From “dream team” of the opera stage to “dream team” of classic and pop – Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón have long since conquered the entire world of music. Yet while their CD “Duets” ranked third on the pop charts, the opera stage remains their preferred venue. And in Jules Massenet’s “Manon,” they have found a drama worthy of their combined talents. Manon, the tragic heroine of Massenet’s work, is torn between flirtatiousness and profound love, between frivolity and deep commitment. Netrebko seems predestined for this role, with her body language alternating between girlish, introspective and carefree, and her voice radiating brilliance, warmth, mystery and longing. As the impoverished young nobleman Des Grieux, Rolando Villazón compellingly depicts the burning passion of an ultimately doomed lover with his glowing, supple, slender tenor voice.
Russian Songs
When world-class soprano Anna Netrebko gives a recital of exquisite, rarely heard Russian songs, you can be sure that she will pour her entire Russian soul into her interpretation, and draw out every last drop of expressiveness from these songs. Indeed, what she and her accompanist, the all-round musical phenomenon Daniel Barenboim, presented in Berlin was a truly one-of-a-kind concert: a rare occasion to enjoy these Russian songs sung from and by the heart. And despite the vast dimensions of the Philharmonie, the two artists succeeded in creating an incredibly intimate atmosphere.
The Three Tenors – The Birth of a Legend
Excitement after a spectacular open-air concert. At the 1990 Football World Cup, the three tenors, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti met the first time together with the conductor Zubin Mehta for an extraordinary musical experience. Six thousand excited live viewers and one billion watching on television. The beginning of a new era of classical music. In the following years, the 3 Tenors held audiences around the world under their spell in over thirty performances. They helped to bring about an unexpected flourishing of classical music. The concert in the Caracalla Baths of Rome was the Birth of a Legend. The programme interweaves performance and background information, including previously unseen material.
Birth of a Legend – The Three Tenors
In July 1990, on the eve of the World Cup final in Italy, something happened that would change the world of classical music forever. Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras, the three greatest tenors of their generation, appeared on stage together: the premiere of the legendary all-star formation ‘The 3 Tenors’. This historic concert in the antique Roman Baths of Caracalla marked the beginning of a new era in classical music.The ‘3 Tenors’ were more than just a musical event; they were a cultural phenomenon. Hundreds of thousands of spectators in sold-out stadiums and millions of television viewers around the world were enchanted by these extraordinary voices. The passion, dedication and virtuosity they brought to the stage made people’s hearts beat faster and tears of emotion flow. The 3 tenors changed the image of classical music, overcoming the boundaries between genres and inspiring a wide audience with the beauty and fascination of opera and classical music. This programme shows highlights from the Baths of Caracalla and also from the concerts with which the 3 Tenors celebrated triumphs around the world from 1996 onwards. With impressions from rehearsals and the tour, a variety of insights behind the scenes and statements by Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, José Carreras and the conductor Zubin Mehta, the film conveys all the magic of this classical music legend.