29.09.2022

FLORIAN BOESCH | debut at the Vienna State Opera

The first premiere at the Vienna State Opera during the 2022/23 season is dedicated to Gustav Mahler and his anniversary. Although the famous composer conducted many operas, he never wrote one of his own. The Vienna State Opera has therefore decided to produce a staged version of his fairy-tale cantata Das klagende Lied and his famous Kindertotenlieder under the title Von der Liebe Tod (On the Death of Love).

Florian Boesch makes his Vienna State Opera debut in the Mahler project Von der Liebe Tod, moving far beyond his comfort zone in this production, for so far he has avoided performances of Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, due to the work’s subject matter. Florian Boesch finds it impossible to simply give a “beautiful” performance of Mahler’s songs, as he assumes not the perspective of a reporting third party, but aims to embody the work, identifying with it to such a degree that it affects him profoundly:

“… publicly confessing my humanity is my central theme, and not something that happens to me by accident!”, Florian Boesch said with regard to his interpretation of Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder.

In the interview (unfortunately only in German) Florian Boesch gave to Oliver Láng on the occasion of the Mahler project’s premiere at the Vienna State Opera, you can read more about the thoughts of the singer Florian Boesch and his “public confessions”.

VON DER LIEBE TOD
Gustav Mahler: Das klagende Lied
Gustav Mahler: Kindertotenlieder

Vera-Lotte Boecker, soprano
Ariane Baumgartner, alto
Daniel Jenz, tenor
Florian Boesch, bassbaritone

Lorenzo Viotti, musical direction
Claixto Bieito, stage director
Rebecca Ringst, stage
Ingo Krügler, costumes
Michael Bauer, light