Anna Netrebko returns as Micaela to the Wiener Staatsoper

On Monday 3. May 2010, Anna Netrebko will be at the Wiener Staatsoper to sing the role of Micaela in the Franco Zeffirelli's production of Georges Bizet's "Carmen".

This is a wonderful role that Anna Netrebko sang at the beginning of her career, but that she has not been singing anymore in the last ten years. Our Anna Netrebko Performances Database includes four documented performances (venue, date, cast, production, conductor) in which she sang the role of Micaela, but probably she sang the role more times with the Mariinsky Theater.

The first documented performance we have is a "Carmen" performed during a Mariinsky Theater Tour to Japan in 1996. The performance was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo on 14. November 1996. Marianna Tarassova was Carmen, Vladimir Grishko was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Alexander Morozov was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev was conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 14. Nov 1996 – Marianna Tarassova (Carmen), Vladimir Grishko (Don José), Anna Netrebkoº (Micaela), Alexander Morozov (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Susanna Martirosian (Mercedes), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), Yuri Shkliar (Zúñiga), Aik Martirosian (Gipsy Boy); Eric Vigie (Director), Suginami Children’s Choir, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The second and third documented performances of "Carmen" we have were performed in 1997, one at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and the other one at the Wooden Church in Mikkeli. In St. Petersburg the title role was sung by Elena Obraztsova an it was her last performance as Carmen on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. Viktor Lutsyuk was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Alexander Morozov was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 1997 – Elena Obraztsova (Carmen), Viktor Lutsyuk (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Alexander Morozov (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Maria Gorzevskaya (Mercedes), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), NN (Zúñiga), NN (Gipsy Boy); Eric Vigie (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The thid performance was held at the Wooden Church of Mikkeli on 6. July 1997. On this occasion Olga Borodina was Carmen,  Yuri Marusin was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Fyodor Mozhaev was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Wooden Church, Mikkeli 6. Jul 1997 – Olga Borodina (Carmen), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Yuri Marusin (Don José), Fyodor Mozhaev (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Maria Gortsevskaya (Mercedes), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), Viacheslav Lukhanin (Zúñiga), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The last documented performance we have is at the 8th Opera Music Festival in Sigulda on 5. August 2000. Marianna Tarassova was Carmen, Ingus Petersons was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Egils Silins was Escamillo. Aleksandrs Vilumanis was the conductor.

Carmen, 8th Opera Music Festival, Sigulda 5. Aug 2000 – Marianna Tarassova (Carmen), Ingus Petersons (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Egils Silins (Escamillo), NN (Frasquita), NN (Mercedes), NN (Remendado), NN (Dancairo), NN (Morales), NN (Zúñiga), NN (Gipsy Boy); Alexej Stepanjuk (Director), Aleksandrs Vilumanis

Since then, as far as we know, Anna Netrebko has been occassionally singing the Micaela's aria of Act III, "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante", in a few concert performances, but she has not been singing the role in a full performance of the opera.

Therefore, those upcoming five performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, starting on 3. May and lasting till 15. May, will be a great opportunity to see Anna Netrebko back on the stage as Micaela, ten years after her performance at the Opera Music Festival in Sigulda. The cast for those performances will be led by Nadia Krasteva (replacing Elina Garanca) as Carmen, Massimo Giordano (replacing Rolando Villazón) as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo. Andris Nelsons (replacing Mariss Jansons) conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper.

All the performaces will be broadcast live on big screens located at the Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz within the "Wiener Staatsoper für alle" program. Furthermore, the performance on 6. May will be broadcast on ORF2 and BR TV and the performance on 15. May will be broadcast live by Ö1 radio.

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 3. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Adrian Eröd (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsonsº [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 6. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Adrian Eröd (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle|Broadcast ORF2/BR]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 9. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 12. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle|Broadcast live by Ö1]

Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano have started the rehearsals at the Wiener Staatsoper some days ago. An interesting interview to Massimo Giordano was published on oe24.at on 27. April 2010. Talking about Anna, Massimo says: "Anna has not only a great voice, but as a human being is also unusual: no diva, very modest. She has a very special energy that she shares with her respective stage partners. We will also work together in the future".

