Last opera/concert in 2017 was in Verona in July.

What a wonderful holiday I had in Verona, Italy. Wonderful weather and wonderful food. The sun was so hot that I had to eat my favorite pizzas inside the restaurant.

The event was a Zarzuela concert in Arena di Verona 2017-07-21 with Placido Domingo, Ana Maria Martinez and Arturo Chacun-Cruz with Antalogia de la Zarzuela.

2017-07-21 Anatalogia de la Zarzuela - Placido Domingo, Arena di Verona

Placido Domingo
Ana Maria Martinez, soprano
Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Orchestra dell'Arena di Verona
Jordi Bernacer, conductor

Regia - Stefano Trespiti
Lights - Paolo Mazzon

Con la partecipazione straordinaro della Compania Antionio Gades. Direzione artistica Stella Arauzo

Geronimo Gimenez - Intermedio da La Boda de Luis Alonso
Compania Antonio Gades. Coreografia: Mayte Chico e Stella Arauzo

Reveriano Soutully & Juan Vert - Quiero destarrar da La del soto del parral
Placido Domingo

Pablo Sorozobal - Ne corte mas que un rosa da La del manojo de rosas
Ana Maria Martinez

Jose Serrano - Te quiero, morena da El trust de los tenorios
Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Manuel Fernandez Caballero - No cantes mas La Africana da El duo de la Africana
Placido Domingo & Ana Maria Martinez

Enrique Granados - Intermedio da Goyescas
Orchestra dell'Arena di Verona

Jacinto Guerrero - Mi aldea da Los Gavilanes
Placido Domingo

Reveriano Soutully & Juan Vert - Amor, mi raza conquistar da La leyenda del Beso
Ana Maria Martinez & Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Manuel de Falla - Danza ritual del fuego da El amor brujo
Compania Antonio Gades. Coreografia: Antonio Gades

Pablo Sorozobal - No puede ser da La tabernera del puerto
Placido Domingo

PAUSE

Manuel de Falla - Farruca da El sombrero de tres picos
Compania Antonio Gades. Coreografia: Jose Huertas

Federico Moreno-Torroba - En mi tierra extramena da Luisa Fernanda
Placido Domingo & Ana Maria Martinez

Federico Moreno-Torroba - De este apacible rincon de Madrid da Luisa Fernanda
Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Federico Moreno-Torroba - Tres horas antes del dia da La marchenera
Ana Maria Martinez

Federico Moreno-Torroba - Luche la fe por el triumfo da Luisa Fernanda
Placido Domingo

Georges Bizet - Entr'acte da Carmen & flamenco
Compania Antonio Gades. Coreografia: Antonio Gadez & Carlos Saura

Pablo Sorozobal - Hace tiempo que vengo al taller da La del monojo de rosas
Ana Maria Martinez & Placido Domingo

Manuel Penella Morena - Me yamaba, Rafaliyo da El Gato montes
Placido Domingo, Ana Maria Martinez & Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Extra

Zarzuela aria with Placido Domingo & dance (+ a white horse)

Emilio Arrieta - Pensar en el da Marina
Ana Maria Martinez

Jose Serrano - La roca fría del calvario da La Dolorosa
Arturo Chacun-Cruz

Federico Moreno Torroba - Adios, dijiste da Maravilla
Placido Domingo

Great singing in Arena di Verona. Zarzuela music with some real flamenco.

Placido Domingo as baryton, Arturo was the tenor and Ana Maria Martinez was the soprano of the evening. Of course was fun to see them all three in the famous duet of El Gato Montes, the opera by Manuel Penella. The zarzuela was semi-staged. I had a good seat but it did not give me close-up to the singers. Only in my photos does it look like I had a good view, but in real life I felt a bit cheated from the ticket prize I thought I would get more. Still, I had a wonderful Summer Holiday with the best pizzas of my life and the singing was good. In all, it was a warming experience!

OperaDuets Travel & Photos.


For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

GIUSEPPE VERDI Don Carlo(s) on DVD (2) - Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo & Luciano Pavarotti

DON CARLO
Salzburger Festspiele
1986

Opera in 4 acts, sung in Italian

Don Carlos = Jose Carreras
Philip II = Ferruccio Furlanetto
Elisabeth de Valois = Fiamma Izzo d'Amico
Rodrigo = Piero Cappuccilli
Princess of Eboli = Agnes Baltsa
Grande Inquisitor = Matti Salminen
Friar (Carlo V) = Franco di Grandis
Tebaldo = Antonella Bandelli
La Contessa d'Aremberg = Katarina Schuchter
The Count of Lerma = Horst Nitsche
A Royal Herald = Volker Horn

Conductor = Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker
Chor der Bulgarischen Nationaloper Sofia
Konzertvereiningung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Salzburger Konzertchor

Director and Artistic Supervisor = Herbert von Karajan
Set Design = Günther Schneider-Siemssen
Costumes = Georges Warhevitch

1 DVD = 2h 58

Perfection!!! Carreras, Cappucilli, Baltsa etc. supreme cast. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DON CARLO
Teatro alla Scala, Milano
1992

Opera in 4 acts, sung in Italian.

Don Carlos = Luciano Pavarotti
Philip II = Samuel Ramey
Elisabeth de Valois = Daniela Dessi
Rodrigo = Paolo Coni
The Princess of Eboli = Luciana D'Intino
Grand Inquisitore = Alexander Anisimov
A friar = Andrea Silverstrelli
Tebaldo = Marilena Laurenza
A Voice from Heaven = Nuccia Focile
The Count of Lerma = Orfeo Zanetti
A Royal Herald = Mario Bolognese

Conductor = Riccardo Muti
Orchester and Chorus of Teatro all Scala

Stage Production and Video Director = Franco Zeffirelli.

2 DVDs = 3h 02

We have Franco Zeffirelli and Luciano Pavarotti here, and the rest of the cast is great. I loved Paolo Coni and Luciana D'Intino most. This is something mostly for fans of Pavarotti, I think.

DON CARLO
Metropolitan Opera, New York
1983

Opera in 5 acts, sung in Italian.

Don Carlos = Placido Domingo
Philip II = Nicolai Ghiaurov
Elisabeth de Valois = Mirella Freni
Rodrigo = Louis Quilico
The Princess of Eboli = Grace Bumbry
Grand Inquisitore = Ferruccio Furlanetto
A Friar = Julien Robbins
Tebaldo = Betsy Norden
A Voice from Heaven = Marvis Martin
La Contessa d'Aremberg = Barbara Greene
The Count of Lerma = John Gilmore
A Royal Herald = Charles Anthony

Conductor = James Levine
Orchestra and Chorus of Metropolitan Opera

Production = John Dexter
Set Design = David Reppa
Costume Design = Ray Diffen
lighting Design = Gil Wechsler

2 DVDs =  3 h 33 m

It starts with The Winter is long, in Italian. No watering down French influence and Act 1 (Prologue) in Italian is good. Great singers. This is the MET!! Ghiaurov, Domingo, Freni, Louis Quilico and Grace Bumbry, they are just great!!


For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Domingo, Giordani, Pavarotti: Ernani by Verdi

I have always believed Ernani to be Verdi's dullest work. Apparently that is what you get you only have seen Ernani from La Scala conducted by Muti with Domingo as Ernani, Mirella Freni as Elvira, Nicolai Ghiaurov as Silva and Renato Bruson as Carlo. Strange when all those names even in themselves often serves as garantie for excellence.

But it all starts with that genius conductor Riccardo Muti and his quest for purity which in this case backfires. Evidently Giuseppe Verdi himself saw that this work needed something more and he gave it more of his finest work after the premiere. As a purist Muti wants it come scritto, like as it was on the very first night. Then we have his, as it has been described before, puritanical conducting. Ernani suffers especially badly by this approach. Ernani need lots of passion from everybody.

Placido Domingo is the most adorable Ernani. His facial expressions alone makes a woman go LOVE YOU FOREVER, PLACIDISSIMO. Acting and singing is amazing. Sadly he has the wonderful, amazing soprano Mirella Freni at his side. Mirella Freni singing Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo is as far as she can reach, Elvira is out of he league. A terrified Elvira is not enough, one need supremely confident soprano as Elvira. Freni does not have the big, dark voice for Elvira. Ghiaurov and Bruson are adequate enough. But where is the passion. Ernani is really an opera about big feelings all the time. Passion is not there, sadly.

