La fiamma from the Deutsche Oper Berlin

Ottorino Respighi's last great opera directed for stage by Christof Loy: a story of intrigue, power struggles and an affair between stepmother and son.

Director Christof Loy continues his series of opulent operas from the first third of the 20th century at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

In La fiamma, imposing choruses and colossal tableaux accompany a story about intrigues, power play and an affair between stepmother and son in Ottorino Respighi’s last grand opera.

When the opera was first performed in Rome in 1934, Europe had long been staring fascism in the face. The opera’s story, the brutal show trial fuelled by hysterics of the masses, is an unvarnished reflection upon the very same ugly grimace of social upheaval. Respighi created music going far beyond his illustrative-seeming Trilogia romana for which he is known in concert halls today. Yet in essence, the composer remained true to his colourful tonal language – the result is a musical amalgamation of French impressionism, influences of Russian music and a classic reimagining of Italian renaissance music.

Genre Opera
Recording location Deutsche Oper Berlin
Production year 2024
Recording date 2 & 10 October 2024
Video format HD
Production Company EuroArts Music, rbb
Stage Director Christof Loy
Costumes Barbara Drosihn
Libretto Claudio Guastalla, based on Hans Wiers-Jenssen's theatre play "Anne Pedersdotter, the Witch"
English title of music work Ottorino Respighi: La fiamma
Sets Herbert Murauer
Light Design Fabrice Kebour
Chorus Master Jeremy Bines
Conductor Carlo Rizzi
Chorus Master Christian Lindhorst, Children's Choir
Orchestra / Band Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Choir Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Choir Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Soloists Olesya Golovneva, Silvana; Georgy Vasiliev, Donello; Ivan Inverardi, Basilio; Martina Serafin, Eudossia; Doris Soffel, Agnese di Verva; Sua Jo, Monica; Cristina Toledo, Agata; Martina Baroni, Lucilla; Karis Tucker, Sabina; Caren Van Oijen, Zoe; Patrick Guetti, L’Escorsista; Manuel Fuentes, Il Vescovo; Caitlin Gotimer, Mother; Chance Jonas-O’Toole, tenor solo; Silvia Pohl, Agnese di Cervia at the stake; Andrea Spartà, Nicolas Franciscus, Koray Tuna, actors
Duration approx. 2 hours 45 minutes / 2 intervals
Distribution TV EuroArts Music International