Passionsmusik aus der Dresdner Frauenkirche, Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010

»Passionsmusik aus der Dresdner Frauenkirche«
Frauenkirche Dresden, Saturday 27. November 2010 20:30

PROGRAMME

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

»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:

"Adventliche Festmusik aus Dresden" | "Passionsmusik aus der Dresdner Frauenkirche", Frauenkirche Dresden 27. Nov 2010
By Herbert

Hello from Dresden!

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

XXVII Festival de Música de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 7. Jan 2011/Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 10. Jan 2011

XXVII Festival de Música de Canarias
Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Friday 7. January 2011
Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | Monday 10. January 2011

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

Pergolesi: Stabat Mater will be released by Deutsche Grammophon on 18. March 2011

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.

Pre-order: Amazon.de

Promotional videoclip from Deutsche Grammophon:


Photos from the Baden-Baden Gala 2010 where Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato sang Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" and other works

Anna Netrebko, "Stabat Mater", Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 27. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato and Antonio Pappano at the end of the concert, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 29. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Antonio Pappano at the end of the concert, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 29. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato at the end of the concert, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 29. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Marianna Pizzolato at the end of the concert, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 29. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko at the end of the concert, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden 29. July 2010. Photo: Herbert

CNN International: Anna Netrebko Revealed

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.

"Don Pasquale" Opens Season for Great Performances at the Met on PBS on 5. Jan 2011

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.

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 14. Nov 2010

The 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala was held at the Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York on 14. November 2010.

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

Press Reviews
[1] "When Opera Stars Show Their Frisky Side" | By Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, 15. Nov 2010
[2] "Netrebko steals fundraising opera gala" | By Mike Silverman, AP

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.

Blog Reports
Parterre Box: "Cobra Jewel Song"
Un bel dì vedremo: "All about Netrebko"

Photos

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala poster. Photo: Howard

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

James Valenti, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Marcello Giordani at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Angela Meade at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Angela Meade at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Susan Graham at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko at the Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Today it has been presented the Programme for the upcoming Salzburger Festspiele 2011.

Among the concerts, one of the highlights of the Festival is the Concert of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. On the programme the "London" Symphony by Joseph Haydn and the "Stabat Mater" by Gioacchino Rossini featuring Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato, Matthew Polenzani and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. Antonio Pappano conducts the Chorus and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Two performances are scheduled at the Grosses Festspielhaus on 8. and 9. August 2011 at 17:00.

Among the operas one of the highlights of the Festival is the double bill programme in concert performance: "Le Rossignol" by Igor Stravinsky and "Iolanta" by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky. Anna Netrebko sings the title role in Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta" opposite Piotr Beczala as Count Vaudémont, John Relyea as King René and Alexei Markov as Robert. Ivor Bolton conducts the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Two performances of those rarely performed together 1-act operas are scheduled on 15. August 2011 at 15:00 and on 20. August 2011 at 20:30.

Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 8. Aug 2011 17:00

Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Tuesday 9. Aug 2011 17:00

Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

PROGRAMME
Joseph Haydn • Symphony in D, Hob. I:104 – "London" Symphony
Gioacchino Rossini • Stabat Mater for Four Solo Voices, Choir and Orchestra

PERFORMERS
Anna Netrebko, Soprano
Marianna Pizzolato, Mezzo-Soprano
Matthew Polenzani, Tenor
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Bass
Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Ciro Visco, Chorus Master
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Antonio Pappano, Conductor


Salzburger Festspiele 2011
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 15. Aug 2011 15:00
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Saturday 20. Aug 2011 20:30

Igor Stravinsky • Le Rossignol
Lyric tale in three acts
Text by Igor Stravinsky and Stepan Stepanovich Mitusov after Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Nightingale

CAST
Julia Novikova, The Nightingale
Julia Lezhneva, The Cook
Antonio Poli, The Fisherman
Yuri Vorobiev, The Bonze
Maria Radner, Death

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Iolanta
Lyric opera in one act
Text by Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky after Henrik Hertz’s play King René’s Daughter

CAST
Anna Netrebko, Iolanta, blind daughter of King René
John Relyea, René, King of Provence
Piotr Beczala, Count Vaudémont, Burgundian knight
Alexei Markov, Robert, Herzog von Burgund
Antonio Poli, Alméric, armour-bearer to King René
Yuri Vorobiev, Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle
Maria Radner, Martha, Iolanta’s nursemaid

Ivor Bolton, Conductor
Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Jörn H. Andresen, Chorus Master

Anna Netrebko in Iolanta at the Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Kurier announces that Markus Hinterhäuser - since September of this year, interim director of the Salzburg Festival - has presented today the Programme of the upcoming Summer Salzburg Festival 2011.

One of the highlights of the Summer Salzburg Festival 2011 are two opera concert performance evenings at the Grosses Festspielhaus on 15. and 20. August 2011. The programme consists of two one-act operas, rarely performed together: "Le Rossignol" by Igor Stravinsky and "Iolanta" by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky.

