DG releases the Ioan Holender Farewell Gala Concert DVD

Deutsche Grammophon releases a 2 DVD recording of the Ioan Holender Farewell Concert held at the Wiener Staatsoper, Wien on 26. June 2010. Release dates are 29. October 2010 in Germany and Austria and 9. November 2010 in USA.

The Ioan Holender Farewell Gala was live broadcast by ORF 2 and it was really spectacular: 4 hours of performances, 2 conductors and around 50 singers.

DVD 1: Ioan Holender Farewell Concert
1. Opening Credits / Vorspann / Générique    0:49

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
2. Rienzi | Overture    11:43
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Zubin Mehta

3. Opening remarks by Ioan Holender    2:44
Ioan Holender

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
4. Die Walküre | Erster Aufzug | “Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond”    3:36
Plácido Domingo, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Antonio Pappano

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
5. Il Trovatore | Act 2 | “Stride la vampa!”    3:36
Nadia Krasteva, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Zubin Mehta

Jacques Offenbach (1819 – 1880)
6. Les Contes d’Hoffmann | Act 4 | “Hélas, mon coeur s’égare encore”    3:34
Eliane Coelho, Michaela Selinger, Keith Ikaia-Purdy, Herwig Pecoraro, Boaz Daniel, Marcus Pelz,
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
7. Così fan tutte, K.588 | Act 1 | “Un’aura amorosa”    5:39
Michael Schade, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

8. Così fan tutte, K.588 | Act 2 | “Sorella, cosa dici?” – “Prenderò quel brunettino”    5:19
Barbara Frittoli, Angelika Kirchschlager, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Umberto Giordano (1867 – 1948)
9. Fedora | arr. Nick Ingman/Nick Patrick | Act 2 | “Amor ti vieta”    2:22
Ramón Vargas, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Fabio Luisi

Jules Massenet (1842 – 1912)
10. Hérodiade | Act 2 | “Ce breuvage pourrait me donner un tel reve! … Vision fugitive”    4:36
Boaz Daniel, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Carl Maria von Weber (1786 – 1826)
11. Der Freischütz | Act 3 | “Und ob die Wolke sie verhülle”    5:59
Soile Isokoski, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Peter Schneider

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
12. Die schweigsame Frau, Op.80 | Act 3 | “Wie schön ist doch die Musik”    4:54
Thomas Quasthoff, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Peter Schneider

Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848)
13. Linda di Chamounix | Act 1 | “O luce di quest’anima”    4:04
Stefania Bonfadelli, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
14. Tristan und Isolde | Act 3 | “Mild und leise wie er lächelt” (Isoldes Liebestod)    7:44
Waltraud Meier, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Antonio Pappano

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
15. I vespri siciliani | Act 3 | “In braccio alle dovizie”    6:53
Leo Nucci, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
16. William Tell | French version (1829) | Act 3 | “Sois immobile”    3:20
Thomas Hampson, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Fabio Luisi

Franz Lehár (1870 – 1948)
17. The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) | Act 1 | Duett: “So kommen Sie!…Ich bin eine anständige Frau”    5:12
Angelika Kirchschlager, Michael Schade, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Wilfried Hiller (1941)
18. Das Traumfresserchen | “Holenderchen! Ich war dein Traumfresserchen!”    1:45
Herwig Pecoraro, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924)
19. Gianni Schicchi | “Avete torto!…Firenze è come un albero fiorito”    3:28
Saimir Pirgu, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
20. Nabucco | Act 3 | “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate”    5:32
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Thomas Lang, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
21. Le nozze di Figaro, K.492 | Original version, Vienna 1786 | Act 3 | “E Susanna non vien!”    6:54
Barbara Frittoli, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Vincenzo Bellini (1801 – 1835)
22. La Sonnambula | Act 2 | “Ah, non credea mirarti”    9:46
Diana Damrau, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

Total Playing Time 1:49:29

DVD 2: Ioan Holender Farewell Concert
Charles Gounod (1818 – 1893)
1. Roméo et Juliet | Act 2 | “L’amour, l’amour…Ah! Lève-toi, soleil”    5:49
Ramón Vargas, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Plácido Domingo

