SALOME: WHO IS ELSA DREISIG?
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For the first production of Salome at Aix, the soprano Elsa Dreisig will be taking on the challenge of playing the title role. Combining a voice among the most exceptional of her generation and total on-stage commitment, Elsa Dreisig is one of the singers of the moment. After working with her at the Berlin State Opera, Elsa Dreisig starts, this summer in Aix, a new chapter in her collaboration with the German Stage Direcor.
[Elsa Dreisig] is not only an excellent singer: she’s also a very good actress.
Andrea Breth
The Franco-Danish soprano Elsa Dreisig studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. While she was a member of the Opera Studio of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, she garnered a series of distinctions, which thrust her centre stage, including second place at the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo, and First Prize and the Audience’s Prize in the “Neue Stimmen” Competition of the Bertelsmann Foundation in Gütersloh, Germany, in 2015; first prize at the Operalia, a Victoires de la Musique Classique award in the category “Vocal Discovery”, and Opernwelt magazine’s choice as “Newcomer of the Year”, in 2016; and Young Opera Artist of the Year at the Copenhagen Opera Festival in 2017. During the same period, she debuted at the Opéra national de Paris as Pamina (The Magic Flute), at the Opernhaus Zürich as Musetta (La Bohème), and at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence at the Festival's Académie and as Micaëla (Carmen), and performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. The Staatsoper in Berlin has entrusted her with numerous roles, including Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), Diane (Hippolyte et Aricie), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Violetta (La Traviata) and Natascha (for the world premiere of Beat Furrer’s Violetter Schnee). The Opéra national de Paris welcomed her as Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) in 2018, and as Elvira (I puritani) and Zerlina (Don Giovanni) in 2019. That same year, she was awarded the Danish Crown Prince Couple’s Cultural Award, and debuted in the title role of Manon in Zurich. Most recently, she has distinguished herself as Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) in Salzburg, and Anna Bolena at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
— "I believe in the unique path you make for yourself, and not in the boxes they put you in.” Her embodiment as the first Salome at Aix will undoubtedly illustrate this point beautifully. And it will be both an artistic and a personal challenge. “The first time I heard this role ten years ago, I thought I had to sing it. I got the full orchestral score and all of the recordings possible. On my first disc, I already wanted to record the final scene. Of course, that in no way lessens the risk involved in this first Salome at Aix."
LE FIGARO
— INTERVIEW WITH STAGE DIRECTOR ANDREA BRETH ABOUT HER READING OF THE OPERA AND THE CASTING CHOICES
