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.
Midsummer Night’s Gala Grafenegg
The “spectacular opening” (Salzburger Nachrichten) of the Grafenegg Festival 2018 presented at the Midsummer Night´s Gala lots of famous opera aria and orchestral hits from Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bellini, Offenbach, Elgar and more. The Tonkunstler Orchestra under Yutaka Sado was joined by the “terrific singer” (Kurier) Pretty Yende, her “congenial partner” (Kurier) Joseph Calleja and the wonderful cellist Harriet Krijgh. “A feast for the ears” (Kurier)
Pretty Yende in Prague
Young South-African soprano Pretty Yende first came to international attention in 2010 when she was the first artist in the history of the Belvedere Competition to win First Prize in every category. In this concert at the stunning Smetana Hall in Prague she is performing works by Meyerbeer, Donizetti, Arditi, Mozart, Bellini, Delibes Suppé and Bernstein.
New Year’s Eve Concert at Semperoper Dresden
The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden rings in the New Year at the Semperoper with a dazzling program of timeless hits and international stars. Andrès Orozco-Estrada conducts, with soprano Pretty Yende, baritone Benjamin Appl, and cellist Gautier Capucon as soloists. The concert spans Haydn to Márquez, featuring operatic arias, Broadway favourites, Latin rhythms, and orchestral gems like Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Haydn’s Cello Concerto, Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel, and iconic songs from My Fair Lady and Singin’ in the Rain.
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazon – Episode 7
PROGRAM: Gioachino Rossini: Overture from Der Barbier von Sevilla // Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 – Allegro molto vivace
Soloist: Fanny Clamagirand // Charles Gounod: “Depuis hier…Que fais-tu blanche tourterelle” from Roméo et Juliette (Soloist: Angela Brower) // Philip Glass: Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra – 4th movement (sonic.art saxophone quartet) // Michael Nyman: Songs for Tony (sonic.art saxophone quartet) // Vincenzo Bellini: “Qui la voce” from I Puritani (Soloist: Pretty Yende) // Camille Saint-Saëns: Der Schwan from Karneval der Tiere (Soloists: Fanny Clamagirand & Vanya Cohen) // Cole Porter: “So in Love” from Kiss me, Kate (Soloist: Yvonne Gesler) // Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture from Le nozze di Figaro // Federico Moreno Torroba “¡Cállate corazón!” from Luisa Fernanda (Soloists: Angela Brower & Rolando Villazón)
Magic Moments of Music – Franco Zeffirelli’s La Bohème
This magic moment with music by Giacomo Puccini and artworks by Zeffirelli opens a window into the tender and melancholically intimate story of Mimì in bohemian Paris.
After the great success of Zeffirelli’s production of La Bohème at La Scala in Milan, Herbert von Karajan and Zeffirelli were compelled to turn it into an opera film. The screen adaptation of Puccini’s masterpiece featured the choir and orchestra of the Milan Scala and among others, Mirella Freni, Gianni Raimondi and Rolando Panerai. The young Mirella Freni, who sang the role of Mimì for over 50 years, gained fame the world over, not least because of her natural and pure voice. South African soprano Pretty Yende, who was a student of Mirella Freni and later sang in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La Bohème, recounts her experiences with her mentor. As a very young tenor, Franco-Italian singer Roberto Alagna sang alongside Mirella Freni in the Zeffirelli production and is grateful to count himself among the great tenors, alongside Pavarotti and Carreras – thanks in large part to this performance of La Bohème.
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2018
Stars by starlight in the traditional Midsummer Night’s Gala! Two of the great voices and one of the best cello virtuosos of our time promise a musical firework at the Wolkenturm: the South African soprano Pretty Yende and the Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, both celebrated across the world of opera, and the Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh, with her irrepressible delight in making music. These are the famous guests with whom the Tonkunstler Orchestra and their Music Director Yutaka Sado greet the summer solstice in Grafenegg with a musical festival for all the senses.
Flórez 20 Years at Rossini Opera Festival
Juan Diego Florez will headline the 2018 Rossini Opera Festival with a new production of “Ricciardo e Zoraide.” The production will mark the tenor’s return to the festival and will mark yet another Rossini role debut. Florez will be joined by Pretty Yende and will be conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti. Marshall Pynkoski will direct the new production.Florez has performed at the Pesaro Festival for the past 20 years where he has sung such opera’s as “William Tell,” “Matilde di Shabran,” “Le Comte Ory,” and “La Donna del Lago.”
Ricciardo e Zoraide
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the premiere of the Rossini rarity, the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro stages “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). Pretty Yende – “radiant and richly expressive” (Financial Times) as Zoraide – proves that she is “a virtuosa in Rossini singing” (Neue Musikzeitung).
Il Volo in Agrigento
With million of fans all over the world, Il Volo, the Italian operatic pop trio, has achieved great international success. This special concert brings the trio in a exclusive location in the south of Italy: Il Volo performs in the Valle dei Templi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and impressive monumental ensemble of Hellenic architecture in Sicily. An unmissable opportunity to hear the greatest hits that conquered the hearts of many, with the unique personalities of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble.