Konstanze and her accomplished singing of a difficult role (she sings the extended version of ‘Marten aller Arten’) is the main highlight of the performance. Christoph Strehl’s Belmonte is stylish and sensitive…Ivor Bolton gets lively playing at uncontroversial speeds. –Gramophone, May 2012