Lifelong opera stan projecting my sociological and queer perspective onto what’s playing on Berlin‘s big and small classical stages.
Staatsoper Berlin
Beneath the aristocratic elegance and comedic disguises, this is an opera about people—flawed, passionate, and full of contradictions. It speaks of trust, longing, and the challenge of overcoming one’s own fears.
Staatsoper Berlin
Thematically, FIN DE PARTIE explores the absurdity of life, isolation and dependency, the cyclical nature of existence, and the complex dynamics of physical disability and human relationships.
Staatsballett Berlin
What I most enjoy about Forsythe‘s work is the androgyny of the choreographies: often, male and female dancers make very similar movements, equally fierce and fluid, breaking some gendered conventions the perception of dance.
Komische Oper Berlin
This refreshing staging dismantles well-worn BOHÈME clichés, peeling away layers like an onion to expose the opera’s essential human truths: gone are the picturesque Parisian rooftops, falling snow, and festive Christmas scenes.
English National Opera
Those familiar with the TV show will find that this production instills the same levels of terror and discomfort: the plight if the Handmaids, the ruthlessness of Gilead‘s commanders, the ambivalent complexity of the Aunts, and the rallying cry of hopeful rebellion are bone-chillingly depicted.
Deutsche Oper Berlin
While the production may not have intended to make a political statement, the parallels were personally difficult to ignore. This serves as a reminder that opera, like all art, is inherently political, and exists in the context of our reality.
Deutsche Oper Berlin
While it might appear that this is a tale for children, the story conveys very adult topics like sexuality, loss of a loved one, revenge, unfulfilled relationships, and regret late in life. As so often with children’s fairytales, two stories are being told in parallel.
Konzerthaus Berlin
It‘s not surprising that Beethoven 9 has become this traditional New Year‘s piece: we‘re all particularly receptive to its message of global fraternity and sorority around the holidays.
Komische Oper Berlin
This production is a truly special take on Mozart’s 1791 icon: the stage is a flat two-dimensional white surface onto which a sort of animated fairytale reminiscent of 20th century silent film is projected to show most of the plot.
Deutsche Oper Berlin
Originally written in 1825 to commemorate the aforementioned coronation, IL VIAGGIO A REIMS is less of a traditional narrative opera and rather a “scenic cantata”—a glittering excuse to showcase the greatest vocal talent of its time.
Babylon Berlin
The live music accompaniment is essential, breathing new life into the sometimes glacial pacing of silent cinema. It keeps the audience engaged and heightens appreciation for this form of musical art—something that can lost in films from our time.
Neuköllner Oper
The production curates a selection of cantatas, arias and chorales by the one and only Johann Sebastian Bach to tell a modern story about (im)mortality, suffering, transience, and serendipity.