Concerts

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Berlin • Finland • Estonia • Santander • Czech Republic

Gala concert "Die Italienische Nacht"

Classic Open Air Festival, Berlin

8 July

Gala Concert "Die Italienische Nacht"

Friday 08 July 2011, 19.30 clock

José Cura and Barbara Krieger present works from the great masters of Italian opera (Verdi, Donizetti, Catalani, Bellini, Puccini, Mascagni), combining their voices with the Berlin concert choir and the new Elbe Philharmonic. Mario De Rose and José Cura conduct.

Website (German only): http://www.classicopenair.de/

Playlist!

Thanks to Melanie for the update!

Friday, 8 July 19.30

Italienische Nacht Galakonzert der italienischen Oper

José Cura (Tenor) Barbara Krieger (Sopran)

Chor Berliner Konzertchor

  Orchestra - Neue Elbland Philharmonie

  Conductor - Mario De Rose

Ruggero Leoncavallo (1858-1919)

"Pagliacci" (Prolog, Intermezzo Sinfonico, Aria des Canio)

Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)

"Norma" (Norma viene, Casta Diva)

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

"La forza dei destino" (Sinfonia, Pace, pace mio Dio!)

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)

"Lucia di Lammermoor" (Chor der Hochzeitsgäste)

Giuseppe Verdi

"La Traviata" (Parigi, 0 cara)

"Aida" (Pur ti riveggo)

Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945)

"Cavalleria Rusticana" (Easter Hymn, Voi lo sapete, 0 mamma, Intermezzo)

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

"Tosca" (Mario Mario, Vissi d'arte, E lucevan le stelle )

"Le villi" (La tregenda)

  "Manon Lescaut" (Sola perduto)

"Il tabarro" (Hai ben ragione)

  "Madame Butterfly" (Viene la sera )

SAVONLINNA

OPERA FESTIVAL

17 July

SAVONLINNA OPERA FESTIVAL/GALA CONCERT

Website (in English): http://www.operafestival.fi/In_English/Front_page.iw3

Olavinlinna Castle

Sunday, July 17 at 7:00 PM

José Cura, tenor,
Tarja Turunen, guest soprano
Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jari Hämäläinen

Program

Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci: Prólogo, Intermezzo, Aria Canion, "Vesti la giubba"
Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo: Mascagni
Puccini: La Fanciulla del West - Dick Johnson Aria "Ch'ella mi Creda"
Puccini: Tosca, Cavaradossi Aria "E lucevan le stelle"
Puccini: Manon Lescaut - Intermezzo
Puccini: Le Villi - Roberto Aria "Ecco La Casa"

[Intermission]

Grieg: Música para la obra de Peer Gynt: Morgenstemning, Solveigs sang
Guastavino: La rosa y El Sauce, Antiguo Jardin
Manzanero: Somos novios, Esta tarde vi llover
Sondheim: "Not while I'm around", Sweeney Todd
Lloyd Webber: "All I ask of You", The Phantom of the Opera

Concert gala
Opera Days, Saaremaa

23 July

SAAREMAA OPERA DAYS

Note: as of Sunday, 12 June, the Saaremaa Opera Days Website was offline. We will let you know when it is once more available.

July 18 - 23, 2011

The first opera festival in Estonia was born in 1999 and is held at the Medieval Episcopal Castle of Kuressaare, capital of Estonia’s largest island Saaremaa. The Episcopal Castle, which holds as many as about a thousand spectators, has become one of the best-known West-Estonian tourist sites and the acoustics of the castle’s yard is more than ideal for romantic operas. The Kuressaare Opera Music Festival owes its existence greatly to Ludmilla Toon, a renowned choir conductor and music teacher in Saaremaa. By now the troupes of St Petersburg Maria Theatre, the Latvian National Opera, the Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre have performed here, in Saaremaa Opera Day's, but also directors and soloists from the famous opera houses of Vienna, Moscow, the Nordic countries, Germany, Brazil, and others. The Festival collaborates with the Finnish National Opera and both Estonian opera theatres of Tallinn and Tartu. So far the Festival has offered Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin", Mozart’s "The Magic Flute", short operas of Estonian composers Timo Steiner and René Eespere, Olav Ehala's children’s musical, and many others. Since 2008 the festival was organized by Eesti Kontsert, and Artistic Director is Arne Mikk.

Otello

Festival International

Santander

(concert version)

TICKET SALES FOR GENERAL PUBLIC BEGIN ON 28 JUNE

Cycle Tickets can be purchased on 10 June by members of the Friends of the Festival Association, and from 13 to 22 June by the general public.

Advance ticket sale will begin on June 27 for members of the Friends of the Festival Association, and on June 28 for the general public.

Website

THE MAGIC OF STAGE. OPERA

Monday 1 august, 21:00 | Sala Argenta

Opening performance
OTELLO, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Concert version

OTELLO, Concert version
José Cura (Tenor): Otello
Vladimir Stoyanov (baritone): Iago
Barbara Frittoli (soprano): Desdemona

Carlos Osuna (tenor): Cassio
Santiago Lanza (tenor): Roderigo
Jean-Vincent Blot (bass): Lodovico
Florent Nbia (bass): Montano
Marie Kalinine (mezzosoprano): Emilia

Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao
Bilbao Opera Choir
Boris Dujin, Choir director
Mario De Rose, director

Pagliacci

at

Český Krumlov

Revolving Stage in Český Krumlov will be dominated by famous tenor José Cura

Classical music lovers are in for an operatic treat in August with Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, starring José Cura.

Pagliacci, directed by Josefa Průdka, will be offered daily from 5-10 August. Cura plans to appear on all days except 8 August, when the role of Canio in the second cast will be played by tenor WeiLong Tao.

