Don't miss the Queen of Spades at the Wortham Theater

Last night, the Houston Grand Opera held its final rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades at Wortham Theater Center. HGO general director Anthony Freud chose nontraditional version of this opera, originally directed by the London native Richard Jones.


This production is very different from the customary sets of Pushkin’s time or from its original 1790s setting. The city and its inhabitants are all rendered in grayish hues, creating a true haunting atmosphere of dreary and dark St. Petersburg.

Vladimir Galouzine delivers a wonderful performance as Herman. His experience in this lead role in native Russian is remarkable. His baritone voice extended effortlessly through the low tenor range in clear notes of desperate obsession.

Also notable is Tatiana Monogarova as Liza. A lively Moscow born soprano, Monogarova has already given dramatic performances as Russian heroines in Slonimsky’s Master and Margarita and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Her Liza is charming and timid, portrayed with skilled acting and beautiful high notes produced with unusual talent.

Judith Forst reveals a splendid Mezzo soprano as the Countess, another voice that has been heard internationally for years.

The other solo artists, chorus, and dancers are decent but undistinguished. Vasily Ladyuk’s Yeletsky is powerful but surprisingly unvaried, while Tómas Tómasson's Tomsky drowns behind the music. (I should note that this was only the rehearsal and singers might have been saving their voices for the opening night on Friday.)

John Macfarlane's sets are striking and surreal. Particularly interesting is the contrast between the opening painted cloths of the Countess’ face as the young Russian Venus vs. the aged keeper of the fated secret. The portrait of youg Countess is later places in her bedroom:

Director Richard Jones's inventions, such as the rooftop view of Lisa’s bedroom and the weird puppet show bring gothic eeriness to the stage.

This opera is sung in Russian with English surtitles and runs for 3.5 hrs., including 2 intermissions. It opens on Friday, April 16, 2010 and will continue through May 1, 2010.