Halévy: The Jewess (Oper Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 2024, Director: Gürbaca)

Fromental Halévys' five-act Grand Opéra "La Juive" (The Jewess) is one of the most popular operas of the 19th century and has delighted audiences since its premiere at the Opéra de Paris in 1835. Set in the 15th century, the magnificent work tells of the forbidden love between a Christian man and a Jewish woman and the tragedy that ensues. The contemporary production by Opern Frankfurt was received with great acclaim, with the increasingly sought-after Canadian soprano Ambur Braid praised for her 'radiant soprano voice' as the heroine Rachel and the 'vocal phenomenon' John Osborn in the role of her father Éléazar lauded as 'hauntingly moving'. Conductor Henrik Nánási and the orchestra present themselves with the best joy of playing and the opera chorus is also convincing. Tatjana Gürbaca, who was the opera director at the Staatstheater Mainz for several years, staged the story with psychological finesse. She works at major opera houses in the German-speaking world and beyond.