To mark her role debut as the Fiakermilli in Richard Strauss’s Arabella under Christian Thielemann, the magazine Die Bühne published an in-depth portrait of the Austrian coloratura soprano Ilia Staple entitled “Schmäh trifft Stimme” (“Viennese Wit Meets Voice”), describing her as “unpretentious, sensitive, convincing.” She opens the new season at the Vienna State Opera as Papagena in the revival of The Magic Flute and, immediately thereafter, as Esmeralda in the new production of Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, staged by Dirk Schmeding and conducted by Tomáš Hanus.
Wiener Staatsoper
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart: The Magic Flute
Ilia Staple: Papagena
Sep 3, 5, 9, 12, 2025
Wiener Staatsoper
Bedřich Smetana: The Bartered Bride
Ilia Staple: Esmeralda
Sep 28, 2025 (premiere); Oct 2, 5, 8, 11, 13, 2025
