Saint Petersburg?s Maly Theatre brought a revamped version of the production to Paris in 2001 and 2004. Then, as now the audience gave ovations to the singers and the massive chorus, but had little praise for the director whose liberal handling of the libretto, based on the Pushkin novella that inspired it, and use of flashback was not to everybody?s liking.
Szabó, who sings the role of Surin in the opera, said the audience?s reaction to the director at the premiere was unwarranted. He said Dodin had his own concise concept for the work and expected much of his singers in terms of stage presence, which was appreciated.
Szabó is returning to Paris after singing in Mozart?s La Clemenza di Tito at the Garnier Opera last September. In the 2013-2014 season, he is slated to sing in Béla Bartók?s Bluebeard?s Castle under the baton of Pierre Boulez nine times in the French capital.
Szabó, born in Cluj Napoca, Romania, won the Budapest International Singing Competition in 1998. He was a member of the Frankfurt Opera between 2005 and 2009 and has since appeared on stages in Toulouse, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Santiago, London and Milan.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
