Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano, Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009

The Russian-Austrian soprano Anna Netrebko and the Italian tenor Massimo Giordano, with Keri-Lynn Wilson conducting the Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, have been performing in a debut concert at the Salle Pleyel, Paris on 1. October 2009, within the series Les Grandes Voix.

Programme
Anna Netrebko, soprano
Massimo Giordano, tenor

Orchestre National d'Île-de-France
Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor

Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009

1. Part

Charles Gounod: Overture, "Roméo et Juliette", Orchestra
Charles Gounod: "Va! Je t´ai pardonné... Nuit d'hyménée" from "Roméo et Juliette", Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano
Giuseppe Verdi: Overture, "Nabucco", Orchestra
Gaetano Donizetti: "Regnava nel silenzio" from "Lucia di Lammermoor", Anna Netrebko
Gaetano Donizetti: "Una furtiva lagrima" from "L´Elisir d´Amore", Massimo Giordano
Gaetano Donizetti: "Caro elisir! Sei mio!... Esulti pur la barbara" from "L'Elisir d'Amore", Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano

2. Part

Luigi Arditi: "Il bacio", Anna Netrebko
Francesco Paolo Tosti: "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra", Massimo Giordano
Piotr I. Tchaikovsky: "Polonaise" from "Eugen Onegin", Orchestra
Piotr I. Tchaikovsky: "Kuda, Kuda" from "Eugen Onegin", Massimo Giordano
Antonín Dvorak: "Song to the moon" from "Rusalka", Anna Netrebko
Giacomo Puccini: "Intermezzo" from "Manon Lescaut", Orchestra
Giacomo Puccini: "Che gelida manina" from "La Bohème", Massimo Giordano
Giacomo Puccini: "Si, mi chiamamo Mimi" from "La Bohème", Anna Netrebko
Giacomo Puccini: "O soave fanciulla" from "La Bohème", Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano

Encores
Franz Lehar: "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss" from "Giuditta", Anna Netrebko
Salvatore Cardillo: "Core'ngrato", Massimo Giordano
Giuseppe Verdi: "Brindisi" from "La Traviata", Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano

Personal Report
This Thursday I attended the concert of Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. I had a pretty good seat at the third row on the left-hand-side of the stage. From such a position you can really enjoy all the details of the performance, getting the singers really close and being able to see all the reactions and indications of the conductor to both the singers and members of the orchestra.

At 8:00 PM the members of the Orchestre d'Île de France started to come on stage and take their seats. Then the Canadian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson came also on stage taking her position on the pitch. The silence filled the auditorium and the orchestra started to play the first notes of the Overture of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. The sound was very good and Keri-Lynn Wilson was conducting getting the better from the orchestra.

The orchestral introduction to the fourth act of Roméo et Juliette followed the Overture, while Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano came to the stage, acting as if it was a staged opera peformance. Anna was coming from the left-hand-side of the stage, walking just in front of me, while Massimo came from the right-hand-side, meeting both of them at the center of the stage, to the left-hand-side of the conductor. Anna was looking absolutely stunning, wearing the beautiful black dress by Escada that she has been wearing in her last concerts. I had already saw pictures of her wearing this dress, but when you see her live and in a short-distance, believe me, it was something completely different and absolutley stunning! The space on the stage left for the singers was quite narrow and the first violin did move back a little bit trying to leave more space for them. Anna started to sing the duet "Va! Je t'ai pardonné... Nuit d'hyménée" and everybody in the auditorium realized that they were attending an outstanding performance. The duet was fantastic and the chemistry and complicity between Anna and Massimo was evident since the beginning. Keri-Lynn Wilson was always taking control of everything, singing for herself, smiling to the different sections of the orchestra and giving the entrance to the singers. It was just the first vocal performance of the night and the reaction of the public was spectacular! A storm of applauses and bravi came at the end of the duet. Yeah! A very special evening had just started!

After the Overture of Verdi's Nabucco one of the best moments of the concert. Anna came on stage to sing "Regnava nel silenzio" from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. She was absolutely outstanding, singing and acting, filling the auditorium with powerful high notes and leaving breathless the public with wonderful pianisimi. And to an outstanding performance, what else than an outstanding reaction of the public. Huge amount of applauses and loud brava! brava!. Anna left the stage but the public still was applauding and she came back to ackowledge the public ovations. As Anna said later on at the stage door, the audience was really fantastic.