Incognita

Incognita. This is the name of the last movie, the third of a trilogy, directed by Mikhail Pandoursky. Anna Netrebko and Valery Gergiev will play the roles of the mother, an opera singer, and the father of Anton Horn, a composer and director of an opera house who is working on a great musical work about the myth of Prometheus. Pandoursky has just one days time to work with Anna Netrebko. It will be this summer at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. And he knows exactly what he wants from her: a song without words, a pure vocalise recording.

Press
Münsterscher Regisseur dreht Film mit Anna Netrebko | Münstersche Zeitung | By Sabine Müller | 25. April 2010

Breaking News: Elina Garanca withdraws from all Carmen performances in Wien

Unfortunately new withdrawals have announced for the upcoming performances of Bizet's Carmen at the Wiener Staatsoper. First, it was Rolando Villazón who had to sing the role of Don José and withdraw from all the performances, being replaced by Massimo Giordano. A few days ago it was announced the withdrawal from all the performances of the conductor Mariss Jansons, being replaced by Andris Nelsons. Today the Austrian newspaper Der Standard has announced that Elina Garanca, who had to sing the title role, withdraws from all the performances due to health reasons. Replacing Elina Garanca will be the bulgarian mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva.

Ioan Holender, Director of the Wiener Staatsoper, has confirmed the rest of the cast for all the performances, including Massimo Giordano as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo.

Press
Elina Garanca muss die "Carmen" abgeben | Der Standard | 23. April 2010

Anna Netrebko | 2009-2010 Season

Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Micaela in Carmen at the Mariinsky Theater in May 2010

After the Netrebko-Festival at the Wiener Staatsoper, where the Russian-Austrian soprano will have finally sung in April-May 2010 the roles of Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème, Micaela in Bizet's Carmen and the title role in Massenet's Manon, and before to go to London, where she will wing once again the title role of Massenet's Manon at the Royal Opera House starting on 19. Jun 2010, Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Micaela in Bizet's Carmen in a single performance at the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg on 23. May 2010. The performance is scheduled within the programme of the XVII Music Festival Stars of the White Nigts as part of the Year and Russia and France 2010.

Carmen, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 23. May 2010 – Natalia Evstafieva (Carmen), Maxim Aksenov (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Edward Tsanga (Escamillo), NN (Frasquita), NN (Mercedes), NN (Zúñiga), NN (Morales), NN (Remendado), NN (Dancaire); Alexei Stepanyuk (Stage Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Tugan Sokhiev

Anna Netrebko | 2009-2010 Season

The new roles Anna Netrebko will sing the upcoming years

Anna Netrebko is facing new challenges and she will sing new and heaviest roles in the upcoming years as The Voice of Russia has published.

The first new role that will face Anna Netrebko is the title role in Donizetti's Anna Bolena. Netrebko will sing this role at Wiener Staatsoper of Wien in April 2011 and at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, opening the 2011-2012 season. It's also expected that she will return with this role to the Teatro Real of Madrid, where she sang the role of Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace in April/May 2001, the 2011-2012 season.

The second new role will be Tatiana in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Anna Netrebko will sing this role at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the 2012-2013 season.

The third new role will be Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore. Anna Netrebko will sing this heeaviest role at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, the 2013-2014 season. Daniel Barenboim will conduct the Staatskapelle Berlin. Netrebko could make her debut at the Gran Teatro del Liceo of Barcelona with this role.

Breaking News: Anna Netrebko withdraws from all performances of I Puritani at the Wiener Staatsoper

Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from all the three performances of Bellini's I Puritani she was scheduled to sing at the Wiener Staatsoper on 19., 22. and 25. April 2010. Desirée Rancatore is scheduled now to sing the role of Elvira in all three performances.

