Various - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame ('The Queen of Spades')

Hans Neuenfels, the luminary of modern director�s theatre, provides a compelling, multi-layered staging of Tchaikovsky�s Pique Dame at Salzburg Festival. In the stark, mostly abstract sets by Christian Schmidt, Neuenfels �draws gripping performances from a strong cast� (The New York Times) including Brandon Jovanovich and Evgenia Muraveva in the title roles of Herman and Lisa and legendary singer Hanna Schwarz as Countess. Mariss Jansons, �a compelling director in his element� (The New York Times) makes his rare appearance as an opera conductor, at the helm of the Wiener Philharmoniker � �Another triumph in this hot festival summer!� (Neue Z�rcher Zeitung). Mariss Jansons, �maybe the best connoisseur of this unjustly neglected opera� (S�ddeutsche Zeitung), turns this Queen of Spades with as much verve as sensitivity into a �captivating musical drama� (Die Zeit).