Any performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida at La Scala, Milan, is guaranteed to be an experience – but, when it’s a new production, it becomes a major event, especially given the theatre’s notoriously critical audience. Legendary stage director Peter Stein succeeds in delivering a lucid production acclaimed in equal measure by the press and public: “a perfect coup de théâtre” (Giornale della musica). A “stellar cast” (La Stampa) contributes to the production’s success under the musical direction of Verdi specialist Zubin Mehta, who leads the orchestra in a “gorgeously colourful performance”, while “the entire ensemble is brilliant in ist portrayal of the characters” (Die Presse).
Il Trovatore
Giuseppe Verdi’s Il trovatore is said to be one of Verdi’s musical masterpieces – full of emotions and expressive melodies, the paragon of Italian romantic opera but also a formidable challenge for the singers. This production from the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is brought to vivid life by directing veteran Cesare Lievi with sets and costumes by Luigi Perego. Young Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat caused a first international stir winning the audience prize of the International Singing Competition “BBC Cardiff Singer of the World” in 2015. In the role of Count di Luna he is “the triumphant winner of the opening night.” (Giornale della musica). Ekaterina Semenchuck as Azucena – “admirable from the first to the last note.” (OperaClick.com) – is joined by the accomplished Verdian interpreters Fabio Sartori as the titular troubadour Manrico and María José Siri as Leonora. Zubin Mehta conducts Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Macbeth
Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful opera “Macbeth” received a fulminant staging at the newly reopened Staatsoper Unter den Linden by legendary stage director Harry Kupfer. In this new production superstars Plácido Domingo and Anna Netrebko were singing the title roles. Maestro Daniel Barenboim led the Staatskapelle Berlin portraying the many-layered motives of the opera’s characters “at their very best” (NZZ). This “magical moment of opera” (NZZ) was an “exhilarating success” (SZ). While Domingo “still fascinates the audience after decades” (rbb24), Netrebko performed “perhaps the best role of her life” yet (rbb24). Kwangchul Youn and Fabio Sartori shone as Banquo and Macduff. With monumental choral scenes, the Staatsopernchor did not only sing, but also play ist acting role brilliantly. With ist black marble halls and ist larger-than-life-projections, the stage design by Hans Schavernoch was striking. “A lot of cheering for this evening of legends.” (BR Klassik)
Nabucco
‘Nabucco’ has long been at home in the Arena di Verona, and for many, the ‘Va pensiero’ chorus is, along with the triumphal march from ‘Aida,’ the very embodiment of the Verona experience. This video production vividly captures this unique experience and provides the viewer with fascinating details that escape many of the Arena’s spectators. Stage director Denis Krief casts the work in a sparse modern setting, providing a highly effective showcase for the true heroes of the evening, the singers under conductor Daniel Oren.
Tutto Verdi – The Complete Operas
Operas: Oberto, Un giorno di regno, Nabucco, I Lombardi, Ernani, I due Foscari, Giovanna d´Arco, Alzira, Attila, Macbeth, I masnadieri, Il corsaro, La Battaglia di Legnano, Luisa Miller, Stiffelio, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, I vespri siciliani, Simon Boccanegra, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del destino, Don Carlo, Aida, Otello, Falstaff. “This is how Verdi should be played.” FAZ Including all 26 Verdi Operas + Requiem + BONUS: 10 mins introductions of each opera + documentary “Verdi´s Backyard” + booklet 280 pages
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.
Attila
Verdi´s opera Attila takes as its starting point Attila’s plans to storm Rome with his army of Huns and the Romans’ attempts to prevent him. As with Nabucco and I Lombardi, Verdi spiced up the action with a number of patriotic choruses, guaranteeing that – against the background of the Italian movement for unification – the opera was a great success. “Michele Mariotti owes much to the fact that this evening became a celebration of voices“ (Opern-Kritik). Ildebrando D´Arcangelo is “perfect for the serious Verdi roles”, Fabio Sartori has a voice of immense brilliance” (Opern-Kritik), “Simone Piazzola was an impressive Ezio” (theoperacritic.com) and “the real warrior of this Attila is the soprano Maria Jose’ Siri … with her voice, touching each primordial sentiment in every note of the opera, she commanded ‘Attention’ from everybody.” (La Repubblica)
Aida
Any performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida at La Scala, Milan, is guaranteed to be an experience – but, when it’s a new production, it becomes a major event, especially given the theatre’s notoriously critical audience. Legendary stage director Peter Stein succeeds in delivering a lucid production acclaimed in equal measure by the press and public: “a perfect coup de théâtre” (Giornale della musica). A “stellar cast” (La Stampa) contributes to the production’s success under the musical direction of Verdi specialist Zubin Mehta, who leads the orchestra in a “gorgeously colourful performance”, while “the entire ensemble is brilliant in its portrayal of the characters” (Die Presse).