But I have Met on Demand so how would Metropolitan Opera make of this opera. First I chose the newest video with Marco Armiliato conducting Marcello Giordani as Ernani, Angela Meade as Elvira, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Silva and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Carlo. Marco Armiliato lets the opera breath passion and the production is just as wonderful. Marcello Giordani is good enough. Angela Meade is just fabulous. What a difference a soprano makes? We got passion. Ferruccio Furlanetto is a brilliant Silva. Dmitiri Hvorostovsky offers an interesting Carlo. Go for Carlo, Elvira!!

The winner the video from December 17, 1983. Same production, except that Elvira does not kill herself as she does almost 30 years later. Conducted by James Levine it just simply a joy listening to it. Luciano Pavarotti is the most wonderful Ernani and I am not only talking vocally. Pavarotti acts with every fibre of his being Ernani. Leonie Mitchell is a great Elvira even as Angela Meade wins with her agility. Ruggero Raimondi is Silva, wonderful singing and acting. Sherrill Milnes is the best Carlo ever. Just perfect!!

Standing Ovation for Domingo in Zurich 2012-07-03

2012-07-03 Simon Boccanegra (Verdi), Opernhaus Zurich

Simon Boccanegra = Plácido Domingo
Maria Boccanegra (Amelia) = Barbara Frittoli
Jacopo Fiesco = Carlo Colombara
Gabriele Adorno = Fabio Sartori
Paolo Albiani = Cheyne Davidson
Pietro = Giuseppe Scorsin
Ein Hauptmann der Bogenschützen = Ilker Arcayürek
Eine Dienerin Amelias = Julie Bartholomew

Carlo Rizzi, conductor

Producer/production - Giancarlo del Monaco
Set design - Carlo Centolavigna
Costumes - Maria Filippi
Lighting - Hans-Rudolf Kunz

STANDING OVATION FOR PLACIDO DOMINGO IN ZURICH 2012-07-03

Placido Domingo as Simon Boccanegra. The tenor as baritone. The multi-talent Placido Domingo is loved by many but many think he is over-reaching himself. I found him wonderful as Simon Boccanegra but I must accept that had I only listened to him then I might have been more skeptical. The Magic of Placido Domingo was in his abilty not only to sing each note but to do so while acting. Placido Domingo was Simon Boccanegra that night in Zurich. Pure baritones may sing it more beautiful but in acting Placido is a gigant.

Cheyne Davidson sang Paolo Albiani in stead of earlier mentioned Massimo Cavalletti. Cheyne Davidson and Giuseppe Scorsin sanf Paolo and Pietro. Something made me feel that they were not quite up to par. Paolo lacked his bite and bile. Pietro was a deep-voiced but no depth. Luckily they are not that important except that done properly they do give some extra depth to the story. Otherwise it would just be a family drama and not a political drama.

Placido Domingo clad in brown in the Prologue and he looked just like an old photo of Placido as Otello. So young he was as he lept on stage. And it was with Placido Domingo the opera really started to energize. Next energy burst came with Carlo Colombara as Jacopo Fiesco. The great Italian bass owned the stage during his great aria. Then two gigants Fiesco and Boccanegra, Colombara and Domingo, and wow, what an amazing duet. A duel between the fury of Fiesco and the compassion of Boccanegra.

Act 1 and finally Barbara Frittoli as Amelia. She was stunning. Her voice and acting was amazing. I found her jsut perfect as Amelia. Beauty and style in every ounce. Fabio Sartori was her lover Gabriele Adorno. (This tenor is not a thin man but for once the costume people had chosen cloths that looks good on the not-so-thin people. I hope this is a trend that one will create costumes that looks good on all body-types. But I fear this is knowledge that is forgotten, REVIVE IT PLEASE.) Fabio Sartori has a wonderful tenor voice and was an amazing Adorno.

And what to say more. Act 2 and 3 was wonderful. The sets are beautil and the costumes too. It is a stilistic Genoa we see with the blue sea in the background. During the duet between Boccanegra and Amelia I cried and the end made me cry too. I am sure was weepy during other times of the opera. For me it meant that this SIMON BOCCANEGRA was great. It touched me. Placido Domingo touched me.

BRAVI, tutti!! BRAVO, Placido!!!

For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

3 times Placido Domingo

Plácido Francisco Domingo Ferrer (8 March 1907 – 22 November 1987),
Zarzuela singer, baritone

José Plácido Domingo Embil (21 January 1941), Operatic tenor and conductor etc.

José Plácido Domingo Ornelas (1965) Composer and singer.



For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

The Carmen duel - Baltsa vs Berganza

It used to be so easy. I just loved Agnes Baltsa as Carmen, but now I am starting to really listening to Teresa Berganza... I love her, I mean both...

Then it was Don José who was always Carreras for me. But with Teresa Berganza Plácido Domingo is just wonderful as Don José.

GEORGES BIZET

Carmen

Berganza · Domingo · Milnes
Cotrubas · Kenny · Nafé · Lloyd
Ambrosian Singers
George Watson's College
Boys' Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Int. Release 01 Feb. 2005

2 CDs / Download

GEORGES BIZET

Carmen

Baltsa · Carreras
Ricciarelli · van Dam
Choeurs de l'Opéra de Paris
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Int. Release 05 Sep. 1983

3 CDs / Download

It is Deutsche Grammophon against itself. Carmen with Baltsa, Carreras, Ricciarelli and van Dam, or Carmen with Berganza, Domingo, Contrubas and Milnes.

In the edition with Teresa Berganza and Plácido Domingo you got two singers in excellent form and the singers are doing their own dialogue which is a plus. Especially since the dialogue does tell so much about who this Carmen is.

Unfortunately Karajan never trusted Agnes Baltsa and José Carreras (etc.) to do their own dialogue so the dialogue Carmen is a vulgar woman but Baltsa's Carmen is nothing like that. The dialogue Don José has no backbone which Carreras' Don José certainly has.

My dream Carmen would be Baltsa, Carreras, Ricciarelli and Ruggero Raimondi. Or Berganza, Domingo, Ricciarelli and Ruggero Raimondi. Or Berganza, Carreras, Ricciarelli and Ruggero Raimondi. Or  Baltsa, Domingo, Ricciarelli and Ruggero Raimondi. (with the singers doing their own dialogue)




For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Zarzuela: Placido Domingo & Teresa Berganza

Is this not a beautiful cover and the music on this CD is just as fantastic.

LA DOLOROSA / LOS CLAVELES - L. A. Garcia-Navarro
LA DOLOROSA
Dolores - Teresa BERGANZA, Nicasia - Dolores CAVA, Rafael - Placido DOMINGO, Prior - Ramon CONTRERAS, Perico - Jose MANZANEDA, tenor (jota) - Jose RUIZ, Fray Lucas - Juan PONS
Coro di solistas líricos, Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona
Conducted by L. A. García-Navarro
(Alhambra WD 71588)

LOS CLAVELES

Rosa - Teresa Berganza, Fernando - Placido Domingo, Jacinta - Dolores Cava, Goro - José Manzaneda
Coro de solistas líricos, Orquestra Sinfónica de Barcelona
Conducted by L.A. García-Navarro
(BMG Alhambra WD 71588)

LA DOLOROSA - Preludio act 1 0:53 Conductor Garcia Navarro 1 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - La roca fría del Calvario (Relato de Rafael) 4:25 Plácido Domingo, R. Contreras, Juan Pons 2 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - Ya verás cuando me ponga (Acto I Duo Comico) 3:13 Dolores Cava, José Manzaneda 3 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - Duerme, mi tesoro - Camina, camina, llorosa (Acto I Ana y escena) 1:26 Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo 4 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - ¡Rafael! - Ten piedad, Señor, para la infeliz  (Acto II Duo de Dolores y Rafael) 5:34 Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo 5 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - Me da mucho que pensar  - La mujer que fue mi vida (Acto II Romanza del Prior. Jota y Confesion) 9:53 R. Contreras, Plácido Domingo, José Ruiz 6 av 13

LA DOLOROSA - Dejo tu sombra, santa mansión (Acto II Final - Rafael y Dolores) 3:37 Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza 7 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - Anímate, Irene, que el negocio es bueno 2:46 Dolores Cava, Teresa Berganza 8 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - Goro del alma, ven junto a mí (Duo Comico) 2:48 Dolores Cava, José Manzaneda 9 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - Tenga muy buenas tardes (Duo de Rosa y Fernando. Obreras y Empleados) 3:21 Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo 10 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - ¿Qué te importa que no venga? (Romanza de Rosa) 3:45 Teresa Berganza 11 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - ¡Mujeres! (Monologo de Fernando) 3:09 Plácido Domingo 12 av 13

LOS CLAVELES - ¿Por qué vuelve la cara la más hermosa de las mujeres? (Duo de Rosa y Fernando) 3:41 Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza 13 av 13

I began my search after this CD since I loved the zarzuela duet with Berganza and Domingo on one of my old LPs. I wonder if I bought this CD from Amazon.com.

