The Met: Live in HD, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011

Anna Netrebko, Diva Assoluta del Mondo, has opened today the sixth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters around the world, starring in the title role of Donizetti's masterpiece Anna Bolena. The opera, based on the final tragic days of the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn, makes its Met premiere in a new production by David McVicar conducted by Marco Armiliato.

Opposite Anna Netrebko as Anna Bolena were Ekaterina Gubanova as Giovanna Seymour, lady-in-waiting to the Queen who will become her rival to end up being the third King's wife, Ildar Abdrazakov as the King Enrico VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Riccardo Percy, former lover and husband of Anna Bolena who is still in love with her.

Ms Netrebko's performance as Anna Bolena has been outstanding, absolutely fantastic vocally and with an impressive stage presence. She was thrilling at the final mad scene, moving at the final scene of the first act, touching at the duet with Stephen Costello at the second scene of the second act and amazing at her duet with a fantastic Ekaterina Gubanova at the first scene of the second act.

Ekaterina Gubanova, who had been suffering from a cold during the last days, was impressive vocally and on stage, giving a magnificent portrayal of Giovanna Seymour.

Stephen Costello was a passionated Lord Riccardo Percy and his duet with Anna Netrebko in the second scene of the second act was moving. Ildar Abdrazakov gave also a good portrayal of King Enrico VIII.

The rest of the cast was given by Tamara Mumford as a superb Smeton, Anna Bolena's page and musician who is in love with the Queen, Keith Miller as Lord Rochefort, Anna Bolena's brother, and Eduardo Valdes as Sir Hervey, a court official.

The production by David McVicar was a magnificent one, displaying a superb collection of great costumes. The stage presence of the two irish wolfhound at the second scene of the first act was amazing.

The audience gave a well deserved huge standing ovation at the final curtain calls.

The Met: Live in HD has expanded its worldwide distribution this year, reaching now 1,600 theaters in 54 countries. For first time ever, The Met: Live in HD  was available in Russia, Ms Netrebko's native country.

Today's transmission of Anna Bolena has been hosted by Renée Fleming. Met General Manager Peter Gelb made the introduction and interviewed Anna Netrebko before the performance, as she had required. Ms Netrebko addressed some words in russian to her audience in the movie theaters of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Marco Armiliato was also interviewed before the performance, near the entrance to the orchestra pit, by Mary Jo Heath, a member of the Met staff. Renée Fleming was back at the intermission to interview Ekaterina Gubanova and Ildar Abdrazakov, followed by Stephen Costello and Tamara Mumford.



Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. A 2 DVD video recording of those performances has been internationally released by Deutsche Grammophon on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, runs at the Met through 18. October 2011, with two additional performances on 1. February and 4. February 2012.

PROGRAMME

ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

The Met: Live in HD, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011

CAST
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

Conductor: Marco Armiliato

LIBRETTO
Anna Bolena | Italian / Spanish Libretto | Atto 1 | Atto 2

PHOTOS
Check out the pictures of the Anna Bolena Met's official photo album

WEBSITE / BLOG REVIEWS
Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews: Anna Bolena, Metropolitan Opera live cinema relay, October 2011
Medicine & Opera: Anna Bolena in HD
Theater Jones: Head and Shoulders Above
In Fernem Land: El Met al Cinema: Anna Bolena
Seen and Heard International: Anna (Netrebko) Triumphs As Anna (Bolena) At The Met
El Blog de Atticus: "Anna Bolena" (Gaetano Donizetti), Metropolitan Opera 15/10/11
Ópera Perú: Una Anna Bolena que nos deja sin aliento
Playbill Arts: All Hail the Queen: Anna Netrebko stars in the Met's Anna Bolena
Operanut: Anna Bolena - Anna: Netrebko IS Bolena
CNY Café Momus: Anna Netrebko packs house - and costumes - in Met's new production of Anna Bolena

METROPOLITAN OPERA VIDEO EXCERPTS
Anna Netrebko sings the title role in this Act I excerpt from Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at the Opening Night of the Met's 2011-12 Season. Video courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.

VIDEO EXCERPTS
The Met: Live in HD, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011
Introduction by Renée Fleming and interview to Anna Netrebko by Met General Manager Peter Gelb

Come, innocente giovane · Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova

Da quel dì che, lei perduta · Stephen Costello, Keith Miller

Desta sì tosto · Ildar Abdrazakov, Anna Netrebko, Stehen Costello, Keith Miller, Eduardo Valdes

Duet Anna Bolena and Lord Riccardo Percy · Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello

Giudici! ad Anna · Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello, Ildar Abdrazakov, Tamara Mumford

Dio, che mi vedi in core · Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova

Scostatevi ... il Re giunge · Eduardo Valdes, Ildar Abdrazakov, Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello

Vivi tu · Stephen Costello, Keith Miller

Piangete voi · Anna Netrebko

Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta · Anna Netrebko, Tamara Mumford, Stephen Costello, Keith Miller