Psychiatric Facility Hidden in Salzburg's Underground

In the heart of Salzburg, the annual festival is presenting a contemporary take on George Frideric Handel's opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Staged in a war bunker by Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov, the production offers a unique psychological battlefield of love, jealousy, and despair.

The protagonist, Cesare, is played by Christophe Dumaux, whose agile and lyrically melting performance brings the character to life. Yuriy Mynenko, as Tolomeo, delivers a captivating portrayal, cleverly alternating between chest and head tones, reminiscent of a sort of James Bond villain.

Olga Kulchynskas takes on the role of Cleopatra, her beautifully flowing and soft soprano voice adding depth to the character. However, Lucile Richardot's alto voice as Cornelia is somewhat oversized for the evening, creating an interesting contrast.

The production features the exceptional states typical of Baroque opera, with exaggerated longing, lustful revenge, and jubilant victories. Yet, it has been criticised for being emotionally monochrome and lacking Handel's full color spectrum. Some have even compared it to mass-produced items, suggesting a lack of originality.

The Salzburg Festival has faced criticism for this lack of creativity and originality, with some stating that it has become a cultural bunker. Yet, this modern production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto is solid fare, perhaps a touch too modest for a festival.

The audience is informed that they cannot leave the opera bunker during the performance, adding to the immersive experience. Le Concert d'Astrée, under the direction of Emmanuelle Haïm, seems to have held back on the exhilaration, preferring to let the music flow rather than exhibit its extremes.

Emmanuelle Haïm suggests that there are still many more colors hidden in Handel's music than the shades of gray displayed on stage. The production is described as a psycho-pasticcio, focusing on individual mental states and the intensification of human feelings in isolation from the real world.

The first opera premiere of the festival season takes place at the Haus für Mozart. This production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto is compared to Matthias Davids' Bayreuth Meistersingers, with both operas criticised for falling short of comparison with an unmentioned "invisible elephant in the room".

Matthias Davids, the director of the 2025 Bayreuth Festival production of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", presents the opera as a vivid drama balancing tradition and renewal, focusing on human complexity without forced modern updates. His staging contrasts with Dmitri Tcherniakov's production of "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" in Salzburg, which emphasizes authenticity and nuanced character portrayal over overt political or ideological themes.

Federico Fiorio plays Sesto, delivering a physically manic performance that goes beyond just a single vocal outburst of emotion. This modern production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto offers a thought-provoking and immersive experience, challenging the audience to reconsider the emotional depth and complexity of Baroque opera.