Maria Stuarda's appearance at the Salzburg Festival.
In a groundbreaking production at the 2025 Salzburg Festival, the opera "Maria Stuarda" by Gaetano Donizetti was brought to life with an unconventional machine theatre concept by stage designer and director Ulrich Rasche. The production, which premiered in 2025, features three enormous, movable rotating discs on stage, adding a mechanical, monumental setting that underscores the power struggle at the opera's core.
The discs, two on the ground and one in the air, serve as a visual representation of the mechanisms of power, manipulation, and existential tension surrounding the two queens, Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I, as well as the individuals who influence their fates. This staging narrows the drama into a profound exploration of conflict and control, supported by dancers from SEAD who represent the forces driving the queens’ tragic confrontation.
The opera takes place on a disc-shaped world, designed by Rasche, with minimal staging and participants who walk and create body shapes. The choir is banished from the stage, making it hard to judge its performance. The opera "Maria Stuarda" is monochromatic, with scenes being mostly black, white, and flesh-colored, giving it a stark, minimalist aesthetic. The production, considering the visuals, feels like a homage to Robert Wilson.
The stars of the production are Lisette Oropesa as Maria Stuarda and Kate Lindsey as Elisabetta, under the baton of Antonello Manacorda conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. Oropesa's lyrical, colorful soprano is enchanting, but there is room for improvement in the coloratura and high register. On the other hand, Lindsey's mezzo-soprano is one-dimensional and strained in the high register, but her performance is expressive.
Bekhzod Davronov plays Leicester with a beautiful timbre but lacks power in the high notes. Aleksei Kulagin is a good Talbot, Thomas Lehmann is a solid Cecil, and Nino Gotoshia is not very noticeable as Anna. Historically, many events depicted in the opera do not accurately represent the actual events.
However, Rasche's stage design contrasts the worlds emotionally and aesthetically, creating a captivating visual experience. The production's interpretation of the opera is playful, imbuing it with depth. Conductor Antonello Manacorda's interpretation of the opera is particularly noteworthy, bringing a fresh perspective to this classic work.
In a unique touch, the disc belonging to Elizabeth, Queen of England, is a part of the stage, symbolizing her unyielding power and influence. The opera begins a few days before the death of Maria Stuart, who is held captive by Elizabeth. The production is a must-see for opera enthusiasts, offering a fresh take on a classic work and a visually stunning experience.
The moviemakers-and-tv-entertainment industry might find the disc-shaped world and the mechanical, monumental setting of the opera "Maria Stuarda" intriguing, as they serve as visually captivating representations of power and tension. The staging, with its minimalist aesthetic and homage to Robert Wilson, could offer a compelling narrative for a movie adaptation of the groundbreaking 2025 Salzburg Festival production.