Maybe I should also put CARMEN with Berganza and Domingo on my Ipod even if it is soon full.

I just wish to have more Zarzuela duets from Teresa Berganza and Plácido Domingo (together, please!!).

About LA DOLOROSA and LOS CLAVELES.


For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

La Zarzuela !!!!

If you love Zarzuela or want to know more you can go to www.zarzuela.net (English and Spanish) or to lazarzuela.webcindario.com (Spanish, use Google translate if you don't understand Spanish)

I can recommend buying Grandes Exitos de Zarzuela Vol. I which I bought on itunes as 24 Grandes Exitos de Zarzuela. Of course I also bought Volumes 2 on itunes. This is the list of tracks as far I have been able to verify it.

Grandes Exitos de Zarzuela Vol. I

LA REVOLTOSA - Preludio 5:01 Conductor Ataúlfo Argenta 1 av 12 Chapí, Ruperto (1851 - 1909) 2010
EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Canción de la Paloma 2:52 Teresa Berganza 2 av 12 Asenjo Barbieri, Francisco (1823 - 1894) 2010
LA GRAN VIA - Tango De Menegilda 3:27 Nati Mistral 3 av 12
Chueca, Federico  (1845 - 1908). 2010
CHATEAU MARGAUX - Romanza De Angelita 2:57 Montserrat Caballé 4 av 12 Fernández Caballero, Manuel (1835 - 1906) 2010
LA VERBENA DI PALOMA - Una Morena y Una Rubia (Seguidillas) 3:30 Miguel Ligero 5 av 12 Bretón, Tomás (1850 - 1923) 2010
LA VERBENA DI PALOMA - Preludio 4:00 Conductor Ataúlfo Argenta 6 av 12 Bretón, Tomás (1850 - 1923) 2010
LA BODA DE LUIS ALONSO - Intermedio 5:30 Conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos 7 av 12 Giménez, Gerónimo (1854 - 1923) 2010
LA REVOLTOSA - Duo De Felipe Y Mari Pepa 6:05 Ana Maria Iriarte, Manuel Ausensi 8 av 12 Chapí, Ruperto (1851 - 1909) 2010
GIGANTES Y CABEZUDOS - Introduccion Y Disputa 3:21 Chorus 9 av 12 Fernández Caballero, Manuel (1835 - 1906) 2010
LA CORTE DE FARAÓN - Coro de Viudas (Cancion Babilonica) 2:55 Coros Cantores de Madrid 10 av 12 Lleó, Vicente 2010
EL BARBERO DE SEVILLA - Me llaman la Primarosa 4:59 Montserrat Caballé 11 av 12 Giménez, Gerónimo (1854 - 1923) 2010
EL BATEO - Preludio 3:19 Conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos 12 av 12 Chueca, Federico  (1845 - 1908). 2010
EL TAMBOR DE GRANADEROS - Preludio 5:17 Conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos 1 av 12 Pastor, Emilio Sanchez 2010
LA GENERALA - Cancion Del Arlequin 3:21 Pilar Lorengar 2 av 12 Vives, Amadeo (1871 - 1932) 2010
LA CANCIÓN DEL OLVIDO - Cancion De Leonello 3:38 Manuel Ausensi 3 av 12 Grandes Exitos de Zarzuela Vol. I Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 2010
DOÑA FRANCISQUITA - Por el humo se sabe donde está el fuego 4:42 Giacomo Aragall 4 av 12 Vives, Amadeo (1871 - 1932) 2010
EL HUÉSPED DEL SEVILLANO - Canto A La Espada 2:32 Plácido Domingo 5 av 12 Guerrero, Jacinto (1895 - 1951) 2010
LA LEYENDA DEL BESO -Acto 2 Intermedio 4:47 Conductor Benito Lauret 6 av 12 Soutullo, Reveriano (1880 - 1932) y Vert, Juan (1890 - 1931) 2010
LA MARCHENERA - Preludio 4:55 Conductor Federico Moreno Torróba 7 av 12 Moreno Torroba, Federico (1891 - 1982) 2010
LOS DE ARAGON - Cuantas veces solo 4:12 José Carreras 8 av 12 Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 2010
LUISA FERNANDA - Mazurca De Las Sombrillas 4:48 Mª  Rosa del Campo 9 av 12 Moreno Torroba, Federico (1891 - 1982) 2010
LA DOLOROSA - Relato De Rafael 4:23 Plácido Domingo, Ramon Contreras, Juan Pons 10 av 12 Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 2010
LA CHULAPONA - Chotis (¡Ay, Madrileña Chulapa!) 3:29 Chorus 11 av 12 Moreno Torroba, Federico (1891 - 1982) 2010
EL TRUST DE LOS TENORERIOS - Te quiero, morena 2:29 Alfredo Kraus 12 av 12
Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 2010