Austrian newspaper Der Standard reports that Netrebko is ill, being this the reason for the cancellation of all three performances. German magazine Bunte reports that Jeffrey D. Vanderveen, manager of Anna Netrebko, said that the singer has a feverish laryngitis and she must first take care of her voice.

Carmen from Wiener Staatsoper will be telecast by ORF on 6. May 2010

Carmen, the highlight of the current season at the Wiener Staatsoper, starring Elina Garanca in the title role, Massimo Giordano as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo, will be telecast by ORF on 6. May 2010 at 21:05.

Within the initiative "Wiener Staatsoper für alle" a big screen will be placed at the Herbert von Karajan Platz during April and May 2010, to broadcast live the performances of the Wiener Staatsoper.

Deutsche Grammophon is planning to release a DVD from the recordings of those performances.

Anna Netrebko will sing L'Elisir d'Amore at the Bayerische Staatsoper in May 2011

The new 2010-2011 Season of the Bayerische Staatsoper has been just released.

As we were expecting, Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Adina in three performances of Donizetti's l'Elisir d'Amore on 11., 14. and 17. May 2011. Opposite Anna Netrebko will be Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino. Juraj Valcuha conducts the Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper.  The stage director is David Bösch.

Tickets for those performances belong to Prices T, which is the most expensive one. Prices range from 264 EUR to 20 EUR. Written orders will be processed beginning 3 months before the date of the performance.

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 11. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Juraj Valcuha

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 14. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Juraj Valcuha

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 17. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Juraj Valcuha

Anna Netrebko | 2010-2011 Season

Festival Gala Concert with the Stars at the Wiener Staatsoper to say goodbye to Ioan Holender

A Festival Gala Concert with Stars will take place at the Wiener Staatsoper on 26. June 2010 to say goodbye to Ioan Holender, Director of the Wiener Staatsoper.

In a recent interview published on Wiener Zeitung, Ioan Holender talks about this Festival Concert. Tickets will get the name of the customer printed and a check will be made at the doors, like in Bayreuth.

Among the Stars who will participate in the Festival Concert, Holender gave the names of conductors like Riccardo Muti or Zubin Mehta, dancers like Vladimir Malakhov and singers like soprano Anna Netrebko.

Anna Netrebko has been one of the favorite singers at the Wiener Staatsoper. In his last season as Director of the Wiener Staatsoper, Ioan Holender included a kind of  Netrebko Festival programme, with the Russian-Austrian soprano singing four different roles in April and May 2010, singing the role of Mimí in La Bohème, Elvira in I Puritani, Micaela in Carmen and the title role in Manon.

Anna Netrebko has been nominated for the Classical Brit Awards 2010

Russian-Austrian soprano Anna Netrebko, together with the Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu and the conductor and violinist Marin Alsop, are the nominated for Female Artist of the Year for the Classical Brit Awards 2010.

Anna Netrebko has already received this award twice, in 2007 and 2008. On this occassion she has been nomitaed for the live recording of Bellini's "I Capuleti e I Montecchi" released by Deutsche Grammophon. Both Angela Gheorghiu and Marin Alsop, win this award once, in 2001 and 2005, respectively. This year Angela Gheorghiu has been nominated by the studio recording of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" released by Emi Classics and Marin Alsop by Leonard Bernstein's Mass released by Naxos.

For the Male Artist of the Year the nominated are the Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, the British conductor and pianist Antonio Pappano and the Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko.

This year, Antonio Pappano has two nominations, for his work conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia di Roma in the recordings of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and Verdi's "Requiem", both albums released by Emi Classics.

The ceremony of the Classical Brit Awards 2010 will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on 13. May 2010. It has been unofficially announced that Anna Netrebko will attend the ceremony.

Anna Netrebko | Awards and Prizes

La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010

Yesterday, 8. April 2010, took place the Benefit Gala performance of Franco Zeffirelli's production of Puccini's La Bohème, starring Anna Netrebko as Mimi and Piotr Beczala as Rodolfo. This was the second and last opportunity of the season to see together the couple Netrebko-Beczala in La Bohème at the Wiener Staatsoper. The performance was sold out, despite the higher prices of the tickets.

