Tchaikovsky’s fairy tale opera Iolanta is performed in a double bill with Mozart’s comic work Der Schauspieldirektor, which serves as a playful overture to the main act.
Opera
Der Schauspieldirektor & Iolanta
Der Schauspieldirektor: Comedy in one act with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Libretto Gottlieb Stephanie d.y. Swedish dialogue and lyrics by Staffan Aspegren. Iolanta: Opera in one act by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893). Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky, based on a play by Henrik Hertz.Romantic comedy about seeing life in all its colours.
Duration
Ca 2 h 55 min incl. 1 interval
Dates
04 — 25 May 2025
Stage
Main Stage
Genre
Opera
Language
Swedish/Russian, with Swedish and English titles
Price
150–660 kr
Accessibility
A festive and charming double opera bill of Mozart’s comedy Der Schauspieldirektor and Tchaikovsky’s fairy tale opera Iolanta.
Trailer
Der Schauspieldirektor
In Der Schauspieldirektor, the theatre director has fled the scene, leaving all important decisions to the ensemble and staff. Seven singers and a stage technician must now fend for themselves. To make matters worse, the door gets stuck, trapping the entire ensemble together. Secrets are (possibly) revealed, a leader is (perhaps) chosen, and someone is (maybe) in contact with the theatre director. Will they manage to open the door?
The comedy and drama take flight with virtuosic arias and ensemble pieces – Der Schauspieldirektor and other music by Mozart. This first part is directed by Staffan Aspegren Schenholm, who has also written new dialogue and lyrics.
Photos from Der Schauspieldirektor
In photo: Katarina Giotas, Luthando Qave|Photographer: Lennart Sjöberg
KARIN HIERTHA Kerstin Avemo
MÄRTA SILVER-VOGEL Mia Karlsson
TOMAS VOGEL Tobias Westman
BOSSE BRINGH Sami Yousri
LEO LOVÉN Kristian Lindroos
MAGNUS MAGNUSON Mats Almgren
NELSON BENGTSON Luthando Qave
CLARA BROSTRÖMH Katarina Giotas
The Göteborg Opera Orchestra
Iolanta
Tchaikovsky’s imaginative and melancholic Iolanta is about a blind princess who is so closely protected that she doesn’t realise she’s blind. In director Christian Räth’s interpretation, Iolanta lives in her own world, blind to the outside world. Only when love appears does she realise that there’s more to life that’s worth discovering. The plot is enhanced with striking video projections and through Tchaikovsky’s passionate, soulful music.
This production of Iolanta was premiered at the Dallas Opera in 2015.
Photos from Iolanta
In photo: Julia Sporsén|Photographer: Lennart Sjöberg
JOLANTA Julia Sporsén
KUNG RENÉ Mats Almgren
ROBERT Luthando Qave
VAUDEMONT Adam Frandsen
IBN-HAKIA Kristian Lindroos
ALMÉRIC Tobias Westman
BERTRAND Sami Yousri
MARTHA Katarina Giotas
BRIGITTA Kerstin Avemo
LAURA Mia Karlsson
The Göteborg Opera Choir
The Göteborg Opera Orchestra
Extras
Curious about this production?
Participants: Staffan Aspegren Schenholm (director and Swedish text for Der Schauspieldirektor), Christian Räth (director Iolanta), Aivis Greters (conductor). Panel chair: Göran Gademan (dramaturge). The discussion is in English and some Swedish.
Recorded 24 April 2025
Curious about this production?
Listen to a panel discussion
Behind the scenes
Jolantas arioso