Grandes Exitos de Zarzuela Vol. II

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Preludio Instrumental 4:21 Conductor Ataúlfo Argenta 1 av 12 Asenjo Barbieri, Francisco (1823 - 1894) 1994

LA VERBENA DI PALOMA - ¿Donde Vas Con Mantón de Manila? 4:07 Manuel Ausensi, Inés Rivadeneira, Ana María Iriarte, Selica Pérez Carpio, Dolores Pérez, Miguel Ligero 2 av 12 Bretón, Tomás (1850 - 1923) 1994

MARINA - Brindis 5:51 Giacomo Aragall, Víctor de Narke 3 av 12 Carrión, Miguel Ramos 1994

LA GRAN VIA - Chotis De Eliseo 3:04 Victoria De Los Angeles 4 av 12 Chueca, Federico  (1845 - 1908). 1994

LA BRUJA - Jota 5:01 Alfredo Kraus 5 av 12 Chapí, Ruperto (1851 - 1909) 1994

LAS HIJAS DEL ZEBEDEO - Carceleras 4:59 Montserrat Caballé 6 av 12 Chapí, Ruperto (1851 - 1909) 1994

EL DÚO DE LA AFRICANA - Coro De La Murmuracion 2:21 Chorus 7 av 12 Fernández Caballero, Manuel (1835 - 1906) 1994

AGUA, AZUCARILLOS Y AGUARDIENTE - Pasacalle 2:25 Conductor Odón Alonso 8 av 12 Chueca, Federico  (1845 - 1908). 1994

LA ALEGRÍA DE LA HUERTA - Pasacalle 2:00 Conductor Ataúlfo Argenta 9 av 12 Chueca, Federico  (1845 - 1908). 1994

EL NIÑO JUDIO - De España vengo 6:38 Montserrat Caballé 10 av 12 Luna, Pablo (1879 - 1942) 1994

EL GATO MONTES - Pasodoble 2:51 M.Peinado, Banda De La Union Musical Liria & Federico Chueca 11 av 12 Penella, Manuel (1880 - 1939) 1994

LA TABERNERA DEL PUERTO - No puede ser 3:01 José Carreras 12 av 12 Sorozábal, Pablo (1897 - 1988) 1994

DOÑA FRANCISQUITA - Por el humo se sabe donde está el fuego 3:53 Alfredo Kraus 1 av 12 Vives, Amadeo (1871 - 1932) 1994

LA CALESERA - Pasacalle De Los Chisperos 3:11 Pilar Lorengar, Teresa Berganza 2 av 12 Alonso, Francisco (1887 - 1948) 1994

LOS GAVILANES - Mi aldea 7:31 Chorus, Antonio Blancas 3 av 12 Guerrero, Jacinto (1895 - 1951) 1994

EL CASERÍO - Preludio Del Segundo Acto 5:41 Conductor Ataúlfo Argenta 4 av 12 Guridi, Jesús (1886 - 1961) 1994

LA PARRANDA - Canto A Murcia 3:18 Manuel Ausensi 5 av 12 Alonso, Francisco (1887 - 1948) 1994

LOS CLAVELES - Romanza De Rosa 3:42 Teresa Berganza 6 av 12 Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 1994

DON GIL DE ALCALÁ - Habanera 2:20 Lina Huarte, Teresa Berganza 7 av 12 Penella, Manuel (1880 - 1939) 1994

LUISA FERNANDA - De este apacible rincón de Madrid 3:10 Plácido Domingo 8 av 12 Moreno Torroba, Federico (1891 - 1982) 1994