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
2. Die Frau ohne Schatten, Op.65 | Act 3 | “Nun will ich jubeln”    8:11
Adrianne Pieczonka, Deborah Polaski, Ileana Tonca, Zoryana Kushpler, Michaela Selinger, Teodora Gheorghiu, Roxana Constantinescu, Aura Twarowska, Johan Botha, Falk Struckmann, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
3. Tristan und Isolde | Act 2 | “O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe”    5:31
Petra-Maria Schnitzer, Peter Seiffert, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
4. Don Carlo | Version 1867 for the Paris Opéra | “Elle ne m’aime pas”    10:21
Ferruccio Furlanetto, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957)
5. Die tote Stadt | Act 1 | “Glück, das mir verblieb” (Mariettalied)    6:17
Angela Denoke, Stephen Gould, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Jules Massenet (1842 – 1912)
6. Werther | Act 3 | “Werther…Qui m’aurait dit…Je vous écris de ma petite chambre”    7:40
Roxana Constantinescu, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

7. Werther | Act 3 | “Toute mon âme est là!…Pourquoi me réveiller”    3:44
Piotr Beczala, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924)
8. Le villi | “Se come voi piccina io fossi”    5:42
Krassimira Stoyanova, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Simone Young

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
9. Lohengrin | Act 3 | “In fernem Land, unnahbar euren Schritten”    6:31
Johan Botha, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Simone Young

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
10. Arabella | Act 1 | “Er ist der Richtige nicht für mich!”    6:50
Adrianne Pieczonka, Genia Kühmeier, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Jules Massenet (1842 – 1912)
11. Manon | Act 3 | “Je marche sur tous les chemins… Obéissons quand leur voix appelle”    7:23
Anna Netrebko, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848)
12. La fille du régiment | Act 2 | “C’en est donc fait” / “Salut à la France”    9:05
Natalie Dessay, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
13. La forza del destino | Act 4 | “Pace, pace, mio Dio!”    5:53
Violeta Urmana, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Zubin Mehta

Charles Gounod (1818 – 1893)
14. Faust | Version 1860/1869 | Act 3 | “Quel trouble inconnu…Salut! Demeure chaste et pure”    6:36
Piotr Beczala, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
15. Das Rheingold | Scene 2 | “Über Stock und Stein”    6:50
Elisabeth Kulman, Adrian Eröd, Gergely Németi, Boaz Daniel, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
16. Macbeth | Act 4 | “Perfidi! All’anglo contro me v’unite!…Pietà, rispetto, onore”    5:54
Simon Keenlyside, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Guillermo García Calvo

17. Closing remarks by Ioan Holender    1:08
Ioan Holender

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
18. Falstaff | Act 3 | “Tutto nel mondo è burla”    3:20
Krassimira Stoyanova, Ileana Tonca, Elisabeth Kulman, Nadia Krasteva, Gergely Németi, Herwig Pecoraro, Michael Roider, Boaz Daniel, Leo Nucci, Alfred Sramek, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst

19. Credits / Abspann / Générique fin    2:34

Total Playing Time 1:55:19

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins…Obéissons quand leur voix appelle" from the 3rd Act of Massenet's "Manon". Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Anna Netrebko singing "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko, Ioan Holender, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Zubin Mehta and Plácido Domingo, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko at the Ioan Holender's Farewell Gala at the Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010

London 26. June 2010 13:30. Anna Netrebko arrives to the stage door of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She is almost running, carrying a huge Daisy in her arms. She had to meet Antonio Pappano, Plácido Domingo and Ferruccio Furlanetto, who had been performing at the dress rehearsal of Simon Boccanegra the same morning, to take a minivan to the airport and take a private jet to Wien to attend the spectacular Ioan Holender's farewell gala at the Wiener Staatsoper, scheduled on the same day. Two minivan were waiting for the group. Anna Netrebko, with her huge Daisy, Ferruccio Furlaneto and Antonio Pappano took the first minivan. Plácido Domingo and Simon Keenlyside took the second one.

Plácido Domingo and Joseph Calleja at the ROH stage door after the dress rehearsal for Simon Boccanegra. Plácido Domingo and Simon Keenlyside take the minivan to the airport to fly to Wien.

The Ioan Holender's farewell gala was really spectacular. More than four hours of performances, with 12 conductors and around 50 singers. The gala was broadcast live by ORF 2.

