Press

Ricarda Merbeth ventured into the title role for the first time. While she was still rather indecisive in her opening aria, she visibly gained momentum and temperament in the riddle scene. Thanks to the steadfastness of a practised Strauss and Wagner interpreter, she mastered the vocal tour de force demanded of her without any discernible effort and crowned the vocal line with electrifying high notes in which only a few sharp edges crept in. Merbeth also deserves credit for the accuracy with which she handled the text, giving Turandot’s bitter-sarcastic comments the necessary weight.