Misha Kiria back with post-lockdown opera season with Deutsche Oper Berlin bill of 'Falstaff'
Kiria was featured in the cast of a 'Falstaff' production at Madrid’s Teatro Real last year. Photo: Javier del Real.
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Baritone Misha Kiria will be back on stage following the lockdown that paralysed opera seasons worldwide with four shows of Falstaff at the Deutsche Oper Berlin this fall.
Leading the cast in the role of the protagonist in the Verdi classic, Kiria will mark the return of the regular season at the German venue in October and November.
In the two-hour, 30-minute production directed by Christof Loy with sets by Johannes Leiacker and costume design by Ursula Renzenbrink, the Georgian singer will portray the role he has received critical acclaim for.
[Falstaff ] is at once a testimony to the youthfulness and experience of a composer shortly before his 80th birthday. The work deals with the ageing process and touches on issues such as loneliness and depression. Ever present, however, is the spirit of the closing fugue: 'Tutto nel mondo è burla. / Everything in the world is but a joke'" - Deutsche Oper Berlin
His performances as Sir John Falstaff in the staging based on a Shakespeare play have been noted by Giornale della Musica for “a beautiful baritone voice and remarkable stage presence”. Kiria's appearances in the role include last season's run of the opera at Madrid’s Teatro Real.
In Berlin, Kiria will be joined in the roster by Thomas Lehman cast as Ford, Mingjie Lei as Fenton and Andrew Dickinson as Cajus in all four shows. Gideon Poppe will play Bardolfo in the production involving choreography by Thomas Wilhelm, with Jeremy Bines contributing as chorus master. The stage of the venue will feature lighting design by Bernd Purkrabek.
The run of Falstaff at the Berlin opera house will be hosted with shows on October 30 and November 5, 11 and 28.
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Georgian baritone Misha Kiria is headlining a premiere of Verdi classic Falstaff at Madrid’s Teatro Real next week, in a production led by theatre director Laurent Pelly.