René Fleming was scheuled to sing Franz Lehár's “Die lustige Witwe” at the Semperoper Dresden on 30. and 31. December 2010. Weather conditions in New York, a huge snow, did not allow her to reach Dresden in time to attend the first of the performances. To cover René Fleming at the Semperoper Dresden no one else than Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott as special invited guests.
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, who were in Wien and they were the surprise invited guest at the Wiener Staatsoper on New Year's Eve on 31. December 2010, moved to Dresden to perform on the Silvesterkonzert on 30. December 2010. The programme and cast for this performance was the following:
Silvesterkonzert, Emmerich Kálmán: “Heia, Heia, in den Bergen” aus “Die Csárdásfürstin” | Pablo Ziegler: “Rojo tango” | Franz Lehár: Auszüge aus “Die lustige Witwe”, Semperoper Dresden, Dresden 30. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Bass-baritone); Anna Gabler (Hanna Glawari), Christopher Maltman (Graf Danilo Danilowitsch), Carolina Ullrich (Valencienne), Andrej Dunaev (Camille du Rossillon), Tom Martinsen (Baron Mirko Zeta), Christoph Pohl (Vicomte de Cascada), Aaron Pegram (Raoul de St. Brioche), Sangmin Lee (Kromow), Ilhun Jung (Bogdanowitsch), Gerald Hupach (Pritschitsch), Valda Wilson (Lolo), Stephanie Atanasov (Dodo), Romy Petrick (Clo-clo), Arantza Ezenarro (Jou-jou), Gala El Hadidi (Margot); Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden, Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott in the Silvesterkonzert at the Semperoper Dresden on 30. Dec 2010
The names of the surprise invited guests singing at the New Years Eve performance of Johann Strauss "Die Fledermaus" at the Wiener Staatsoper have been unveiled. Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will be two invited guests at the Pince Orlofsky's party where they will sing two duets: "Lippen Schweigen" from Franz Lehár's "Die lustige Witwe" and "Bess, you is my woman now" from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess".
The performance will be conducted by Patrick Lange and features Angelika Kirschschlager as Prince Orlofsky, Daniela Fally as Adele and Michael Schade as Alfred. The production is by Otto Schenk.
Celeste Prouctions is the company co-producing the concert of Anna Netrebko and Kate Lindsey in Geneva on 28. April 2011. They co-produce as well the concerts in Paris on 26. April 2011 and Toulouse on 2. May 2011.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Salle Pleyel, Paris 26. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Victoria Hall, Genève 28. April 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Théâtre du Capitole, Halle aux Grains, Toulouse 2. May 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins
Tickets for the concert in Geneva on 28. April 2011 can be bought at the ticket office, City of Geneva: 0800 418 418 (Switzerland), +41 022 418 36 18 (other countries), at the FNAC stores or online at the FNAC website.
Deutsche Grammophon has released a promotional videoclip of the upcoming CD recording of Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, starring Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and Antonio Pappano conducting the Ochestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
Deutsche Grammophon will release a standard CD Edition and a CD+DVD Special De-luxe Edition on 18. March 2011.
The recording was done in Baden-Baden in July 2010.
Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Adina in a Laurent Pelly's performance of Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg on Monday 24. January 2011. The conductor will be Luciano di Martino.
The Mariinsky Theater website announced on 18. Dec 2010 two performances of Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" on Monday 24. and Tuesday 25. January 2011. Details of the casts were not yet provided at that time. Nevertheless, as it is usual there, tickets for the premiere on Monday 24. January 2011 are already available. The price of the tickets, two or three times the usual ones, indicated that, most likely, Anna Netrebko will sing the role of "Adina" on this performance. Tickets for the second performance on Tuesday 25. January 2011 were not yet available at the Mariinsky Theater website.
On 20. Dec 2010, the balletandopera website announced that Anna Netebko would sing in both performances and they had tickets available for both dates. They announced also that it will be a concert performance and not a new staged poduction as it had been announced some time ago by Anna Netrebko.