LA CHULAPONA - Como Soy Chulapona 2:58 Teresa Berganza, Pilar Lorengar 9 av 12 Moreno Torroba, Federico (1891 - 1982) 1994

LA DOLOROSA - Duo 5:30 Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo 10 av 12 Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 1994

LA ZAPATERITA - Cancion Del Espejo 2:50 María del Carmen González, Josefina Meneses 11 av 12 Alonso, Francisco (1887 - 1948) 1994

EL TRUST DE LOS TENORIOS - Jota 2:33 Plácido Domingo 12 av 12 Serrano, José (1873 - 1941) 1994

For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Carmen, by Bizet

18 times Carmen 1985-05-03, 1991-05-06, 1992-11-07, 1998-10-21, 2000-02-05, 2000-06-25, 2002-05-15, 2002-06-22, 2002-06-23, 2002-06-26, 2002-09-29, 2003-06-27, 2003-06-30, 2003-07-29, 2003-08-23, 2004-09-25, 2008-05-24, 2009-10-10

So what can one possible say about this one of the most popular operas. Georges Bizet's CARMEN. Almost no note of the opera has not been played on the radio even if we are just talking about pieces of opera played. Every note is so famous that one hardly know which tune is when in the opera. Carmen is so much the standard opera that it is hard to say something new. It is based on CARMEN by Prosper Mérimée. In the novella it is all told by Don José to the writer.

Anyone who knows me would not be surprised that I recommend the DVD from Met (also Deutsche Grammophon) with Agnes Baltsa and José Carreras, and the CD box set from Deutsche Grammophon with Agnes Baltsa and José Carreras. The highlight version from DG is also great for any one who has too many Carmen's already.


http://youtu.be/8gGuK5XPmgQ
http://youtu.be/mu_klHYSbHw
http://youtu.be/Gnbv4G2QwRo
CARMEN - G. BIZET
Carmen - TERESA BERGANZA
D. José - PLACIDO DOMINGO
Escamillo - RUGGERO RAIMONDI
Mikaela - KATIA RICCIARELLI
Director - PIERRE DERVAUX
L `OPERA DE PARIS
1980

I vaguely remember that I have another CD boxset with Carmen, also Deutsche Grammophon, with Teresa Berganza and Plácido Domingo, and not to forget the DVD of the movie with Plácido Domingo and Julia Migenes. Also a DVD from Wiener Staatsoper with Domingo and Elena Obratszova, I have it but I still haven't watched it from beginning to end.

A point that is often overlooked when one talk about the opera Carmen is that it is different versions of the dialogues and recitatives. I am on the fence in regard of whether I prefer dialogue to recitatives. But often the dialogue are cut so much that it is harder to understand the action if one did not know the whole dialogue from before. Then there is the cut in the duel duet between Don José and Escamillo, I don't like the cut.

LESSON FROM THE OPERA: I think one has to be careful not think that one knows what Spain and Andalucia is about from this opera. Even more care must be taken in thinking you know what "Gipsy" life is about in Spain and elsewhere. We are too ignorant as it is about the truth of that people. Much has been done to romanticize the reality and too make them seem dangerous. More truth is needed not more fantasy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people_in_Spain

Read more:  http://www.unionromani.org/pueblo_in.htm


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Mefistofele, by Boito

1997-06-24 Mefistofele (Boito), Wiener Staatsoper

Mefistofele = Egils Silins
Faust = Keith Ikaia-Purdy
Margherita/Elena = Michele Crider
Marta/Pantalis = Nelly Boschkowa
Wagner/Nerèo = Ruben Broitman

Michael Halász, conductor

Spielleitung - Lorenza Cantini, Diana Kienast
Choreographie - Antonella Agati
Choreinstudierung - Dietrich D. Gerpheide

So in 1997 I saw this opera in Wiener Staatsoper. This opera is just like Gounod's Faust taking its story from Goethe's Faust. The problem with Boito's opera is that it tries to take everything, it has a Prologue, Opera and Epilogue. It is too much and so it does not have the same strong focus as Gounod's opera has. And therefore we don't care so much. Plus Gounod has better tunes. On my "review" I mention that it has some glorious music, but I don't remember anything from it.

