ARABELLA
Oper, Richard Strauß, Premiere 14.04.2012 im Landestheater Niederbayern
“The curtain rises – and Heike Mirbach’s trapezoidal stage design is captivating from the very first second. It is like a “hall of mirrors” that reflects the emotional levels of the performers – longing, devotion, despair, self-abandonment.”
“…and one was immediately impressed by Heike Mirbach’s stage design, which captivates in its simplicity through depth and breadth…” (Gerhart Stoiber – Wochenblatt)
“The director does not succumb to the temptation to relocate the plot of “Arabella” to 19th-century Vienna, where gambling addiction and speculation are still present. There is no Viennese humor either. Ritschel focuses on the characters and their emotional world – and he does it well. The result is an almost literary, very intelligent intimate play about two sisters and their contrasting ideas of womanhood and love. Every minute is exciting, also because Sebastian Ritschel takes the supporting characters just as seriously as the two couples. […] The director finds an impressive image for the reconciliation scene at the end. The scenery opens up, the forest – Mandryka’s domain – becomes visible, Arabella strides in plain white and brings her beloved a glass of water, the sign of their betrothal in public – and drops her cover, ready to spend the night with her beloved. In doing so, she – like Zdenka before her – acknowledges her feelings.”
Edith Rabenstein – Passauer Neue Presse
TEAM:
Production, Lighting: Sebastian Ritschel
Musical Direction: Basil H. E. Colemann
Stage and Costumes: Heike Mirbach
Dramaturgy: Swantje Schmidt-Bundschuh and Ronny Scholz
CAST :
Count Theodor Waldner: Nikolaus Meer
Adelaide: Anna Janiszewski
Arabella: Victoria Granlund
Zdenka: Mandie de Villiers-Schutte
Mandryka: Peter Tilch
Matteo: Jeffrey Nardone
Count Elemer: Albertus Engelbrecht
Count Dominik: Oscar Imhoff
Count Lamoral: Konrad Peschl
Fiakermilli : Emily Fultz
A ticket collector: Elisabeth Immelman
Niederbayrische Philharmonie/Philharmonic Orchestra