Massenet Don Quichotte opera to libretto by Henri Caïn. Directed 2019 by Mariame Clément at the Bregenz Festival. Stars Gábor Bretz (Don Quichotte), David Stout (Sancho), Anna Goryachova (Dulcinée), Léonie Renaud (Pedro), Vera Maria Bitter (Garcias), Paul Schweinester (Rodriguez), Patrik Reiter (Juan), Elie Chapus (Chief of the Bandits), and Felix Defèr (A Man). Daniel Cohen conducts the Wiener Symphoniker and the Prague Philharmonic Choir (Chorus Master Lukáš Vasilek). Set and costume design by Julia Hansen; lighting design by Ulrik Gad; choreography for fight scenes by Ran Arthur Braun; dramaturgy by Olaf A. Schmitt. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in French. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
In the February 2021 Opera News (pages 54-55), William R. Brown warns that this is not a Massenet for beginners with five acts “in unrelated times and places” loaded with director devices such as protagonists seated in the audience, a stage within a stage within a stage, action in front of the red curtain, a scene with a deliberately shabby set and deliberately bad acting, a guest appearance by Spiderman, and other oddities to keep you on your toes. Nevertheless, Brown says the production hangs together and is reinforced with an orchestra playing “with style and love” as well as a star performance by Gábor Bretz as Don Quichotte. Brown further gives this a “Critic’s Choice“ award for the best video of the month. Brown’s overview together with the clip below from C Major should help you decide if this title is for you :
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