The day after, 21. Dec 2010, the second peformance has dissapeared from the balletandopera website. It is still announced on the Mariinsky Theater website, but tickets are still unavailable.
On 22. Dec 2010, the Mariinsky Theater website confirmed that Anna Netrebko will sing on 24. Jan 2011 but no additional information is povided yet for the second performance and tickets remain unavailable.
The russian version of the Mariinsky website announces that it will not be a concert performance but a staged one directed by Laurent Pelly.
Anna Netrebko made her opera debut as Susanna in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg on 5. April 1994. It was a personal decission of Valery Gergiev to give her such an extraordinary first opportunity, singing such an important role, when she was just 22 years old.
Le Nozze di Figaro, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 5. Apr 1994 – NN (Figaro), Anna Netrebko*º (Susanna), Vladimir Samsonov (Il Conte di Almaviva), Tatiana Pavlovskaya (La Contessa), NN (Cherubino), NN (Marcellina), NN (Doctor Bartolo), NN (Don Basilio), NN (Antonio), Olga Trifonova (Barbarina), NN (Don Curzio), NN (First Bridesmaid), NN (Second Bridesmaid); Tim Coleman (Stage Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Justus Frantz
Today we have an extraordinary video document of this historical performance. It includes the duet between Susanna (Anna Netrebko) and the Count Almaviva (Vladimir Samsonov) and the aria of the Count Almaviva (Vladimir Samsonov):
Copenhagen, Thursday 16. December 2010. House debut of Anna Netrebko at the Royal Theater singing the role of Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème". The Russian diva sings only in 2 peformances, the first one being the premiere on 16. December and the second one, the second performance of the run on 19. December. Sharing the stage with Anna Netrebko are the young and promising danish tenor Peter Lodahl as Rodolfo, Gisela Stille as Musetta, Palle Knudsen as Marcello, Thomas Storm as Schaunard and Ludvig Lindström as Colline, in the main roles.
Anna Netrebko arrived to Copenhagen on 14. December 2010. She came from Moscow where she had performed in a concert at the Kremlin with Erwin Schrott on 13. December 2010. On 15. December Anna joined the rest of the cast in the final dress rehearsal at the Royal Theater. After the dress rehearsal she gave a press conference, together with Peter Lodahl, Gisela Stille and Palle Knudsen.
Mimi has become one of Anna Netrebko's signature roles. She made her role debut as Mimi in an unforgetteable peformance at the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg on 3. January 2006, with Rolando Villazón, making his opera house debut, as Rodolfo and Valery Gergiev conducting for the first time ever this Puccini's masterpiece. Since this outstanding performance in St. Petersburg, Anna Netrebko has sung this role at the Met in New York, Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Philharmonie and Bayerische Staatsoper in München and Wiener Staatsoper in Wien.
La Bohème
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Text in Italian by Giuseppe Giacosa und Luigi Illica, based on Henry Murger's novel "Scènes de la Vie de Bohème"
December 11 in St. Petersburg was the "Night Music" devoted to the 170 anniversary of Piotr I. Tchaikovsky.
More than 100 musical events and theater performances were organized at different venues, including both traditional ones, such as opera houses, concert halls or theaters, and non-traditional ones, such as lobbies of subway stations, lobbies of museums, radio and television studios or night clubs.
The main event of the "Night Music" was the "Opera Gala Concert" held at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory featuring Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, making their first joint concert in Russia, with Claudio Vandelli conducting the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia".
The day before, Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli gave a press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, the place where Anna had followed her musical studies. Anna had left the Conservatoy before having finished her studies and, therefore, she never got the Diploma. Before the concert Anna Netrebko received the Diploma from the St. Petersburg Conservatory delivered by the chairman of the Culture Committee, Anton Gubankov, and the rector of the Conservatory, Sergei Stadler.
Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli arrived to St. Petersburg after having been giving two joint concerts in Ukraine, in Odessa on 1. Dec and Kiev on 5. Dec 2010, and one joint concert in Latvia, in Riga on 8. Dec 2010. Following this concert in St. Petersburg, they will travel to Moscow, where they will end this tour, to give a private concert at the Kremlin.
Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg Saturday 11. December 2010
PERFORMERS Anna Netrebko, soprano Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia" Claudio Vandelli, conductor
PROGRAMME 1. Part Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott Massenet | "Manon" | "Suis-je gentille ainsi?... Je marche sur tous les chemins... Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" | Anna Netrebko and Chorus Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
2. Part Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko Sorozábal | "La Tabernera del Puerto" | "Despierta, negro, que viene el blanco... La luna es blanca muy blanca" | Erwin Schrott Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Encores Lehar | "Giuditta" | "Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss" | Anna Netrebko Piazzolla | Tangos | Erwin Schrott
Videos Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010
Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010
Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010
Excerpts of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the press conference and at the concert at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory
Excerpts of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the press conference and at the concert at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory
Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott
Massenet | "Manon" | "Suis-je gentille ainsi?... Je marche sur tous les chemins" | Anna Netrebko
Massenet | "Manon" | "Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott made their debut in Riga with a concert held at the Latvian National Opera on 8. December 2010. Maestro Claudio Vandelli conducted the Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
The concert in Riga was organized as part of a Concert Tour given by Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli including concerts at the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Odessa 1. Dec 2010, Palace Ukraine, Kiev 5. Dec 2010, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010, Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg 11. Dec 2010 and Kremlin, Moscow 13. Dec 2010.
The day before the concert, Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrrott and Claudio Vandelli gave a press conference held at the Latvian National Opera.
Latvian National Opera, Riga, Latvia Wednesday 8. Dec 2010
PERFORMERS Anna Netrebko, soprano Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus Claudio Vandelli, conductor
PROGRAMME 1. Part Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott Gounod | "Faust" | "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir" | Anna Netrebko Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
2. Part Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko Sorozábal | "La Tabernera del Puerto" | "Despierta, negro, que viene el blanco... La luna es blanca muy blanca" | Erwin Schrott Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Encores Lehar | "Giuditta" | "Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss" | Anna Netrebko Piazzolla | Tangos | Erwin Schrott
Reviews Anne-Laure has has attended the concert of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott in Riga and she has kindly written the following detailed review for the Blog.
Concert of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010 By Anne-Laure
This concert was a mega event in Latvia and the very beautiful hall was packed.
After the overture of "Ruslan and Ludmila", Anna arrived on stage to sing Ludmila’s cavatine. In a white and silver dress, with her long hair on her shoulders and somehow still a girlish face, she was utterly gorgeous. In fact, with this dress, she could have been escaped from a fairy tell where she would have been a snow princess. But of course, the most important thing was the singing… and it was equally gorgeous. Her beautiful voice easily filled the hall, with power and control. She managed to convey both the little Slavic melancholy of the beginning of the aria and the girlish irony of the second part very well, both in her facial acting and her singing. She added subtle colors, nuances and the slow parts where the voice could deploy itself were fantastic, as the faster parts. That was the first time I heard her perform this live and I if I already loved the piece, I was really amazed by how splendid it is live. I really hope she’ll come in France with this kind of repertoire (well, in fact I thought the same thing during the performance when she sang Marguerite – isn’t the Opéra de Paris able to make her come to sing in Faust ????? -, Rusalka, Operetta and Italian repertoire for those too…).
The audience (who was already hers from her entrance) greeted with bravos and applauses.
Then Erwin (very elegant) came to show us why he is the best Leporello today. Playing with the audience, he displayed all his cards in this, vocally and with his scenic charisma. His voice too filled the hall and his tone is definitely beautiful.
Anna came back to give the jewel song and I must say that the color of her voice in this aria is absolutely great ! She managed to produce (or smartly fake ;-)) the trills and roulades needed and she seemed to have a real good time… which was equally true for the audience. The only thing I could regret was the little breathing before the last high note, in the middle of the word “passage”, who was not really appropriate. But it’s better than a crack I guess.