Afer the dramatic interpretation of Lucia, Massimo came on stage to sing the Nemorino's aria "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore". He did a pretty much moving interpretation, acting and singing, getting also a lot of applauses from the audience. Anna joined Massimo on stage to sing the funny duet "Caro elisir! Sei mio!... Esulti pur la barbara". This was one of the best moments of the evening too. Anna was sitting and singing just in front of my seat. So wonderful moment! At the end, spectacular reaction of the public. The whole auditorium of Salle Pleyel was already crazy about her!

The second part of the concert started with Anna singing "Il bacio". Now she was wearing the same pink and black dress by Escada, with a big necklace, that she had been wearing in most of her recent performances. Massimo followed her singing the beautiful song "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra" by Tosti.

After the orchestra played the "Polonaise" from Eugene Onegin, Massimo came on stage to sing the wonderful aria "Kuda, Kuda" from the same opera. This was one of his best moments of the evening, emotionally sung and moving. The audience gave to him also a lot of applauses which were not stopped when he left the stage, making him to come back. From my seat it was evident that Massimo was quite moved when he left the stage.

Another magical moment of the evening was coming next, with Anna, driving us to heaven, singing to the perfection "Song to the moon" from Dvorak's Rusalka. The public was breathless and the atmosphere she created was unforgettable.

The orchestra played next the "Intermezzo" from Puccini's Manon Lescaut. Keri-Lynn Wilson was able once again to get the best of them.

The official part of the concert ended with the final scene of the first act of Puccini's La Bohème. Another great moments of the evening, for me one of the best for sure. Anna is a wonderful Mimí as it was clearly shown this year in Munich and Massimo was a great Rodolfo. The public was like crazy. Huge amount of bravi and standing ovations lasting for seevral minutes.

As expected, they were three encores, but this times it was Anna the first to came to the stage for the first one. She sang "Meine lippen, sie küsse so heiss" from Lehar. It was a pitty that the space left for the singers on the stage was so narrow, not being able to dance all along of the stage as she uses to do. Nevertheless, she was dancing on the narrow space left to her. She was wearing light brown high heels and she almost slipped while dancing when she stepped her skirt with her highheels. Another funny incident happened. When was dancing she lost one of the hair ornaments she was wearing, flying towards the orchestra. Another huge amount of brava! brava! and standing ovations lasting for several minutes.

Massimo came to sing the "Core'ngrato" giving all the best of him. Wonderful. Joseph Calleja told me once, that when he was singing with Anna, she had the ability to get the best of him. I think that Massimo would agree on that. Bravos and a lot of applauses.

The superb evening came to an end with Anna and Massimo singing the "Brindisi" from "La Traviata" and the whole audience standing up, giving a huge amount of applauses to the performers.

Press Reports

In terms of praise, the timbre and the holding of the line of the Russian soprano. Her vocal color, dark, mottled, her sense of color is wonderful in Rusalka, with a Song to the Moon of rare beauty, poetic [...]
Adrien De Vries, ClassiqueNews.com 2. Oct 2009 [French]

On-line Press Reports
Du glamour à l’opéra - By Adrien de Vries, ClassiqueNews.com 2. Oct 2009 [French]
Anna Netrebko... et consorts - By Clément Taillia, Forum Opera [French]

Photos
Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

The Programme of the concert of Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Carlos

At the interior of the Salle Pleyel, meeting friends before starting the concert of Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson and Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Massimo Giordano, Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Massimo Giordano and Anna Netrebko on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Arnaud

Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano on stage at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Huge standing ovations for Anna Netrebko, Massimo Giordano and Keri-Lynn Wilson at the end of the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Massimo Giordano at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Massimo Giordano at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Massimo Giordano at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Keri-Lynn Wilson at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Anne-Laure

Keri-Lynn Wilson at the stage door after the concert. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009. Photo: Herbert

Videoclips
Anna Netrebko and Keri-Lynn Wilson getting the applauses from the public and coming back on stage to sing the first encore. Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009


Franz Lehar: "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss" from "Giuditta", Anna Netrebko


Giuseppe Verdi: "Brindisi" from "La Traviata", Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano


Related Posts
Concert of Anna Netrebko at the Salle Pleyel, Paris 1. Oct 2009