"EIN MARSCHALL DER BÜHNE…" - WELTSTARS VERABSCHIEDEN IOAN HOLENDER

Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010

I. TEIL

COSI FAN TUTTE, Un' aura amorosa - Michael Schade, Franz Welser-Möst

COSI FAN TUTTE, Prendero quel brunettino - Barbara Frittoli, Angelika Kirchschlager, Franz Welser-Möst

FEDORA, Amor ti vieta - Ramon Vargas, Fabio Luisi

HËRODIADE, Vision fugitive - Boaz Daniel, Bertrand de Billy

DIE SCHWEIGSAME FRAU, Wie schön ist doch die Musik - Thomas Quasthoff, Peter Schneider

LINDA DI CHAMOUNIX, O luce di questa anima - Stefania Bonfadelli, Marco Armiliato

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Liebestod - Waltraud Meier, Antonio Pappano

I VESPRI SICILIANI, In braccio alle dovizie - Leo Nucci, Marco Armiliato

GUILLAUME TELL, Sois immobile - Thomas Hampson, Fabio Luisi

DIE LUSTIGE WITWE, Duett Valencienne â Camille - Angelika Kirchschlager, Michael Schade, Franz Welser-Möst

II. TEIL

DIE WALKÜRE, Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond - Plácido Domingo, Antonio Pappano

DAS TRAUMFRESSERCHEN, Lied des Traumfresserchen - Herwig Pecoraro

GIANNI SCHICCHI, Avete torto - Saimir Pirgu, Marco Armiliato

NABUCCO, Va pensiero - Chor, Thomas Lang

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Dove sono - Barbara Frittoli, Bertrand de Billy

LA SONNAMBULA, Ah non credea - Diana Damrau, Chor, Marco Armiliato

ROMÉO ET JULIETTE, Ah! Leve toi soleil - Ramón Vargas, Plácido Domingo

DER RIESE VOM STEINFELD, Lied vom traurigen Montag - Thomas Hampson, Michael Halasz

DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, Finale - Falk Struckmann, Johan Botha, Adrianne Pieczonka, Deborah Polanski, Ileana Tonca, Teodora Gheorghiu, Roxana Constantinescu, Zoryana Kushpler, Michaela Selinger, Aura Twarowska, Damenchor, Franz Welser-Möst

III. TEIL

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, O sink hernieder - Peter Seiffert, Petra Maria Schnitzer, Violeta Urmana, Franz Welser-Möst

DON CARLOS, Elle ne m'aime pas - Ferruccio Furlanetto, Bertrand de Billy

DIE TOTE STADT, Glück das mir verblieb - Angela Denoke, Stephen Gould, Franz Welser-Möst

WERTHER, Briefszene - Roxana Constantinescu, Bertrand de Billy

WERTHER, Pourquoi me reveiller? - Piotr Beczala, Bertrand de Billy

LE VILLI, Se come voi - Krassimira Stoyanova, Simone Young

LOHENGRIN, Gralserzählung - Johan Botha, Simone Young

OTELLO, Credo in un Dio crudel - Falk Struckmann, Bertrand de Billy

ARABELLA, Er ist der Richtige nicht für mich - Adrianne Pieczonka, Genia Kühmeier, Franz Welser-Möst

MANON, Je marche sur tous les chemins - Anna Netrebko, Chor, Betrand de Billy

LA FILLE DU REGIMENT, Par le rang - Natalie Dessay, Herrenchor, Marco Armiliato

LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Pace, pace - Violeta Urmana, Zubin Mehta

FAUST, Salut! Demeure chaste et peure - Piotr Beczala, Bertrand de Billy

DAS RHEINGOLD, Ãœber Stock und Stein - Adrian Eröd, Elisabeth Kulmann, Boaz Daniel, Gergely Nemeti, Franz Welser-Möst

MACBETH, Pieta, rispetto - Simon Keenlyside, Guillermo García Calvo

FALSTAFF, Fuge - Leo Nucci, Boaz Daniel, Krassimira Stoyanova, Ileana Tonca, Gergely Nemeti, Nadia Krasteva, Elisabeth Kulmann, Herwig Pecoraro, Alfred Sramek, Michael Roider, Franz Welser-Möst

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon". Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Photos

Musikalische Rückschau, Der Direction Ioan Holender 1991-2010, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Ioan Holender, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko sings "Je marche sur tous les chemins" from Massenet's "Manon", Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko and other guests, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko and other guests, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko and other guests, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Anna Netrebko and other guests, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 26. June 2010. Photo: Marie-Antoinette

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. May 2010

On 15. May 2010 it was the fifth and last performance of the run of the classical Franco Zeffirelli's production of Georges Bizet's "Carmen" at the Wiener Staatsoper, starring Nadia Krasteva in the title role, Massimo Giordano as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo. The conductor was Andris Nelsons.

The performance was broadcast live by Ö1 radio.