Still from Faust, Erwin sang the rondo of the Veau d’or. I thought that it was really convincing, even if some French “S” consonants became “Ch” (for quite a strange effect for a French) and if some sounds were not covered as the others. But this aria is a killer and he impressed me (I would add that he also scared me, because there was a devilish look in his eyes).
The orchestra then gave the Gazza Ladra’s overture with some cracks in the winds section and Erwin came back with a bottle of vodka to sell Dulcamara’s potion.
He really played with the audience and managed to get a bill from a man of the first row. Vocally his Dulcamara was secure and fun. Great time.
Short after he went backstage and while the audience was still applauding, Anna/Adina came on stage to lament over Nemorino’s departure. She was quickly rejoined by Erwin/Dulcamara who tried to consulate her with his “elisir” (vodka again, of course). The both played at the same time their characters and themselves. Anna is definitely one of the greatest Adinas ever and here her match with “her” Dulcamara was fantastic.
Maybe they played too much with the audience, because the crowd couldn’t help laughing and applauding even while they were singing (which was a shame because we couldn’t hear those beautiful notes as I would have liked), especially when Erwin tried to sell his potion to the Letton President. At this time, the audience laughed VERY loud while Anna was singing, to the point she took Erwin by the shoulders and get him back with a smile and a “OK darling, that’s great, but I’m singing” look on her face.
Of course, she “provoked” such reactions in the audience herself, especially when she made her face and signature crying realizing that Nemorino was gone by her fault. The audience bursted into laughters.
To finish the duet, Erwin, whose Dulcamara couldn’t give the potion to Adina, managed to sell it again to a man in the audience. Then he (as Erwin and no more Dulcamara) turned to Anna (who was no longer Adina) with the bill in the hand and a proud face like “look Honey, I’m getting money back home”. She put on an ironic or amused smile, took the bill from his hands, laid glamorously on the front of the stage and hided it in the flowers just before the man, giving him a wink and sending him a kiss too, as for apologizing on her man’s behavior (just when singing that “her elisir” was her face).
Then she stood up and while she was looking in another direction, Erwin, who had taken a annoyed face took the bill back and put it in his pocket.
They finished the duet with Anna grabbing Erwin and kissing him, then rejecting him and leaving the stage, letting him amazed for 3 seconds before he finally ran after her.
All that was of course totally prepared I guess, but they managed to make it so well and natural that it was perfect. Most of all, they did it while singing as good as we know they can do, so the musical part was not let beyond. Then it was a huge pleasure and the audience rewarded them with a huge and deserved ovation.
The second part began with Anna, coming this time with a beautiful blue dress and her hair put up. That made her a more woman face than the previous girlish style, and maybe more glamorous, but equally GORGEOUS !
She sang Il bacio with joy in her voice and even if she eluded the final high-D, it was a beautiful moment.
Then followed the Merry widow duet. If (to me) Erwin’s German sounded even stranger than Anna’s one, it was beautifully and tastefully sang. They made it quite in a romantic mood, danced a bit to seal the lovers (Hannah and Danilo) reconciliation and finally kissed. That was cute.
After the Vêpres’ overture, Anna sang Rusalka’s aria. What can I say ? I love it and I love her singing that piece. Feelings, emotion, beautiful tone. She had to come back to bow as the audience didn’t want her to go and was still applauding.
Erwin (wisely I think, and I’ll add that I’m really tired of the Toreador song) came to sing a zarzuela (I guess). The piece even if not really brilliant was pleasant and was perfectly fitted to let Erwin’s voice show all his male beauty. Here again the audience asked for a come-back on stage.
When I saw on the program that Anna had planned to sing Lauretta’s aria “O mio babbino caro”, I’m sorry to write that I was like “Oh no, please !!!!!”. Because I must say that I’m quite fed up with it, having heard it by many many sopranos, as if they all had to sing it during their concerts, especially as an encore. This aria I have heard too many times and I was hoping to hear something new.
Well, it was before having heard it live by Anna. OK, there were some odds vowels at the beginning, making a slight sensation of discomfort… but then the voice became huge with powerful notes then she gave piani that stayed in suspension in the hall… the audience stopped breathing and finally at the end erupted in wild bravos and huge ovation. She had to get back on stage as the audience called her. Amazing.
The program ended with the duet of Porgy and Bess. I’m not sure that their singing really matched the style of the piece, maybe because they didn’t sound particularly at ease with singing in English (especially Anna). Anyway, that was still beautiful and it is always pleasant and interesting to hear a singer in a new piece for him.
The audience, who was already hot went mad… Standing ovation. Screams…
As an encore Anna gave her signature aria. Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss.
From the moment the audience heard the first notes and recognized it, they probably guessed what would happen and they immediately began to scream of approval.
Well, indeed Anna threw roses (even to the presidential loge, making the president nearly fall over it to catch them), kicked off her shoes, danced wildly across the stage and played with her curves at a point that made the men totally mad (one could hear some of them nearly die, I’m not kidding).
And what can I say about the singing ? Powerful, seductive, magnificent. The whole package.
Then the audience went again wild greeting her with another standing ovation. They could not stop applauding, which gave time to some people to install a mike.
Erwin came for his encore with Anna. He explained that he would like to give something from his country. (Anna was there to translate his speech in Russian). He said that in the opera, the soprano comes often half-sick from the beginning, that she makes the bariton jealous with the tenor, that both of them finally die to let the bariton cry all by himself. He added, while everybody was laughing, that they had the same thing in South America and that it was called Tango. He then proposed to sing a little selection.
I wouldn’t say that I’m basically a tango fan, but the 3 pieces he sang were quite pleasant and his voice fitted them perfectly. He put quite feeling in it too. As a result I really took pleasure discovering them. The crowd rewarded him with bravos and he finally was rejoined by Anna for the final bows, who lasted and lasted, with standing ovation, as the audience didn’t want to let them go. They had to come back on stage many times.
It was a beautiful gala. The program, if not really original, was cool and had mainly one purpose : made people happy and it was a huge success. Everybody had a huge smile on the face, was in a good mood when going out the theater. Thanks to those beautiful artists.
Photos
Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Claudio Vandelli, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Claudio Vandelli, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Erwin Schrott, Anna Netrebko and Claudio Vandelli, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Erwin Schrott, Anna Netrebko and Claudio Vandelli, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure
Videos PBK News: Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott arrive to Riga
Latvian TV coverage of the Anna Netrebko and Ewin Schott concert to be held in Riga on 8. Dec 2010
Stéphane Lissner, General Manager and Artistic Director of the Teatro alla Scala, has announced today at a press conference that Mozart's "Don Giovanni" will open the 2011-2012 season of the Teatro alla Scala.
The opera will be conducted by Daniel Barenboim and the production will be directed by Robert Carsen. The cast includes Peter Mattei in the title role, Bryn Terfel as Leporello, Anna Netrebko as Donna Anna and Elina Garanca as Donna Elvira.
Anna Netrebko and Valery Gergiev were among the members of the Russian delegation attending today in Zürich the announcement of the winners to host the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022. Russia and Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022, respectively.
Russia will host 2018 FIFA World Cup! Anna Netrebko, Valery Gergiev and other members of the Russian delegation on the cover of London's Metro newspaper.
Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Odessa, Ukraine Wednesday 1. Dec 2010
PERFORMERS Anna Netrebko, soprano Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone Odessa Opera Orchestra Claudio Vandelli, conductor
PROGRAMME 1. Part Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott Gounod | "Faust" | "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir" | Anna Netrebko Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
2. Part Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko Bizet | "Carmen" | "Votre toast... Toreador, engarde!" | Erwin Schrott Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Inteview to Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott on TV [02:12]
Interview to Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott and some images of the concert in Odessa [31:29]
»L’Introduzione« from »Seven last words« (version for string orchestra) »Vater, vergib Ihnen«, Sonata I from »Seven last words« (version for string orchestra)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
»Erbarme Dich, Gott« from «St Matthew Passion« | Marianna Pizzolato
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736)
»Stabat mater« | Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato
PERFORMERS Anna Netrebko, Soprano Marianna Pizzolato, Mezzo-soprano Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden Bertrand de Billy, Conductor
The concert has been recorded by ZDF and it will be broadcast on Friday 22. April 2011.
