Verdi’s monumental Messa da Requiem, the most spectacularly operatic of sacred music works, shakes the walls of Barcelona’s stunning Palau de la Música Catalana with a world-class cast led by a quartet of star soloists: soprano Elenora Buratto, mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca, tenor Benjamin Bernheim, and bass Riccardo Zanellato. The considerable talents of the Orfeó Català, directed by Xavier Puig, round out the vocal ranks, while the forces of the legendary Staatskapelle Dresden unite under the baton of maestro Daniele Gatti. Though punctuated by moments of tranquility, Verdi’s Requiem maintains an extraordinary intensity over its entire duration, brought to a thrilling peak in the terrifying “Dies irae” theme that recurs to hair-raising effect throughout the work.
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.
Rossini Opera Festival 2022: Otello
Otello is an opera by Gioachino Rossini based on William Shakespeare’s play Othello. Set in Cyprus, the opera tells the story of the Moorish general Otello, who is manipulated by his ensign Iago into believing that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful. As a result, Otello succumbs to jealousy and murders Desdemona, only to realize too late that he has been duped by Iago. In the end, Otello kills himself in remorse. Rossini’s Otello significantly differs from William Shakespeare’s play (and Verdi’s opera), particularly by elevating the character Rodrigo to a major role alongside Otello and Iago, having earned the work the nickname “opera of the three tenors”. “The three warriors acting out their masculinity are all tenors: Antonino Siragusa gives the scheming Iago in an ingratiating and at the same time sharply determined manner; Enea Scala, on the other hand, impresses as Otello […] Dmitry Korchak impresses above all with “Che ascolto”, his virtuoso aria of despair that gets under the skin.” (Tagesspiegel)