Women Out of the Shadows
Rustioni conducts Treliński’s staging of Die Frau ohne Schatten: a first for all at Opéra de Lyon
“As the Daniele Rustioni years draw to a close in France’s second city, the Italian conductor, now 40, is consolidating his growing reputation as an all-rounder, even if his native repertoire is still his most-prized internationally. For the opening production of the season, he chose Strauss’s huge and complex Die Frau ohne Schatten with Mariusz Treliński as director and a cast of Frau neophytes in the five principal roles: something of a risk, but a typically bold move on the part of Rustioni, who takes his responsibilities as music director very seriously indeed.
It is perhaps surprising that this was Opéra de Lyon’s first attempt at a piece premiered 104 years ago - or perhaps not, as its orchestral, vocal and dramatic requirements are notorious. Rustioni has built up the Lyon orchestra over the last five years, and the players responded to his baton with a bravura performance that rattled the rafters. The playing of the horns - who, as always in Strauss, have much to do, especially in the music depicting the Emperor’s hunting exploits - was especially impressive.
…it was the conductor’s visionary achievement with the orchestra that made Lyon’s first Frau ohne Schatten so memorable.”
Opera News, Hugh Canning