Reports Herbert has attended the two concerts scheduled today, 27. Nov 2010, at the Frauenkirche Dresden. The first one was the "Adventliche Festmusik aus Dresden" with Carolina Ullrich, Vittorio Grigolo, the Chor der Sächsischen Staatsoper Dresden and the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Bertrand de Billy. The concert has been recorded by German TV ZDF an it will be broadcast on Sunday 28. Nov 2010. The second one was the "Passionsmusik aus der Dresdner Frauenkirche" with Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Bertrand de Billy. The concert was also recorded by ZDF and it will be broadcast on Friday 22. Apr 2011. This is the report he kindly wrote for the blog:
To begin with – I am fascinated by the Old Town of Dresden. It is BEAUTIFUL – especially around the Frauenkirche, where I have attended two concerts tonight which were recorded by German TV ZDF. Frauenkirche has been rebuilt after the reunification of Germany and was re-opened 5 years ago. Now it is a large, impressive church with a fantastic acoustic.
First there was an “Adventskonzert” (which will be broadcast tomorrow evening) with Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo and – no, not Anna Netrebko, not Mojca Erdmann, who should sing after Anna’s cancellation, but she fell ill and so a young soprano from Semperoper in Dresden decided spontaneously to sing Mojca’s part! Her name is Carolina Ullrich and she got a big welcome applause for her courage – and she sang very well.
Vittorio’s voice filled the Frauenkirche – he can sing sacred music as well as operas. He sang four pieces: “Panis Angelicus” by César Franck, “Domine Deus” by Rossini, “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert and – together with Carolina Ullrich and Staatskapelle Dresden (conducted by Bertrand de Billy) – “Hört der Engel helle Lieder”.
Then, after 60 minutes break, it was followed by “Passionsmusik”, which will be broadcast on Good Friday 2011. Anna Netrebko arrived at 7:50 p.m. at the Frauenkirche and gave a few autographs before she entered through the stage door.
The evening began with two pieces of Haydn, followed by Marianna Pizzolato who sang “Erbarme Dich” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Matthäus Passion”.
Everybody was waiting for Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”, or better: everybody was waiting for Anna Netrebko. When she came on stage, she wore a breathtaking, low-cut dress (quite different from the one in Baden-Baden) and was received with much applause.
She and Marianna Pizzolato were in perfect harmony as they were in Baden-Baden, their voices are incomparable when they unite in their duets. Therefore the audience was listening devoutly before they thanked the artists with long and intense applause.
Erwin Schrott was among the audience, and he accompanied Anna when she left the Frauenkirche at the stage door. The temperature was about -10 to -15 degrees, so it was understandable that Anna said to the people who were waiting for her: “Sorry, but it is terribly cold”. She gave only two or three autographs before she and Erwin got into their car and were driven away by their chauffeur, waving from inside.
Photos
Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko arrives to the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Interior of the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Erwin Schrott at the interior of the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Maestro Bertrand de Billy, Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and Bertrand de Billy, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and Bertrand de Billy, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott leaving the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott leaving the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott leaving the Frauenkirche Dresden on 27. Nov 2010. Photo: Herbert
PERFORMERS Anna Netrebko, soprano Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone National Philharmonic of Russia Vladimir Spivakov, conductor
PROGRAMME 1. Part M. Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila | Ochestral overture M. Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko W.A. Mozart: Don Giovanni | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott C. Gounod: Faust | "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir" | Anna Netrebko C. Gounod: Faust | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott G. Rossini: La gazza ladra | Ochestral overture G. Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott G. Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
2. Part L. Arditi: Il bacio | Anna Netrebko F. Lehár: Die lustige Witwe | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott TBA: | Ochestral overture G. Puccini: Gianni Schicchi | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko G. Bizet: Carmen | "Votre toast...Toreador, engarde!" | Erwin Schrott A. Dvorák: Rusalka | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko G. Gershwin: Porgy and Bess | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Deutsche Grammophon will release Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, starring Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and Antonio Pappano conducting the Ochestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, on 18. March 2011.
