Graz Opera

Original operetta fun with paprika and pepper

The ensemble gives a rousing Hungarian course(Bild: Werner Kmetitsch)

Bringing an operetta to the stage in such a way that it still thrills us today is a feat that many fail to achieve. Not so director Dirk Schmeding, who dusted off Robert Stolz's "Venus in Seide" with a large broom for the Graz Opera.

Operetta is often declared dead despite ambitious attempts to revive it. This applies to the masterpieces of the Golden Era as well as to this latecomer, in which Robert Stolz no longer really took the genre itself seriously and which, although it combines many pretty melodies, has little in the way of a serious plot. His "Venus in Silk", which premiered in Zurich in 1932, is therefore more reminiscent of a weird revue of numbers that stops off in Hungary and then again in Italy, bringing characters to the stage that even in the 1930s only served a nostalgic cliché.

Absurd icing on the cake
Director Dirk Schmeding does not shy away from this challenge and adds some absurd icing on the cake to the already grotesque plot, which works perfectly. His musical Hungarian course is an exemplary demonstration of how to deal with operetta nationalism. He also counteracts the antiquated image of women and gypsy romanticism with wit. He also provides everything that is needed for an entertaining operetta evening. Dazzling dance interludes (choreography: Sean Stephens), gaudy costumes (Frank Lichtenberg), a stage that does it all (Martina Segna) - and above all a fantastic ensemble.

Sieglinde Feldhofer as a captivating operetta diva(Bild: Werner Kmetitsch)

Sieglinde Feldhofer portrays Princess Jadja Milewska-Palotay as a great diva as well as a rocker's bride, with a keen eye on her material advantage. Her voice also leaves nothing to be desired. In Matthias Koziorowski, she finds an equal partner who is convincing both as the prince and as the supposed robber chief and brings enough melodiousness to the Stolz melodies.

Ildikó Raimondi, Ivan Oreščanin, Matthias Koziorowski, Ferry Öllinger and János Mischuretz with the Graz Opera Chorus(Bild: Werner Kmetitsch)

Couple number two is also enchanting: Ildikó Raimondi as the lively Comtesse Mizzi and Ivan Oreščanin as the high-spirited but not very courageous dragoon lieutenant Ladislaus. Sandy Lopičić plays the real robber captain with plenty of wit, a rough exterior and a soft core. Ferry Öllinger is always likeable and endearing as the slightly goofy Baron Oroszy.

András Kurta also has the laughs on his side as the mute servant Mihály, while János Mischuretz as the priest and robber and István Szécsi as Vörös-bácsi also manage many comic moments. Mátyás András' languorous violin is the icing on the cake.

Musically brash
Marius Burkert chases the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra through Stolz's melodies, sometimes a little too briskly. The chorus and dancers are impressive, and they also enjoy performing.

Together, they all manage the feat of not exposing this "Venus in Silk", but rather creating a lively, original and very operetta-like production on stage by exaggerating what is already an exaggeration. The premiere audience loved it and applauded enthusiastically.