Vienna State Opera

Solo for lovesick tenor

Xabier Anduaga as Nemorino in Donizetti's "Liebestrank(Bild: © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn)

The very young Xabier Anduaga is a rising star in the operatic firmament. This is also shown by his Nemorino in an otherwise very weak Staatsoper "Liebestrank".

He has just rocked the Vienna State Opera's repertoire presentation with nine grandiose high Cs. After the Tonio aria from Donizetti's "The Regiment's Daughter", huge cheers erupted for Xabier Anduaga, who is just 28 years old.

A wonderfully juicy tenor, with a supple, noble timbre that is in no way inferior to some of his great predecessors. From pianissimo to forte, the voice carries wonderfully. Anduaga is aware of his qualities, even if he likes to display them too forcibly, hopefully only in his youthful exuberance.

After his house debut in "Don Pasquale" in February, he now sings Nemorino in Donizetti's "Liebestrank". One last time on Monday.

Where love falls: Florina Ilie (Adina) and Xabier Anduaga (Nemorino)(Bild: © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn)

Anduaga was born in San Sebastián in the Basque country. He has been singing since he was a child. He was accepted into the Accademia Rossiniana in Pesaro in 2016 and won the "Operalia" competition in 2019. He has long since made his debuts in New York, London, Munich and Berlin.

Director Bogdan Roščić believes he will also return to Vienna as Tonio. Next season, however, he will only sing Nemorino three times. However, with Nadine Sierra, Bryn Terfel and Davide Luciano, he will be in much better company than at present.

Because in the current series, he is very lonely. His sweet and tender Adina (Florina Ilie) quickly disappears into the shrinking orchestral sounds. Alex Esposito sings Dulcamara well, Clemens Unterreiner (Belcore) would be in better hands as the Heerrufer in the current "Lohengrin". And the house doesn't need a conductor like Mr. Ciampa.