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"

Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010

Musical Direction: Constantinos Carydis

Production: Franco Zeffirelli

Set designer: Franco Zeffirelli

Costume designer: Marcel Escoffier

Chorus master: Thomas Lang

Mimi: Anna Netrebkoª

Musetta: Anita Hartig

Rodolfo: Piotr Beczalaª

Marcello: Boaz Daniel

Schaunard: Eijiro Kai

Colline: Janusz Monarcha

Benoît: Alfred Sramek

Alcindoro: Alfred Sramek

Parpignol: Martin Müller

Sergeant: Gerhard Panzenböck

Officer: Johannes Gisser

Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsopera

About the Opera

Synopsis

Press Reviews

[1] Die Netrebko zum zweiten und vorläufig letzten Mal als Mimi in Wien 8. April 2010 | Der Neue Merker | Renate Wagner | 9. April 2010

Photos

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko, Constantinos Carydis, Anita Hartig, Boaz Daniel and Janusz Monarcha at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010. Photo: Georg

Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the signature session after the performance, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010. Photo: Georg

Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the signature session after the performance, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010. Photo: Georg

La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010

Anna Netrebko as Mimi and Piotr Beczala as Rodolfo made their role debuts at the Wiener Staatsoper in a sold-out performance of Franco Zeffirelli's production of Puccini's La Bohème on 5. April 2010.

Their role debuts at the Wiener Staatsoper comes after an outstanding series of nine performances of the same Franco Zeffirelli's production of Puccini's La Bohème at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, where they have been singing for the first together those roles, from 20. February to 17. March 2010.

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"

Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010

Musical Direction: Constantinos Carydis

Production: Franco Zeffirelli

Set designer: Franco Zeffirelli

Costume designer: Marcel Escoffier

Chorus master: Thomas Lang

Mimi: Anna Netrebkoª

Musetta: Anita Hartig

Rodolfo: Piotr Beczalaª

Marcello: Boaz Daniel

Schaunard: Eijiro Kai

Colline: Janusz Monarcha

Benoît: Alfred Sramek

Alcindoro: Alfred Sramek

Parpignol: Martin Müller

Sergeant: Gerhard Panzenböck

Officer: Johannes Gisser

Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsopera

About the Opera

Synopsis

Reviews

Herbert attended the performance and he has kindly written the following report

On Monday I saw "La Bohème" at the Vienna Staatsoper with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in their house debuts. The performance was sold out, of course, and there were long queues of people meandering outside the building - waiting for standing room tickets!

One yould hear and see very well that Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala had sung this opera together more than once before. Their voices are in perfect harmony - so we may well be looking forward to their "Manon" at Covent Garden in June and July. Anna's voice has become even fuller and richer and filled the house completely. After each aria and after the duets the audience acknowledged the singers with lots of applause - and well deserved it was.

It is a very old and old-fashioned production of "La Bohème" in Vienna, but still a very good one, too. Those who attend it for the first time often go "Aaaaah...." when the curtain opens for the second act, for example, when they see a lively street scene in Paris (even a living donkey appears on stage!), or for the third act - a cold and foggy and snowy winter scene by night.

After Mimi's death - the most affecting and touching moment to end the opera - there were 20 minutes of enthusiastic applause and cheers and countless curtain calls, especially for Anna and Piotr.

After the show there was the usual Viennese "fight" at the stage door and in a tiny and completely overcrowded room where the stars sit at a small table to write their autographs. People were pushed around by others, who insisted on their alleged "right" to get numerous photos and autographs first by Piotr and then by Anna (I wonder why there isn't any security staff to protect the artists). Anyway, Anna was in a very good mood, so she didn't lose her temper at this nerve-wracking chaos. When she finally left the building, her husband Erwin Schrott was waiting for her outside, and they walked away arm in arm and waved good-bye to the crowd.