Anna Netrebko sings the title role in Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta" opposite Piotr Beczala as Count Vaudémont, John Relyea as King René and Alexei Markov as Robert. Ivor Bolton conducts the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg.

Salzburger Festspiele 2011
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 15. Aug 2011 15:00
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Saturday 20. Aug 2011 20:30

Igor Stravinsky • Le Rossignol
Lyric tale in three acts
Text by Igor Stravinsky and Stepan Stepanovich Mitusov after Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Nightingale

CAST
Julia Novikova, The Nightingale
Julia Lezhneva, The Cook
Antonio Poli, The Fisherman
Yuri Vorobiev, The Bonze
Maria Radner, Death

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Iolanta
Lyric opera in one act
Text by Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky after Henrik Hertz’s play King René’s Daughter

CAST
Anna Netrebko, Iolanta, blind daughter of King René
John Relyea, René, King of Provence
Piotr Beczala, Count Vaudémont, Burgundian knight
Alexei Markov, Robert, Herzog von Burgund
Antonio Poli, Alméric, armour-bearer to King René
Yuri Vorobiev, Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle
Maria Radner, Martha, Iolanta’s nursemaid

Ivor Bolton, Conductor
Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Jörn H. Andresen, Chorus Master

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010

Saturday, 6. November 2010. Third performance of the run of Otto Schenk's revival of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House of New York, featuring John Del Carlo in the title role, Anna Netrebko as Norina, Matthew Polenzani as Ernesto and Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta. The conductor is James Levine.

Don Pasquale
Opera buffa in three acts
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Giovanni Ruffini

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. November 2010

John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale
Anna Netrebko, Norina
Matthew Polenzani, Enesto
Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta
Bernard Fitch, Notary

James Levine, Conductor
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Otto Schenk, Production
Rolf Langenfass, Set and Costume Designer
Duane Schuler, Lighting Designer

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Reports
Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance of "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House. Howard kindly wrote the following review for the blog.

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010
By Howard 

The performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Metropolitan Opera was truly a tour de force and exceeded all of our expecations. The cast was marvelous and uniform throughout.

     John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale (has also played in the Barber of Seville)
     Anna Netrebko, Norina (a reprise performance for her at the Met)
     Matthew Polenzani, Ernesto (a beautiful lyric tenor)
     Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta (a handsome match for Norina)

The opera begins with Dr. Malatesta singing a beautiful lyric melody which sets the stage for a comical farce based on love and playing jokes on an old codger. Both Mariusz Kwiecien and Matthew Polenzani were elegant and supportive, but the afternoon was dominated by Norina's antics. Her second scene putting on a pair of stockings on a the edge of the bed is the highlight of the opera showcased in a clip from the dress rehearsal at the MET. Her impish charm and seductive nature is amply paired with a lustrous voice which fills the opera house which hold nearly 4000 patrons. This scene was well choreographed and was a sheer delight to behold. She literally stopped the show with applause. As the curtain closed on the second scene of the first act, Norina did a small tumble onto the divan. As I recall, the earlier production for her in this role, she scaled back this effort, but took the audience by surprise.

As the opera continues in the 2nd act, Norina is on a roll, kicking Don Pasquale in the rear and smashing vases on the floor, destroying Don Pasquale's bed and simply carrying on with much fun as an overblown practical joke, calling Don Pasquale an old codger. The audience broke out in laughter on more than one occasion as the merriment evolved. Unlike most productions at the MET, there were numerous well behaved young children at this performance.

The third act reveals the nature of the joke and Don Pasquale blesses the love between Ernesto, the nephew, and Norina. There is a touching duet between John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale, and Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta, that was repeated at the end of the third act in front of the curtain.

Anna's voice and stature have grown, but she truly ruled the stage with charm, a great sense of humor and uncanny ability to act as an impish young girl. The role of Norina was certainly well suited for her and I was overjoyed to hear improvements in some of her trills, coloratura embellishments and thrilling high notes exemplified at the end of the 3rd act. Anna was clearly enjoying herself immensely, and sang with much confidence and panache. At one point late in the opera she even walked over to the prompter's box and sang from there. The curtain closed to thunderous applause for Anna and her colleagues. It is clear that James Levine is truly a genius, but he is now quite lame and came to the stage using a cane and holding on to other people to steady his balance. He is truly loved by the New York Audience and one could see "Jimmy" throwing a kiss to Anna as the cast took a collective final bow.

Having seen the earlier performance of Don Pasquale at the MET also, I could easily say that this one was filled wiith more humor and antics. Anna hammed it up to rapturous applause, but her real talents lie in an amalgam of acting, sensational looks and a rapturous voice. We loved it so much even havinf traveled from Boston to see it, that we are attending an encore HD performance. All of the nearby theaters were already sold out for the "Live" HD transmission. We will see Anna again at the Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on November 14th.

My only regret was having a dinner appointment in Manhattan with dear friends that precluded us from going to the stage door. I hope all of you will get to see this marvelous performance in the HD transmissions.

Photos

Don Pasquale poster at the Met. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Anna Netrebko (Norina) and John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica