Underground Psycho Therapy Facility in Salzburg Revealed
In the heart of the Salzburg Festival, George Frideric Handel's opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto has found a new home in a war bunker, transforming the classic piece into a psychological battleground of love, jealousy, and despair.
Directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov, the production is a far cry from Matthias Davids' Bayreuth Meistersinger, with Tcherniakov embracing politics while Davids intentionally avoids them. The setting, a war bunker, provides a stark contrast to the Egyptian backdrop of the opera, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease.
In the role of Sesto, Federico Fiorio delivers a vocal and physical emotional outburst, his performance resonating deeply with the audience. Olga Kulchynskas' Cleopatra soprano complements Dumaux's performance beautifully, their voices harmonising perfectly. However, the production as a whole feels emotionally monochrome, with Tcherniakov's style lacking the full color spectrum of Handel's opera.
Christophe Dumaux delivers a highly agile, sharp, and lyrically melting performance as Cesare, navigating the complexities of the character with ease. Lucile Richardot's alto voice as Cornelia seems somewhat oversized for the evening, but her performance is still engaging.
Yuriy Mynenko portrays Tolomeo as a James Bond villain, navigating between chest and head tones with precision. Humans transform into animals in the production, adding an extra layer of surrealism to the already intense setting.
The production is described as a "Psycho-Bunker", with bombs detonating above, below, and within the bunker, creating a sense of chaos and unpredictability. Emmanuelle Haïm suggests a vast array of colors hidden in Handel's music, but her ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée seems to have held back somewhat, delivering a performance that is professional but lacks the emotional depth of the production.
The Salzburg Giulio Cesare is described as solid fare, perhaps a touch too restrained for a festival production. A correction should be made regarding the director of another opera at the Salzburg Festival - it is Peter Sellars, not Barrie Kosky, who is directing "One Morning Turns into an Eternity".
Despite its flaws, the production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto offers a unique and thought-provoking take on Handel's opera, pushing the boundaries of traditional opera production and delivering a performance that is both challenging and captivating. It's no longer possible to leave the opera bunker during the first premiere of the festival season at the Haus für Mozart, so audiences are advised to prepare for an immersive and intense experience.
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