Small picture of Donizetti

 

 

Donizetti's Anna Bolena

Vienna Staatsoper,  April 2 - April 17, 2011.

Photographs copyright Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn , courtesy of Wiener Staatsoper

 

Photographs from the 2011 Vienna Staatsoper production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena.  Apparently, this was the first time that it had been staged there and they certainly marked the occasion with a stellar cast. Anna was Anna Netrebko's first performance in the role and achieved great success with an ovation lasting nearly 20 minutes , "Bel écrin pour la nouvelle reine des reines" (Maximilien Hondermarck, Forum Opera), "Man ist Zeuge, wie hier Notenmaterial Sängerinnenkörper wird, wie sich Töne in Psychologie verwandeln, eine Sopranistin zur Primadonna mutiert" (Manuel Brug,  Die Welt). Iey Apthorp in the Finiancial Times was a little more sceptical: "neither a born coloratura soprano nor a burningly charismatic performer in this role".  Evelino Pidò and the orchestra and chorus as well as her fellow soloists were also widely praised: "Garanča's extensive Mozartean background prepared her for a dazzling display of bel canto",  "Francesco Meli was a delightful discovery in the punishing, high-flying role of Percy, and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, an unusually sexy Enrico, used his suave, ebony bass to excellent effect, lacking only in flexibility. Elisabeth Kulman's coltish Smeton was sung so luxuriously she threatened to steal attention from the divas" (Larry Lash, Opera News). However, the production was roundly condemned (apparently booed on the opening night), although, unusually, for being too staid and unimaginative.

 

The Team

 

Anna Bolena - Anna Netrebko

Seymour - Elina Garanča

Percy - Francesco Meli

Enrico VIII - Ildebrando D`Arcangelo

Smeton - Elisabeth Kulman

Sir Hervey  - Peter Jelosits

Lord Rochefort - Dan Paul Dumitrescu

 

Conductor - Evelino Pidò

Director - Eric Génovèse

Design - Jacques Gabel, Claire Sternberg,

Costumes - Luisa Spinatelli

Lighting Designer - Bertrand Couderc

 

 

Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and Chorus

 

 

Anna Bolena

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

 

Enrico

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

Anna Bolena

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

Jane Seymour

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

Percy, Rochefort, Anna Bolena, Smeton

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

Anna Bolena

© Wiener Staatsoper/Michael Poehn 2011

 

 

 

 

© Donizetti Society and contributors, 2004-2011