All press reviews I have read up to now praise this performance up to the skies, and they agree: Opera can be so beautiful, so touching and so enthralling when someone like Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala "tell a fairy-tale of love and death".

Press Reviews

[1] Keine stirbt so schön wie Anna Netrebko | Kurier | Peter Jarolin | 6. April 2010

[2] Netrebko: Jeder Ton ging unter die Haut | Kurier | Peter Jarolin | 6. April 2010

[3] Staatsoper: Mimì ist Annas beste Partie | Die Presse | Walter Weidringer  | 6. April 2010

[4] Seidiger Netrebko-Glanz für "La Boheme" | Kleine Zeitung | APA | 6. April 2010

[5] Der luxuriöse Sound der Schüchternheit | Der Standar | Ljubiša Tošić | 6. April 2010

[6] Wiener Staatsoper: „La Bohème“ am 5.4.2010 | Der Neue Merker | Martin R. Botz | 6. April 2010

[7] La Bohème mit Beczala, Netrebko, Esel und Kindleins, Wiener Staatsoper, 5.4.2010 | Der Neue Merker | Kurt Vlach | 6. April 2010

[8] Nachtkritik: „Großes La Bohéme-Kino“ | Oper in Wien | Dominik Troger | 6. April 2010

[9] Wenn alles so einfach wäre | Wiener Zeitung | Judith Schmitzberger | 6. April 2010

Photos

Cast sheet for La Bohème on 5. April 2010 at the Wiener Staatsoper windows. Photo: Carlos

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the curtain call at the end of the 1. Act, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko and Janusz Monarcha at the curtain call at the end of the 2. Act, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko and Janusz Monarcha at the curtain call at the end of the 2. Act, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko and Janusz Monarcha at the curtain call at the end of the 2. Act, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Anita Hartig at the curtain call at the end of the 3. Act, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Boaz Daniel, Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Boaz Daniel, Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Boaz Daniel, Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Constantinos Carydis, Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko and Janusz Monarcha at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko and Janusz Monarcha at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko at the final curtain calls, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko during the signature session at the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Robert Grabner

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Robert Grabner

Anna Netrebko at the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Robert Grabner

Piotr Beczala in front of the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko in front of the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko in front of the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko in front of the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott waiting for Anna Netrebko at the stage door, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Robert Grabner

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott leaving the Wiener Staatsoper, La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010. Photo: Herbert

Philharmonie, Berlin 29. March 2010

Anna Netrebko, accompanied by Daniel Barenboim at the piano, gave the eagerly awaited vocal recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin on 29. March 2010, as part of the Festtage 2010. The programme of the vocal recital was a selection of works by Russian composers Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Two encores were given at the end of the recital: "When my old mother taught me to sing" by Antonín Dvořák and "Cäcilie" by Richard Strauss. Part of the recital, just 45 minutes, will be broadcast by Arte TV on 18. April 2010.

Anna Netrebko had previously sung recitals with the same programme in Mannheim on 12. August 2009, with Elena Bashkirova at the piano, Salzburg on 17. August 2009, with Daniel Barenboim at the piano, and Moscow on 23. March 2010 and St. Petersburg on 26. March 2010, with Elena Bashkirova at the piano.

The new Anna Netrebko album "In the Still of Night", a live recording of her recital at the Salzburger Festspiele on 17. August 2009 with Daniel Barenboim at the piano, was released by Deutsche Grammophon on 26. March 2010. A signature session by Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim, lasting for 1 hour, took place at the Philharmonie on 29. March 2010, just after the vocal recital.

