The Scene and the Unseen: Opera in Pictures. Photographs by Monika Rittershaus

Photographer Monika Rittershaus captures the human depth, uniqueness, and veracity of contemporary musical theater in her visually striking compositions, showcasing influential directors and operas like DAS RHEINGOLD, COSI FAN TUTTE, TANNHÄUSER, CARMEN, SALOME, ELEKTRA, and IPHIGÉNIE EN TAURIDE. Her work has been praised for its ability to capture the inner world of a moment and knows when to click the camera.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 12 August 2022
Publisher: Arnoldsche

Photographer Monika Rittershaus is widely recognized as an inspiring interpreter of contemporary musical theater, encompassing its diverse range of expressions, opulence, and drama. However, her artistry extends beyond the superficial, delving into the human depth, uniqueness, and authenticity of the art form. Rittershaus possesses a remarkable sensitivity as an observer, keenly capturing subtle, touching, and peripheral moments that often go unnoticed by others. Barrie Kosky, a renowned director, has observed Rittershaus at work and marveled at her ability to sense the inner world of a moment and capture it perfectly through her camera lens.

In her meticulously crafted visual compositions, Rittershaus showcases a personalized and decisive approach to depicting influential directors and operas. Her work includes capturing the essence of DAS RHEINGOLD, a masterpiece by Richard Wagner, performed by the Los Angeles Opera in 2009 under the direction of Achim Freyer. Similarly, she has portrayed COSI FAN TUTTE, a comedic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at the Salzburger Festspiele in 2020, directed by Christof Loy. Rittershaus has also captured the dramatic intensity of TANNHÄUSER, another Wagner opera, performed by the De Nationale Opera in Amsterdam in 2019, directed by Christof Loy. Her portfolio also includes the portrayal of CARMEN, a tragic opera by Georges Bizet, at the Oper Frankfurt in 2016, directed by Barrie Kosky.

Furthermore, Rittershaus has ventured into the realm of Richard Strauss's compositions, capturing the essence of SALOME at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 2021, directed by Claus Guth. Her artistic journey continued with ELEKTRA, another Strauss opera, performed by the Staatsoper Hamburg in 2022, directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov. Rittershaus has also explored the tragic tale of IPHIGÉNIE EN TAURIDE, composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck, at the Opernhaus Zurich in 2020, directed by Andreas Homoki. Finally, she has brought CENDRILLON, a captivating opera by Jules Massenet, to the Opéra National de Paris Bastille in 2022, directed by Mariame Clément.

Through her lens, Rittershaus has not only captured the visual splendor of musical theater but also the emotional depth and human connections that make it truly remarkable. Her work serves as a testament to the power of photography to convey the essence of artistic performances and the profound impact they have on audiences. Monika Rittershaus is a visionary photographer whose contributions to the world of musical theater continue to inspire and captivate.

Weight: 1136g
Dimension: 221 x 281 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783897906693