Valer Sabadus in »Malina«: Critical Acclaim

"Malina" is a commissioned opera created to mark the 100th anniversary of Ingeborg Bachmann, based on her novel of the same name, with a libretto by Tina Hartmann. Produced for Theater Aachen, the work received its world premiere at the 2026 Schwetzingen SWR Festival before being presented in a series of performances at Theater Aachen. Valer Sabadus performed the title role of Malina, the male alter ego of the novel's unnamed female narrator. The production received widespread critical acclaim. A selection of press reviews is presented below.

In the Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Thomas Weiss wrote on 26 April 2026:

“Once again, the vocally overwhelming countertenor Valer Sabadus, well known from the Karlsruhe Handel Festival, proves to be outstanding. Although the role in Schwetzingen does not require cascades of coloratura, his secure upper register and vocal suppleness make him an ideal choice for the title role.”

In Die Rheinpfalz, Karl Georg Berg wrote on 26 April 2026:

“As Malina, countertenor Valer Sabadus was once again compelling in his high register, while also taking on extensive spoken passages and singing in a lower range.”

In the Stuttgarter Zeitung, Georg Rudiger wrote on 27 April 2026:

“With his androgynous countertenor, Valer Sabadus is an ideal casting choice for Malina, bringing the melodies to life with a cool smile while remaining intriguingly elusive throughout.”

In the Aachener Zeitung, Armin Kaumanns wrote on 3 May 2026:

“Her counterpart Malina, whose masculine and feminine traits are captivatingly expressed through Sabadus' baritone and soprano vocal colours, is just as omnipresent as she is.”