"If our viewers feel cheated by the length of the performance, we have prepared for them a little surprise. The audience will not only enjoy the performances of the world-famous tenor, but also something very special," said director Miloslav Veselý.

*

"When he looked at the Open Air Theatre during a rehearsal for Don Giovanni, he was charmed. He returned again and again and spoke of a desire to sing there. He originally wanted to produce and direct a production. Unfortunately, we had to decide against that because the director has to be present from the beginning for all the rehearsals. So we met with José in Vienna several times, during which he approved the proposals of opera director Josef Průdek for Leoncavallo's opera. Cura will sing the title role of Canio. Hopefully it will be a big success and this will not be the last time José Cura sings here." Jiří Šesták, South Bohemian Theatre

Berlin Italian Night

Berlin Open Air Italian Night

Review

It is not easy to hold one's own next to José Cura

Berlin Morgenpost
Sunday 10 July 2011
Martina Helmig

"Did you bring your sunscreen?" José Cura calls into the audience. In fact, the atmosphere could hardly be more Mediterranean than at the warm, cloudless "Italian Night".

Great tenors belong with the inventory of the Classic Open Air festivals. It was no different with the 20th anniversary. The Argentine leaves the stage already during the first aria, seeking contact with the audience. “Vesti la giubba” from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci comes along with violent outbursts. Barbara Krieger sings the great soprano arias “Casta diva” and “Vissi d’arte”. It is not easy for her to hold her own next to the superstar.

Both artists perform on home turf in Berlin. Barbara Krieger has been living here for years. José Cura has sung here often, most recently in “Samson et Dalila” at the Deutsche Oper. The two are an unlikely pair yet harmonious. Jose Cura has been singing on the great stages of the world for many years. Barbara Krieger had a fantastic start in the ensemble of the Vienna State Opera. A serious accident resulted in a long career break. Now she again gives concerts and records CDs. She has a beautiful voice and great passion. She sings with devotion, delves fully into the emotional state of her opera characters. Cura clearly has the advantage of routine, of aplomb over her. Naturally also that of his huge steely voice which picks up a volley of bravos without difficulty.
Program changes were announced by festival director Gerhard Kämpfe. He made the funny comment that the scores were not received in time from Italy. As if one could acquire "Lucia di Lammermoor" only in Italy! No matter ....

[...]

He is touchingly concerned about her, brings a glass of water on stage during a duet. She sings so heartbreakingly that one hardly wants to admit that the voice is sometimes a bit fragile and uncertain. Sometimes her desire for characterization is vehemently hoping to pass over the small technical irregularities. Occasionally she seems as if intimidated by the powerful tenor who simply strolls in delightful relaxation through the famous tenor arias. More than that: time and again he also steps before the orchestra as a conductor, and this is far from only a show effect. The all-round musician Cura can also compose, direct, and design sets.

Barbara Krieger looks calmer in the second half of the program. He puts his arm around her. “Mario, Mario” is the name of the tear-laden duet in the sunset's glow. The encore “Nessun dorma” at the latest sent shivers down the backs of the 7000, and with the “Libiamo” from La Traviata there was no more stopping it – even the audience sang along.

View from the Audience Seats -

Anja's review

Hello Kira,

The whole day in Berlin was wonderful, although it was hard for me to stay upright. I’ve been suffering from a cold, that’s why I send it only now.

We arrived at the Gendarmenmarkt in the afternoon, just at the moment when we sat down in a restaurant the orchestra started to rehearse beyond the blocking fence. Glimpsing through a gap we could discover the protagonists. And then one of my wishes became true – they opened the entrance, we could attend a rehearsal with José!

Never before had I heard La Tregenda from Le Villi with such intensity and such profound emotions. The haunted souls seemed palpable in the space like an accusation without words.

It was the first time I have seen José live as conductor and I was pleased, on the other hand I think the very best way to reach the hearts of the public is his voice. In the real concert he left the stage while the orchestra was playing La Tregenda – the highest level of being master of conducting. (One time I had the impression they were asunder for a few seconds, but I’m no expert.) The whole concert was great, only the choruses were canceled except the first one.

In my opinion the most rousing was Hai ben ragione. José explained this has been the first song of protest on an opera stage (note: unless considering nearly unknown pieces like Regina, really performed about 100 years after it was written). José said we should look for the text in the internet.

As last encore was performed the Brindisi from La Traviata – without choir, they had gone long ago. So Barbara Krieger told us that we - the audience - have to sing! I guess this would really work with an core audience and if there is a “real” choir singing.

At the stage door I would have loved to talk some more words with José but it was not to be. The festival chief dragged him away from the fans because extremely important people could not wait for five minutes.

All in all I’m very glad we have gone to Berlin!

Hugz,

Anja

Otello

Festival International

Santander

(concert version)

TICKET SALES FOR GENERAL PUBLIC BEGIN ON 28 JUNE

Cycle Tickets can be purchased on 10 June by members of the Friends of the Festival Association, and from 13 to 22 June by the general public.

Advance ticket sale will begin on June 27 for members of the Friends of the Festival Association, and on June 28 for the general public.

Website

THE MAGIC OF STAGE. OPERA

Monday 1 august, 21:00 | Sala Argenta

Opening performance
OTELLO, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Concert version

OTELLO, Concert version
José Cura (Tenor): Otello
Vladimir Stoyanov (baritone): Iago
Barbara Frittoli (soprano): Desdemona

Carlos Osuna (tenor): Cassio
Santiago Lanza (tenor): Roderigo
Jean-Vincent Blot (bass): Lodovico
Florent Nbia (bass): Montano
Marie Kalinine (mezzosoprano): Emilia

Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao
Bilbao Opera Choir
Boris Dujin, Choir director
Mario De Rose, director

Last Updated: Thursday, August 04, 2011