This summer, Brian Mulligan will sing Barak, in a new production of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
The setting is dire: as dawn breaks on the terrace of the palace, if the Empress does not acquire the shadow she lacks within three days, her husband will be turned to stone. Teeming with symbolism and accompanied by the most sumptuous music, this most ambitious collaboration between Strauss and Hofmannsthal tackles, in the midst of World War I, a question that is more pressing than ever: what is the essence of humanity and why should it be perpetuated? In contrast to modern scepticism, it offers a vision full of hope and reiterates the urgency of storytelling in an age of disenchantment. Inspired by Barrie Kosky’s visionary ingenuity, Klaus Mäkelä chose this extraordinary work for his true debut in the pit, at the helm of the Orchestre de Paris and an exceptional cast, featuring Michael Spyres as Der Kaiser, Vida Miknevičiūtė as Die Kaiserin, Nina Stemme as Die Amme and Ambur Braid as Die Färberin.
The performances take place on July 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15.