From my iTunes:
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 3:03 José Cura 6 av 12 Aurora : opera arias - José Cura BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2002
MEFISTOFELE - Dai campi, dai prati 2:33 Rolando Villazon 4 av 15 Cielo e mar - Rolando Villazon BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2008
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 2:38 Rolando Villazon 12 av 15 Cielo e mar - Rolando Villazon BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2008
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 2:44 Plácido Domingo 4 av 10 Domingo conducts Milnes, Milnes conducts Domingo BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 1972
MEFISTOFELE - Dai campi, dai prati 2:09 José Carreras 13 En Romanza Final - Julian Gayarre BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 1986

Dai campi, dai prati from Act 1 Scene 2
Giunto sul passo estremo from the Epilogue

LESSONS FROM THE OPERA: Better focus = the better opera. And naturally don't believe the devil.

Possible reading: Goethe's Faust, or just biograhies of Goethe.




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Watching Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Abbado, Domingo, Ricciarelli

I have just watched the DVD of Verdi's Ballo in Maschera from Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Claudio Abbado. This is a historical recording from 1975 with Plácido Domingo as Gustavo, Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia, Reri Grist as Oscar and the superb Piero Cappuccilli as Renato. It is subtitled in English. The subtitles are big white 1975 text. Not everything gets its translation which can make the novice sometimes a little lot but everything is explained in the inlay.

Who is singing Horn, Ribbing or Ulrica? They are not mentioned not even after the opera on the DVD and not elsewhere. I recognize Gwynne Howell, I think.

Chorus Director of The Royal Opera House Chorus : Robin Stapleton.
Leader of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House : Meyer Stolow.
Conductor : Claudio Abbado
Director : Otto Schenk
Designer : Jürgen Rose
Original Stage Lighting : William Bundy

Director for television - John Vernon

"The names of the characters correspond to the version of Boston by Verdi, except for the main  character, Gustavo, in which case, the name of the original version set in Sweden has been respected."  = why not alter all character's name to the orginal version ???

This is a beautiful video production of a beautiful opera production. A young and healthy Claudio Abbado lead a fantastic cast.

Plácido Domingo as Gustavo
He is Gustavo III of Sweden and he lives and breaths in this role. He is in glorious voice. His acting is superb.

Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia
Oh, so young and with such a curly hear. She sings, she acts, a lovely, wonderful portrayal that makes us realize that Amelia is YOUNG.

Piero Cappuccilli as Renato (Anckarström)
He is a powerhouse. He is a magnet. Where Gustavo dances around, he is serenity until it is broken. He loves Amelia and his King.  This portrayal is of a man who really loves his wife not just a man filled with pride. A glorious voice and superb acting. He touched me in this role.


Reri Grist as Oscar
What a singer, actor? She captured Oscar's boyishness perfectly.

Ulrica/Madame Arfvidson (Elizabeth Bainbrigde)
In the swedish version she is a gypsy. And here she lives in a tent camp. Seldom is the scenes really working, but here is does. It doesn't feel stupid as in do they really expect us to believe this? We believe. Not in any supernatural power, but that a smart woman can delude people and maybe even herself. She has enough power in her voice, even if it is just barely, to really capture us and believe. This is one of this roles where just a mezzo soprano voice seldom does it, a real alto is required. Or at least deep voice that can cast shadows.

I can with truly recommend this DVD. It is worth watching, maybe even worth finally buying a new DVD machine so that I can watch it on my TV rather than on my computer.

The cast in this DVD was ..., May 3, 2003

By 

Erico Mangaravite

This review is from: Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Abbado, Domingo, Ricciarelli, Royal Opera (DVD)

After spend some time in researches , I founded a complete list of the cast on this '75 ROH production:

Amelia - Katia Ricciarelli
Gustavo III - Placido Domingo
Anckarstroem - Piero Cappuccilli
Oscar - Reri Grist
Mlle. Arvidson - Elizabeth Bainbridge
Silvano - William Elwin
Samuel - Gwynne Howell
Tom - Paul Hudson
Un giudice - Francis Egerton
Amelia's servant - John Carr
ROH Chorus and Orchestra, Claudio Abbado





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On my shelf - DVDs

1. Farvel til en legende - Luciano Pavarotti 1935-2007 (A legend says goodbye) Luciano Pavarotti: The most successful classical artist in the history of the recording industry [DVD Video]

2. Great Composers - Tchaikovsky, Puccini (with José Cura), