Hans Werner Henze, L' UPUPA

Semper Oper Dresden, 2009

OPERNWELT, July 2009
The Staatskapelle Dresden accompanied this musical journey with enormous clarity of articulation under the precise conducting of Stefan Lano. The extended lyricism of Henze‘s melodic line is intelligently juxtaposed alongside his percussive, asynchronous rhythmic modules. The varieties of sound and atmosphere within the individual scenes are meticulously honed, while the singers are guided with the greatest of care. The singers audibly profitted from Lano‘s subtle work with the Staatskapelle.

MORGENPOST – DRESDEN, 3 June 2009
Mr. Henze must have enjoyed what he saw and heard in yesterday evening‘s performance of his opera, L‘Upupa. This production, under the musical direction of Stefan Lano and stage direction of Nicolaus Lehnhoff, is certainly one of the strongest of the administration of General Manager Gerd Uecker – musically complex and yet remarkably transparent; with stage direction and ever-changing sets full of fairytale-like ideas and symbolisim. This was an evening of music theater with which even skeptics of contemporary music would be enchanted, as it proves that modern sounds must not be rendered as harsh and rigid, but rather, as here in Dresden, luscious and exciting.

DRESDNER NEUESTE NACHRICHTEN, 3 June 2009
What was opulent for the eye was equally so for the ear. There are outstanding musicians at work here, and when Stefan Lano conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden, the sound is simply sublime: wonderful balance within the orchestra and between orchestra and stage; a clear enjoyment in creating unusual orchestral effects; and a complete artistic commitment crowned with chamber music-like finesse.

SÄCHSISCHE ZEITUNG, 3 June 2009
This opera was brought to life by a scenic and musical cohesion under the concentrated and judicious leadership of Stefan Lano who conducted a magically luminescent and spirited Staatskapelle.
Enthusiastic applause from the public – and also from Mr. Henze.

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 4 June 2009
With such complexity and clarity of stage direction, it is all the more important that the musical statement be well-presented, and in Dresden, the conditions for this were ideal. Under the high-voltage conducting of Stefan Lano, the Staatskapelle rendered this exceptionally colorful score an astonishing dramatic life of its own.

DRESDNER NACHRICHTEN, 18 June 2009
Lehnhoff does not re-interpret the fairytale-like subject into something which it is not. Rather, he trusts, in the most positive manner, the magic of the content. Stefan Lano, leading the Staatskapelle Dresden does the same in such a way that the orchestra seemingly levitates out of the orchestra pit. With abundant confidence, affection and with outstanding precision and touching lyricism, the Semper Oper has presented a most satisfying rendition of this late Henze opera.

FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU, 6 June 2009
On the podium of the Staatskapelle Dresden, guest conductor Stefan Lano created an oppulent sound for Henze‘s Mediterranean, richly orchestrated score. From the first expectant sounds to emanate from the orchestra pit which flew through the theater, to the most precise rhythmic effects, this was a fascinating, symphonic experience.

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