Photo: Marlies Kross. What it actually is, is a near-identical re-staging of the famous original without ever capturing the style and spirit of the Felsenstein version which played in Berlin for decades, went on various international tours, was filmed and released on DVD, and is one of the most well-known Offenbach productions of the 20 th century.
To take the highly recognizable elements from that older staging and water them down for a new staging that has nothing new to say, apart from quoting Felsenstein, is a strange experience to watch. And to witness a total lack of style in the newly created costumes by Mike Hahne and the unatmospheric light design is downright shocking. Especially when it comes to Carola Fischer as Boulotte.
The statuesque Miss Fischer has been put into dresses and an ill-fitting blond curly wig that make her look laughable.
This is especially sad since the production by Piontek tries to emphasize the erotic power play of the story. By conciously? The photos here do not capture the live appearance well. Probably because the conductor, Ivo Hentschel, never coached her properly. He makes Offenbach sound like second-rate Lortzing, which is unforgivable. On the plus side, there is Jens Klaus Wilde in the title role, in the exact costume Hanns Nocker wore. The same is true for Heiko Walter as Count Oscar, delivering a vocally and dramatically gripping portrait of the slick head of the royal court.
He tried hard to also copy the famous gestures from the Felsenstein version, but without the famous Goebbels inflection which gave the crazed king his spooky and dangerous aura. Bleidorn played the part, in comparison.
