"Samson and Delilah" in Klosterneuburg: A hairy choice for open-air opera

The Klosterneuburg open-air opera season presents "Samson and Delilah," a choice that bravely ventures into less frequently performed repertoire. The production, staged in the historic monastery courtyard, offers visual appeal and some effective staging elements, according to critics.

However, the reviewer from Die Presse raises concerns about the musical fit of Camille Saint-Saëns' opera within the specific acoustics and ambiance of the Stift's courtyard. While acknowledging the production's merits in terms of visual effects and staging, the core musical performance is deemed less successful in harmonizing with the venue.

The critique suggests that despite the commendable effort to stage a less common work and the production's positive visual aspects, the musical realization does not fully align with the expectations for an opera performance in such a distinguished setting. The choice of work, while bold, ultimately proves to be a "hairy" one, as the title implies, perhaps not perfectly suited to the location.

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It's nice that one dares to tackle the little-known. But even if the production offers good effects: Musically, the work by Saint-Saëns does not fit into the courtyard of the monastery.