By Martina Hafner
The audience went wild at the Deutsche Oper: Many visitors didn’t like the mix of old-fashioned and ultra-modern at the premiere of Richard Strauss’ “Arabella” on March 18, 2023, but the singers were unanimously celebrated.
A hotel in Belle Epoque style, ruffles and borders. But only on the left half of the stage. On the right is a screen on which videos are projected, enlargements of details of what is happening. This is how Tobias scratches the production of Richard Strauss’ “Arabella” at the Deutsche Oper. There was quick irritation in the audience.
The cameramen in the middle of the plush stage set (Rainer Sellmaier) were a nuisance. In addition, the plot is not so difficult to understand that you would have to explain details with oversized film clips. An impoverished family wants their daughter Arabella (Sara Jakubiak) to marry off a rich man, preferably to Mandryka (Russell Braun). There is no money left to outfit the second daughter, so she has to dress up as a boy (Elena Tsallagova). A ball night reveals the truth.
The ensemble works its way optically through the twenties, fifties, eighties to today’s sportswear look. Why? Not clear. The more bleak the stage design becomes, the more density Krats directing gains.
But the anger at the messed-up beginning remained in large parts of the audience. After all, the singers were celebrated between the booing hurricane for the production. However, one would have wished for a little more sensitivity from the orchestra under Donald Runnicles, so some of the actors were drowned out ugly.
That didn’t change the enthusiasm for Elena Tsallagova and Sara Jakubiak, who had stepped in at short notice in the title role for Gabriela Scherer, who was ill. Grateful cheers, totally deserved for both of them.
Again on March 23, 2023, 7:30 p.m. and March 26, 2023, 6 p.m., Bismarckstr. 35, 26-136 euros, Tel.: 030 34 38 43 43