Ritratto Makes Its German Premiere at the Theater Hof
The journey of Ritratto continues beyond the Netherlands, as the opera is being prepared for its German premiere at Theater Hof in March 2028. Under the direction of Lothar Krause, Music Theatre Director and artistic director of Theater Hof, and the Hof Symphony Orchestra, the opera will receive an entirely new production and scenography, featuring revised and new characters that bring greater depth to the original story.
Ritratto is the Italian word for 'portrait' and the title of this opera. The young, orphaned, and married, excessively wealthy Italian Marchesa Casati strove to be seen throughout her life. She was famous for the exuberant parties she organized. She allowed herself to be portrayed or photographed by numerous artists. With her black-rimmed eyes, her flaming red hair, and eccentric behaviour, she tried to gain a place in the art world. Against the background of the First World War, the libretto questions the importance of art. At a feast of Casati, all sorts of artists from the time of Casati are brought together. At the time, it was the Futurists who paved the way for fascism with their art. Casati does not engage with secular problems and focuses on her passion. In opera, she goes even further than in real life; by not seeing, she tries to be seen herself.
Originally premiered at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam in October 2020, after its digital release in March of the same year, which garnered over 76,000 views during its online debut, Ritratto was a remarkable success.
"The score is a perfect match for Frank Siera’s clever libretto. Recurring harmonies and melodies in a predominantly tonal idiom give the listener a pleasant sense of orientation. The avid opera lover will discern echoes to Wagner, Strauss, Verdi and other predesessors. Jeths has a deep understanding of how to write for the human voice. The vocal lines are extremely graceful and are often linked to equally sensuous melodies from solo instruments such as clarinet and bassoon." (Theaterkrant, Thea Derks, October 8, 2020)
Lothar Krause has built an extensive career in opera direction, working with several prominent German theatres, including Staatstheater Darmstadt, where he served as assistant director and principal stage manager from 2008. Following his successful directorial debut with Verdi's Nabucco in 2011, he went on to direct a wide range of operatic productions, including The Turn of the Screw, Jakob Lenz, Lucia di Lammermoor, Dialogues des Carmélites, Medea, Turandot and Rigoletto. His work has also included a production of La Traviata at the Danish National Opera. From 2015 to 2023, he served as opera director, director and music dramaturge at Theater Hof, becoming its artistic director in the 2024/25 season.
The new production at Theater Hof will also bring changes to some of the characters and their vocal roles. D’Annunzio, originally written for a tenor, will become a high baritone, while Diaghilev, originally a countertenor, will be reimagined as a mezzo-soprano and portrayed as the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.
