Dame Sarah makes her Vienna debut
mainHandel’s Ariodante has never been done before at the Vienna Opera, so it makes sense that most of the singers are either on debut or role debut in Sir David McVicar’s production.
Dame Sarah Connolly sings the title role, her first in the house.
Chen Reiss, a Vienna regular, sings her first Ginevra.
Christophe Dumaux makes his Staatsoper debut as Polinesso.
Wilhelm Schwinghammer is on debut as King.
Hila Fahima sings Dalinda.
William Christie conducts, another debutant.
Sarah Connolly as Ariodante, photo © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn
Both sopranos hail from Israel, fwiw, and I think Christie is tackling this work for the first time.