Carmen

Music by Georges Bizet

Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée

Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. May 2010

Production

Inszenierung: Franco Zeffirelli

Bühnenbild: Franco Zeffirelli

Kostüme: Leo Bei

Choreographie: Rafael de Córdoba

Chorleitung: Thomas Lang

Cast

Carmen: Nadia Krasteva

Don José: Massimo Giordano

Micaela: Anna Netrebko

Escamillo: Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

Frasquita: Anita Hartig

Mercedes: Zoryana Kushpler

Zúñiga: Alexandru Moisiuc

Morales: Boaz Daniel

Remendado: Herwig Pecoraro

Dancaire: Tae Joong Yang

Conductor: Andris Nelsons

Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Personal Report

The last weekend I have been in Wien to attend live the last performance of the run of "Carmen" at the Wiener Staatsoper on 15. May 2010. I got the tickets for this performance beginning of December 2009 and I was very much looking forward to attending this performance, as it was truly the highlight of the opera season at the Wiener Staatsoper and, therefore, one of the main highlights of the opera season worldwide.

The reason behind an initially announced superb dream cast with Elina Garanca in the title role, Rolando Villazón as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Escamillo. Mariss Jansons was the conductor. The first cast change arised long time ago, when Rolando Villazón withdraw from all of the performances and was substituted by Massimo Giordano. Massimo had sung before with Anna Netrebko in two performances of Manon at the Wiener Staatsoper in April 2008, and more recently in a series of concerts in Germany, Scandinavia and France. Further cast changes were announced some weeks before the premiere. It was first Mariss Jansons who withdraw from all the performances, being substituted by his scholar Andris Nelsons for most of the performances. Just a few days later, the main cast change was announced. Elina Garanca withdraw from all the performances, being substituted by Nadia Krasteva. This cast change was particularly upsetting, as Elina got a huge success as Carmen at the Caracalla Termes, Royal Opera House and Metropolitan Opera House and to get together the couple Elina-Anna on stage was one of the key points of those series of performances. The initially announced dream cast was over.

Finally the key date, 15. May 2010, arrived and I was there, at the Wiener Staatsoper, seating at the 4th row of the Parkett, perfectly centered. Andris Nelsons took his place at the pit and the performance started.

Let me say first a few words about the production by Franco Zeffirelli. The settings were absolutely gorgeous! I had seen a Zeffirelli's production of Carmen at the Arena di Verona some years ago, and it was gorgeous too, but to have all those magnificent settings, particularly those of the 2nd and 3rd Acts, on stage at an opera house was even better. A colourful square of Sevilla in the 1st Act, a manificient Lillas Pastia's Inn in the 2nd Act, a deep black, cold and rainy night at the mountains in the 3rd Act and the "Plaza de Toros" of Sevilla in the 4th Act. The costumes were also colourful and nice, with an overcrowded stage.

Nadia Krasteva as Carmen had a difficult role replacing Elina Garanca. She has a very nice voice and she was also acting convingly on stage. She really had too much makeup on her eyes. Massimo Giordano was singing very well and his acting was also convincing. He was at his best on the scenes with Anna on the first and third act. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo was also portraying a convincing "torero" Escamillo.

But the true highlight of the performance was Anna Netrebko, who was stunning beyond description, warm and deep voice in the lower registers and powerful in the higher ones. She portrayed two different Micaelas. In the first act, she is innocent and girlish, dancing around the soldiers, while in the third act we see a Micaela, full of energy and charismatic.The main and more enthousiastic applauses of the night were for Anna after her first aria in the 3rd Act.

The rest of the cast was also pretty good. Boaz Daniel as Morales, Anita Hartig as Frasquita, Zoryana Kushpler as Mercedes, Alexandru Moisiuc as Zúñiga, Herwig Pecoraro as Remendado and Tae Joong Yang  as Dancaire. I would like also to mention the fantastic Flamenco ballet on the 2nd Act.

Andris Nelsons was superb conducting. He has a very energetic and expressive style, getting everything under control. I would like to highlight the care he shown conducting when Anna was singing the Micaela's aria "Ah! Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" at the 3rd Act, giving her all the indications with soft motions of her left hand.

The audience was delighted with the performance and the singers were awarded with strong ovations and "Bravi".

At the end of the performance I was at the stage door to meet the singers. After Anita Hartig and Zoryana Kushpler, the first to come were Anna and Massimo. They were signing autographs to all the fans who were there for them. After a while, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo joined them signing autographs. I met also there Mariella Luger, a young Austrian soprano student who had been a "super" in those performances. She wrote a wonderful report for the blog, about her fantastic experience as a super in Carmen at the Wiener Staatsoper. Nadia Krasteva and Andris Nelsons came later. Finally Anna, Massimo, Nadia Krasteva, Ioan Holender and others went to have dinner to a restaurant at Karlsplatz.

Videoclips
Carmen, 2. Act: La fleur que tu m'avais jetée, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. Mai 2010

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.