A manifesto of Italian romanticism, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor is a tale of dark atmosphere and turbulent love. Teatro alla Scala presents its new production under the signature of stage director Yannis Kokkos, whose sober vision remains faithful to the libretto with elegance, emotion and the expression of passions over any gesture of modernity. Conductor Riccardo Chailly leads a splendid vocal cast: Lisette Oropesa delivers a compelling Lucia of vocal refinement and emotional depth, while Juan Diego Flórez brings elegance and lyrical intensity to Edgardo. The Orchestra and Chorus give an exceptional interpretation, creating a “beautiful, rich, ominous sound” (Bachtrack). “Riveting. Flórez and Oropesa did not disappoint on the opening night …. The chemistry between them is electrifying from the opening duet. (FINANCIAL TIMES)
Faust
“Radical and ingenious, unsettling and beguiling” (Kurier), this production of Gounod’s Faust at the Vienna State Opera ticks all the boxes. Legendary director Frank Castorf moves the action to a tumultuous 1960s Paris and draws the audience in with an abundance of elements that seamlessly blend into one: “Everything has its place. There is not a single superfluous video, no detail without meaning, and each of the characters can tell their own story” (News). The action on stage is expertly supported in the pit as Bertrand de Billy “makes the score shine and resonate magnificently” (Tiroler Tageszeitung). The cast is star-studded, lead by Juan Diego Flórez giving his debut as Faust. He sings the role with “impeccable French diction, allowing his warm tenor to shimmer” (Kronenzeitung). Nicole Car’s Marguerite was “beautiful, silvery-toned” (Seen And Heard) and the young bass Adam Palka is convincing as Mephisto, “alternating between devilish, camp, erotic and sadistic” (APA).
Lucia di Lammermoor
In Laurent Pelly’s dream-like staging of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, one of the most important bel canto works of all time, a top vocal cast shines at the Wiener Staatsoper. When the phenomenal Olga Peretyatko shows the gripping downfall of Lucia, “music and theatre merge into an explosive mixture” (Wiener Zeitung). Juan Diego Flórez, the bel canto superstar, is “probably the world’s best Edgardo” (Kronenzeitung). George Petean joins them as Enrico in the emotional triangle of love, hate and passion. With Evelino Pidò on the rostrum, the orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper excels under this “ideal master of bel canto music” (Die Presse).
Roméo et Juliette
The most famous tragic love story in history, conducted by a legend of opera: superstar Plácido Domingo leads the stellar Juan Diego Flórez and Aida Garifullina as star-crossed lovers in Jürgen Flimm’s atmospheric staging of “Roméo et Juliette” by Charles Gounod at the Wiener Staatsoper. Domingo, Flórez and Garifullina tell a tale of “tragic love that has the air of Hollywood about it!” (Die Presse)
Don Pasquale
After four decades, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale returns to the renowned Vienna State Opera in a cheeky, highly entertaining new staging by Irina Brook. As if to make up for the neglect from which the work has been suffering, Brook’s “operacartoon” (Die Presse) with its opulent, colourful setting features a splendid cast, led by star-tenor Juan Diego Flórez. Flórez, “without a doubt the leading Bel Canto tenor of today, places his legendary, sheer impeccable high notes in all their splendour” (Die Presse)
La Cenerentola
This recording from Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu captures all the vocal sparks and dazzle generated by the two phenomenal singers, Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Flórez. With his airy, effortless high notes and perfect command of rapid-fire Rossinian parlando, the charismatic Flórez (who also stars in Unitel’s recording of Donizetti’s ‘La fille du régiment’) once again proves that he was born to sing Rossini.
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Rossini´s masterpiece Il barbiere di Siviglia is a fast-paced, thrilling opera featuring a lot of popular arias. Staged by Herbert Fritsch as a colourful, turbulent, diversely choreographed piece it is extraordinary musical theater: “A feast for the ears against a colourful backdrop.” (DLF Kultur) “With largely sensational musical performances” (Kurier). Juan Diego Floréz “fulfils all expectations of a Rossini singer in a class of his own” (BR Klassik), “witty and vocally profound is Ildar Abdrazakov as Basilio” (Der Standard) while Vasilisa Berzhanskaya “is convincing in her house debut as Rosina.” (DLF Kultur)
La donna del lago
Rossini’s La donna del lago, premièred in 1819 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, is a masterpiece based on the poem The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott, which is full of passion and romantic frisson. “With characteristic boldness, Michieletto reformulates this glittering music into something otherworldly” (Financial Times) and the performance is “musically brilliant.” (Die Presse.com) “Marko Mimica and Varduhi Abrahamyan produce strong performances as Douglas and Malcom respectively. Flórez is laser like and fresh as ever and thrilling brutish …“ (Financial Times) while the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: “Michele Mariotti and his outstanding orchestra were the stars of the evening.“
Juan Diego Flórez sings Mozart
Acclaimed across the globe for the beauty of his voice and the emotional power of his performances, Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, famous for his bel canto repertoire by Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini, shows in this concert another fascinating side to his vocal personality. The concert program includes many of the most popular Mozart arias – all of them magnificently performed by the Orchestra La Scintilla, an ensemble with outstanding reputation for their historical performance practice, led by Riccardo Minasi. This all-Mozart recital takes place at the Cuvilliés Theatre of Munich, one of the most beautiful Bavarian Rococo theatres. “Beautiful lyrical and elegant, Flórez shows all the emotions that Mozart captured in his scores – and the tenor’s multi-coloured spectrum of expression is impressive.” (Musik Heute)
Ricciardo e Zoraide
World Premiere recording on DVD! To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the premiere of the Rossini rarity, the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro staged Ricciardo e Zoraide with an all-star cast. Juan Diego Flórez makes his debut as the crusader Ricciardo, giving a “masterclass in bel canto” (Bachtrack), his high notes are “… still thrilling with their laser-like precision” (Financial Times). The South African soprano Pretty Yende – “radiant and richly expressive” (Financial Times) as Zoraide – proves that she is “a virtuosa in Rossini singing” (Neue Musikzeitung). On the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death and 200 years after ist premiere, Ricciardo e Zoraide rings out with an artistic quality that is second to none, thanks to the skills of an “absolute Champions League ensemble” (Online Merker). Due to the “attentive conducting of Giacomo Sagrapanti, practically nothing stands in the way of enjoying the beauty of this rarely performed score to the fullest” (Online Merker). The result is an incredible orchestral performance.