Programme

Anna Netrebko, Soprano

Daniel Barenboim, Piano

Philharmonie, Berlin

Monday 29. March 2010

1. PART

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Worüber in der Stille der Nacht op. 40 Nr. 3 | O chem v tishi nochey op. 40 Nr. 3 | What it is, in the still of night op. 40 Nr. 3

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Verzeih! Erinnere dich nicht an die kummervollen Tage op. 27 Nr. 4 | Prosti! Ne pomni dney naden’ya op. 27 Nr. 4 | Forgive me! Remember not the downcast days op. 27 Nr. 4

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Es ist nicht der Wind, der von der Höhe weht op. 43 Nr. 2 | Ne veter, veya s vïsotï op. 43 Nr. 2 | It was not the wind, blowing from the heights op. 43 Nr. 2

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Klingender ist das Lied der Lerche op. 43 Nr. 1 | Zvonche zhavoronka pen’ye op. 43 Nr. 1 | The lark sings louder op. 43 Nr. 1

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Auf Grusiniens Hügeln op. 3 Nr. 4 | Na kholmakh Gruzii op. 3 Nr. 4 | On the hills of Georgia op. 3 Nr. 4

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Im Reich der Rose und des Weins op. 8 Nr. 5 | V tsarstvo rozï i vina op. 8 Nr. 5 | In the kingdom of roses and wine op. 8 Nr. 5

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Suleikas Lied op. 26 Nr. 4 | Pesnya Zyuleyki op. 26 Nr. 4 | Zuleika’s song op. 26 Nr. 4

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Die Nachtigall wurde Sklavin der Rose op. 2 Nr. 2 | Plenivshis’ rozoy, solovey (Vostochnïy romans) op. 2 Nr. 2 | Enslaved by the rose, the nightingale op. 2 Nr. 2

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Der Wolken Luftgebirg löst sich im Winde sacht op. 42 Nr. 3 | Redeyet oblakov letuchaya gryada op. 42 Nr. 3 | The clouds begin to scatter op. 42 Nr. 3

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Die Nymphe op. 56 Nr. 1 | Nimfa op. 56 Nr. 1 | The nymph op. 56 Nr. 1

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Ein Sommernachtstraum op. 56 Nr. 2 | Son v letnyuyu noch’ op. 56 Nr. 2 | Summer night’s dream op. 56 Nr. 2

2. PART

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Sag mir, wovon im dunklen Grün op. 57 Nr. 1 | Skazhi, o chom v teni vetvey op. 57 Nr. 1 | Say, when under shady boughs op. 57 Nr. 1

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • So schnell vergessen (1870) | Zabït tak skoro (1870) | So soon forgotten (1870)

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Trunkene Nächte op. 60 Nr. 6 | Nochy bezumnïye op. 60 Nr. 6 | Reckless nights op. 60 Nr. 6

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Warum? op. 6 Nr. 5 | Otchevo? op. 6 Nr. 5 | Why? op. 6 Nr. 5

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Serenade, O Kind, ich singe dir op. 63 Nr. 6 | Serenada op. 63 Nr. 6 | Serenade op. 63 Nr. 6

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Wiegenlied op. 16 Nr. 1 | Kolïbel’naya pesnya op. 16 Nr. 1 | Lullaby op. 16 Nr. 1

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • War ich nicht ein Gräslein im Felde op. 47 Nr. 7 | Ya li v pole da ne travushka bïla op. 47 Nr. 7 | Was I not a little blade of grass? op. 47 Nr. 7

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • In trüben Tagen op. 73 Nr. 5 | Sred mrachnïkh dnei op. 73 Nr. 5 | Mid sombre days op. 73 Nr. 5

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Herrschet der Tag op. 47 Nr. 6 | Den li tsarit? op. 47 Nr. 6 | Does the day reign op. 47 Nr. 6

ENCORES

Antonín Dvořák • Zigeunermelodien op. 55 Nr. 4 (Als die alte Mutter mich noch lehrte singen) | Ciganske melodie op. 55 Nr. 4 (Kdyz mne stará matka zpívat, zpívat ucívala) | Gypsy Songs op. 55 Nr. 4 (When my old mother taught me to sing)

Richard Strauss • Cäcilie op. 27 Nr. 2

Personal Report

From 27. March to 1. April, I have been in Berlin attending three opera performances at the Staatsoper, Tristan und Isolde, Simon Boccanegra and Eugene Onegin, all of them conducted by Daniel Barenboim, and a song recital by Anna Netrebko accompanied by Daniel Barenboim at the Philharmonie. Those performances were part of the Festtage 2010 programme.