The recording was done in Baden-Baden in July 2010.
Deutsche Grammophon will release a standard CD Edition and a CD+DVD Special De-luxe Edition.
On 17. November 2010 at 08:30 AM (GMT) CNN International has premiered "Anna Netrebko: Revealed" a 23-minute long documentary about the Russian superstar soprano Anna Netrebko.
The awesome documentary is splitted into three parts and it can be seen at the CNN International website.
The first part "Anna Netrebko: The modern face of Opera" starts with Anna Netrebko in New York in October 2010. She is leaving her new appartment, located just a few blocks away from Lincoln Center, going walking to the Met. Anna is rehearsing the revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale". The film shows Anna Netrebko, Mariusz Kwiecien and John Del Carlo rehearsing backstage some scenes of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" under the precise and detailed direction of Otto Schenk.The fist part concludes with some nice images of a very young Anna in Krasnodar, some of her early performances at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and a short interview with Maestro Valery Gergiev.
The second part "Anna Netrebko: Diva turned mother" starts with Anna Netrebko in London in June 2010. She is singing the title role of a new production of Massenet's "Manon" at the Royal Opera House. The film shows Anna arriving at the stage door of the Royal Opera House and warming up the voice at her dressing room. It includes footage from her current performances of Massenet's "Manon" at the Royal Opera House and Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette" at the Salzburger Festspiele 2010. The film show us also Anna as a mother, playing with her cute son Tiago or cooking at her new appartment in New York. Some other really nice moments are when Anna is refreshing some scenes of Bellini's "I Puritani" at the piano and Tiago is around there "playing" also the piano.
The third part "On stage with Anna Netrebko" starts with Anna Netrebko in Baden-Baden in July 2010. She is in a recording session of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" with Marianna Pizzolato and the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under the musical direction of maestro Antonio Pappano. This recording will be released by Deutsche Grammophon in March 2011. The film reveals the cover of this upcoming CD and includes also some images of a funny photo session with Anna and Marianna held in London in June 2010. After Baden-Baden and London, the film drive us back to New York in October 2010 to show us some on-stage rehearsals and the opening of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" at the Met.
The revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale", starring Anna Netrebko as Norina, Marius Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta, Matthew Polenzani making his Met role debut as Ernesto and John Del Carlo in the title role, opens season for Great Performances at the Met broadcast series on Saturday 5. January 2011 at 9 PM (ET) on PBS. Maestro James Levine conducts for the first time ever this opera.
Great Performances at the Met: Don Pasquale is directed for television by Gary Halvorson and hosted by mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
The invited artists who sang at the 2010 Richard Tucker Gala were Pavol Breslik, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Elina Garanca, Marcelo Giordani, Brandon Jovanovich, Simon Keenlyside, Angela Meade, Anna Netrebko, Lisette Oropesa, Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham and, the 2010 Richard Tucker Award Winner, James Valenti.
Marco Armiliato conducted the New York Choral Society and Membes of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Mike Silverman wrote for AP "Netrebko steals fundraising opera gala", pointing out that "Netrebko was in prime form" and "if you're taking part in one of those galas that feature a parade of singers, try to make sure you don't go on right after Anna Netrebko."
