“Goodness, what vocal duels!” Dagens Nyheter
“Beautiful solos” Aftonbladet
“A production full of witty rhymes and amusing twists.” Göteborgs-Posten
“Successful opera debut for Claes Eriksson” Göteborgs-Posten
“The best thing about Viva la mamma is Åke Zetterström’s Agata and, just as in the finale, he is worthy of being praised to the skies as a goddess.” Expressen
The day is approaching for the premiere of the great opera house’s production of an opera about love in the Roman Empire. Rehearsals break down when each of the cast members insists on being at the centre – of the plot, on the stage and on the poster.
When Agata, the formidable mother of the seconda donna – whose self-confidence somewhat exceeds her capabilities – storms in and demands that her daughter be given a more glamorous role, half of the ensemble resigns. Agata, who does not care in the slightest what others think, is unfazed. She knows that “when the players quit the play and decorum slips away, gossip saves the day”.
This is the revival premiere of Donizetti’s entertaining and elegant opera Viva la mamma, which satirises the difficulties that can arise when preparing for an opera premiere and parodies classic opera characters. Swedish comedy legend Claes Eriksson wrote the libretto and directed the 2022 production.