The cast for the opera performances was really good. Peter Seiffert and Waltraud Meier in the title roles of Tristan und Isolde, with René Pape as King Marke, Roman Trekel as Kurwenal, Reiner Goldberg as Melot and Ekaterina Gubanova as Brangäne in the Harry Kupfer's production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Andrzej Dobber, substituting Plácido Domingo, in the title role of Simon Boccanegra, with Ailyn Perez as Amelia, Ferruccio Furlaneto as Jacopo Fiesco, Aquiles Machado as Gabriele Adorno in the Federico Tiezzi's production of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra and Artur Rucinski in the title role of Eugene Onegin, with Anna Samuil as Tatiana, Rolando Villazón as Lenski, René Pape as Gremin and Maria Gortsevskaya as Olga in the silly Achim Freyer's production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

Nevertheless, the highlight of the Festtage 2010 was the song recital of Anna Netrebko accompanied by Daniel Barenboim at the piano. The recital took place at the Philharmonie, a spectacular concert house designed by the Architect Hans Scharoum.

We arrived to the Philharmonie around one hour and a half in advance, but we were not able to see Anna Netrebko or Daniel Barenboim arriving. The doors were still closed, but we were able to see an announcement saying that Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim would make a signing session of the new Album "In the Still of Night" at the end of the recital. As usual, we saw some people looking for tickets showing "Suche Karte" cards.

The doors opened and we entered the concert house. I bought a simple but complete programme, including the lyrics of all the songs. We saw some busts of legendary conductors such as the ones of Wilhelm Furtwängler and Herbert von Karajan. Before enetering the concert hall, we met Anna Samuil. She was very friendly and I told her that I would see her as Tatiana on 31. March. We took our seats, waiting for the recital to start. We saw Roberto Alagna in Section A of the concert hall

Anna Netrebko showed up radiant, stunning, wearing the same dress that we had see in the first part of her recital in Moscow on 23. March 2010. Daniel Barenboim was at her side. We had been listening many times recordings and broadcasts of some of her previous song recitals with the same programme, but nothing compares to hear her live. She was gorgeous. The songs by Rimski-Korsakov have an outstanding beauty mixed with a touch of melancholy. Anna's voice was flawless.

For the second part of the song recital, Anna chose the beautiful blue dress that she had also worn in the second part of her Moscow recital on 23. March 2010. Awesome second part, devoted to selected songs by Tchaikovsky.

At the end of the recital we went to the autographs session. The waiting line was huge. After a while, Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim arrived. Sean M. Gross, Press Representative of Anna Netrebko for Nort America was also there. I met him and we were talking for a long while. Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim were signing for almost one hour. It was a superb night.

Reports

Britta attended the recital and she has kindly written the following report:

„Wenn du es wüsstest was träumen heißt!“ Anna Netrebko sang at the very last encore of her concert in the Berliner Philarmonie and everyone at the sold out auditorium knew by then what it meant to dream.

In a night full of soul and emotions, a night full of melancholy and bitter sweet memories, Anna Netrebko took her audience on a journey to the depths of her Russian soul. A journey that reached everyone’s own soul in the end. And all that; In the still of the night.

The title of her new record couldn’t have been more appropriate, couldn’t have been more fitting and the minute Anna Netrebko and Maestro Barenboim entered the stage of the Philarmonie an aura filled the auditorium that bedded the audience in the soft and secure cocoon of this still of the night. Creating an intimate atmosphere where you could believe that she was singing just for you.

Wearing a beautiful dress with colourful flowers on it, she brought that touch of spring and youth onto the stage that fits so perfectly and naturally to the songs of Rimsky-Korsakov and the first song was all it took to know that this would be not just a recital and not just another night of Anna Netrebko letting her warm and dark soprano shine, but a night that would reach other heights.

Singing the first song she spanned an invisible band between herself and the audience that would become thicker and stronger with every song that followed. Luring the listener deeper and deeper into her world and by the end of the night we would have followed her everywhere. Even to the end of the world.

Changed into a beautiful turquoise evening gown Anna Netrebko returned after the break to devote the second half of the evening to the beautiful and melancholic songs of Peter Tchaikovsky. You could hear a pin drop between the songs, the audience being too afraid to applaud and destroy the magical atmosphere.

She sung with an amazing clarity and warmth, making it needless to read the translations of the songs. All you had to do, was open your heart and listen to her. It was all there in her voice and her gestic. And I’ve never heard her better, never understood her better than on this night, when she proved that the language of music is truly universal. That you don’t need to understand the words to understand the meaning and the soul of a song, when you have a performer and singer like Anna Netrebko guiding you through it. With her and Maestro Barenboim, the music always came first. It was always about the songs, never about themselves and with that they touched our souls and signed our hearts.

Thank you for reminding us what it means to dream ...

Press Reviews

[1] Wie Anna Netrebko die Berliner verführte | Morgenpost | By Volker Blech | 29. March 2010

[2] Comeback der schönen Mama | bz-Berlin | 30. March 2010

[3] Selige Sehnsucht | Der Tagesspiegel | By Frederik Hanssen | 31. March 2010

Photos

Anna Netrebko during the second part of the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim during the second part of the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim during the second part of the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim during the second part of the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim during the second part of the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko during the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko during the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim at the end of the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Daniel Barenboim at the end of the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko at the end of the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko leaving the signing session after the recital at the Philharmonie, Berlin 29. Mar 2010. Photo: Anne

Videoclips
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Worüber in der Stille der Nacht op. 40 Nr. 3 | O chem v tishi nochey op. 40 Nr. 3 | Of what I dream in the quiet night op. 40 Nr. 3

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Es ist nicht der Wind, der von der Höhe weht op. 43 Nr. 2 | Ne veter, veya s vïsotï op. 43 Nr. 2 | Not the Wind, blowing from the hights op. 43 Nr. 2


Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Klingender ist das Lied der Lerche op. 43 Nr. 1 | Zvonche zhavoronka pen’ye op. 43 Nr. 1 | The lark sings louder op. 43 Nr. 1


Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Suleikas Lied op. 26 Nr. 4 | Pesnya Zyuleyki op. 26 Nr. 4 | Zuleika’s song op. 26 Nr. 4


Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Der Wolken Luftgebirg löst sich im Winde sacht op. 42 Nr. 3 | Redeyet oblakov letuchaya gryada op. 42 Nr. 3 | The clouds begin to scatter op. 42 Nr. 3
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Ein Sommernachtstraum op. 56 Nr. 2 | Son v letnyuyu noch’ op. 56 Nr. 2 | Summer night’s dream op. 56 Nr. 2


Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakow • Ein Sommernachtstraum op. 56 Nr. 2 | Son v letnyuyu noch’ op. 56 Nr. 2 | Summer night’s dream op. 56 Nr. 2


Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Trunkene Nächte op. 60 Nr. 6 | Nochy bezumnïye op. 60 Nr. 6 | Frenzied night op. 60 Nr. 6


Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Warum? op. 6 Nr. 5 | Otchevo? op. 6 Nr. 5 | Why? op. 6 Nr. 5


Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Serenade, O Kind, ich singe dir op. 63 Nr. 6 | Serenada op. 63 Nr. 6 | Serenade op. 63 Nr. 6


Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Herrschet der Tag op. 47 Nr. 6 | Den li tsarit? op. 47 Nr. 6 | Does the day reign op. 47 Nr. 6


Anna Netrebko & Daniel Barenboim | in interview | on their memory of the recital evening in Salzburg 17. August 2009