PROGRAMME "E' la solita storia" from "L'Arlesiana" | James Valenti "Carceleras" from "Las hijas del Zebedeo" | Elina Garanca "Riez! Allez!" from "Don Quichotte" | Ferruccio Furlanetto "Caro nome" from "Rigoletto" | Lisette Oropesa "Vision fugitive" from "Herodiade" | Simon Keenlyside "Una furtiva lagrima" fom "L'elisir d'amore" | Pavol Breslik "Era desso il figlio mio" from "Lucrezia Borgia" | Angela Meade "Nessun dorma" from "Turandot" | Marcello Giordani "Heia in den Bergen" from "Die Csardasfurstin" | Anna Netrebko "Freunde! Das Leben ist Lebenswert" from "Giuditta" | Brandon Jovanovich "Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso" fom "La rondine" | Angela Meade, Lisette Oropesa, James Valenti, Paul Appleby "Ombra mai fu" from "Serse" | Susan Graham "Bella figlia dell'amore" from "Rigoletto" | Lisette Oropesa, Jennifer Johnson, James Valenti, Simon Keenlyside "This nearly was mine" from "South Pacific" | Ferruccio Furlanetto "Sola, perduta, abbandonata" from "Manon Lescaut" | Deborah Voigt "Toi! Vous!" from "Manon" | Anna Netrebko, Marcello Giordani "C'est toi! C'est moi" from "Carmen" | Elina Garanca, Brandon Jovanovich "Già ti veggo", Finale to Act 3 of "La Gioconda" | Deborah Voigt, Wendy White, Marcello Giordani, Tom Fox, Christophoros Stromboglis
Reports Howard and his wife Paula attended the 2010 Richard Tucker Gala and kindly wrote the following review:
2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 14. Nov 2010 By Howard
On Sunday evening November 14th, 2010, we were delighted and priviledged to attend the 25th Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall. The foundation offers a $30,000 scholarship each year to an aspiring artist. This was a sold-out performance which was without intermission. Marco Armiliato conducted members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and New York Choral Society. After opening comments by Barry Tucker, Richard's son, the concert began with only 2 disappointments: Mariusz Kwiecen and Zeljko Lucic were both ill and could not attend. There was a suprise replacement by Susan Graham who had met Marco on the street and asked if she could attend. Marco said of course and joked with the audience that he did not need to consult with the Tucker Foundation.
As some of the reviews have indicated, Anna is a tough act to follow. Indeed dressed in a stunning royal blue gown that showed off her curvaceous assets, she again ruled the stage. In her first aria "Heia in den Bergen" from Die Csarasfurstin ( Kalman's "The Gypsy Princess), along with the chorus, she simply seductively danced and swayed her hips to the beat of the music while thrilling the audience with her voice. She was having the time of her life. In her second aria "Toi Vous... N'est-ce plus ma main" from Manon (Saint-Sulpice scene) she was on fire! Singing with Marcello Giordani, they embraced and even kissed passionately at the end of the aria! She simply stole the show.
There was indeed a preview of an up and coming coloratura soprano, Angela Meade who sang "Era desso il figlio mio" from Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia complete with florid embellishments. She had been featured in the film, "The Audition" about the MET's 2007 finalists and a previous winner of an Richard Tucker fellowship. We had seen her previously in Norma at Caramoor and indeed she has an incredible voice with a lot of talent. There were other artists who simply could not sing above the orchestra and chorus or who had wandering pitch, but there was no trace of faltering by Netrebko who was out to conquer all with an impressive performance.
Elina Garanca, a wonderful Latvian mezzo, appeared to gain some weight and did not ultimately make the most of her talents even with a duet with Brandon Jovanovich from Carmen, where the tenor could simply not project and did not connect with each other.
Anna simply dominates the stage and has raised the bar for all artists. She easily gets into the role, sings expressively and makes best use of both her physical attributes and artistic talents. After seeing Don Pasquale and now this gala, we can only wonder what is next.
We went to The Green Room, where celebrities usually meet their fans, but alas Anna had snuck out without greeting any admirers. Marco and other celeberities were there, but many fans were disappointed that Anna had departed.
