Puccini’s verismo masterpiece demands a trio of vocal soloists of stellar quality. This Munich Festival production of “Tosca” meets all expectations. The great Finnish soprano Karita Mattila infuses her Tosca with passion and controlled intensity. As her lover Cavaradossi, Jonas Kaufmann once again confirms his status as one of the leading tenors of our time, and Juha Uusitalo’s evil Scarpia brims with dark menace.
New Year?s Concert ? Teatro la Fenice 2024
The Teatro La Fenice opened in 1792 and is one of the most renowned and most beautiful theaters in the world. First performed in 2004, the New Year’s Concert at Venice’s Teatro La Fenice celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024 with an extravagant program. Conducted by Maestro Fabio Luisi, this prestigious event features an exquisite blend of symphonic works and operatic masterpieces, including arias from operas such as Tosca, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot. Accompanied by beautiful ballet interludes and a lively tribute to the 70th anniversary of Italian television, soprano Eleonora Buratto and tenor Fabio Sartori shine on stage and ring in the New Year with a burst of joyous brilliance.
Carmina Burana
With Carl Orff?s Carmina Burana, one of the most popular pieces in music history and the most performed choral/orchestral work of the 20th century, Teatro La Fenice returns to the Piazza San Marco in Venice, in front of the magnificent fa?ade of the Basilica di San Marco. Conducted by the great master Fabio Luisi, featuring the word-class singers Regula M?hlemann, Michael Schade and Markus Werba it was a magnificent event. “La Fenice?s orchestra and choir, in this case with the addition of the Piccoli cantori veneziani in the final part, have hit the mark? (Il Gazzettino) with this concert and “it is noticeable overall the work made by the conductor Fabio Luisi, who managed to maintain the tension of the various historical pages with determination and energy.” (Il Gazzettino)
Der fliegende Holl?nder (The Flying Dutchman)
At Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, maestro Fabio Luisi gives ?a superb performance? (Operawire) of Der Fliegende Holl?nder (The Flying Dutchman), the forerunner of grand Wagnerian dramas. His Italian Richard Wagner debut is infused with energy and drive, under his direction the orchestra and chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, together with Coro Ars Lyrica, sparkle ?in what was a five star performance? (Operawire). Thomas Gazheli stars as the Dutchman, who has been condemned to endlessly wander the seas until the day of Judgement. Marjorie Owens shines as his saviour Senta.
Der fliegende Holl?nder (The Flying Dutchman)
At Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, maestro Fabio Luisi gives ?a superb performance? (Operawire) of Der Fliegende Holl?nder, the forerunner of grand Wagnerian dramas. His Italian Richard Wagner debut is infused with energy and drive, under his direction the orchestra and chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, together with Coro Ars Lyrica, sparkle ?in
what was a five star performance? (Operawire). Thomas Gazheli stars as the Dutchman, who has been condemned to endlessly wander the seas until the day of Judgement. Marjorie Owens shines as his saviour Senta.
Messa da Requiem – Verdi?s Requiem Choreographed by Christian Spuck
With the Messa da Requiem, Christian Spuck brought one of Verdi?s key works on performing stage in his first audiovisual recording since taking his position as Ballet Director at Opernhaus Zurich. In a large-scale co-production by the Ballet and Opera Zurich, Spuck ventured to portray a profound interpretation of Verdi?s funeral mass. He focuses on people who, in their vulnerability and helplessness, are in the search for comfort. Spuck is not at all concerned with a purely dance-like illustration of Verdi?s music, but instead in the contentual-scenic link of the dancers with the soloists and choristers. They act on stage together and take part in ritualized movements and sequences. With Fabio Luisi leading the Philharmonia Zurich, the Opera Choir, and the soloists Krassimira Stoyanova, Veronica Simeoni, Francesco Meli and Georg Zeppenfeld, there is a musical interpretation of some of the most acknowledged artists of our times.
Wozzeck
Berg?s ?Wozzeck? is an indispensable work in the repertoire of any opera house. In Zurich, critics and audience celebrated director Andreas Homoki, General Music Director Fabio Luisi and baritone Christian Gerhaher for their intriguing interpretation of this masterpiece of operatic history. ?It is an astonishing debut?: For the first time, Christian Gerhaher sings one of the most important operatic roles of the 20th century. That in itself is a great experience. But this evening is fantastic even beyond Gerhaher?s brilliant performance as a singer and actor thanks to the striking and truly exceptional interacting of music, scene, and singing. This Zurich ?Wozzeck? is phenomenal.? S?ddeutsche Zeitung
I Capuleti e i Montecchi
A Romeo and Juliet opera without the poetic balcony scene and with a woman singing the role of Romeo: Vincenzo Bellini?s reworking of Shakespeare?s romantic tragedy is in many respects remarkable. Not least because the young composer presents in his opera ?I Capuleti e i Montecchi? perhaps the most moving final scene of opera repertoire to date: Romeo and Juliet are both alive and conscious, allowing them to sing a duet before dying together. The Zurich Opera House has enlisted extraordinary and vivacious voices for the world?s most famous lovers: In the new Bellini production, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato ? in a class of her own ? performs the role of Romeo. At her side as Romeo?s beloved Giulietta is the young Ukrainian soprano Olga Kulchynska with an incredible acting and singing performance, making the audience hold ist breath during her subtle arias. Musical Director Fabio Luisi with the Philharmonia Zurich and Stage Director Christof Loy brought this poignant bel canto opera to stage in Zurich resulting in an utmost impressive TV experience.
Das Land des L?chelns
Franz Leh?r?s “Das Land des L?chelns” is one of the best-known operettas of all time. For this new production Piotr Beczala, a world star who cultivates the tradition of the famous Tauber style like no other, returned to the Opernhaus Z?rich as Sou-Chong. He has an equal partner in Julia Kleiter, who played the role of Lisa. Fabio Luisi and Andreas Homoki also know that the genre of operetta requires particular care ? which is why they have assumed personal responsibility for this production. Homoki lets the plot take place in a Paris Vari?t?theater from the 1920s, complete with show staircase and heavy curtains. To emphasize the operatic elements, he purged the piece, cutting several secondary roles and shortening dialogues. ?Julia Kleiter as Lisa and Piotr Beczala as Sou-Chong ? unhappy lovers, but vocally a dream couple!?? SRF
RCO: Mahler – Das Lied von der Erde
After the two famous Mahler festivals in 1920 and 1995, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam is now presenting a special twoseason Mahler series, which includes ten large-scale symphonies plus ‘Das Lied von der Erde?, performed in chronological order by the world?s greatest orchestra under the direction of great conductors ? all brought to life in the wonderful acoustics of the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw.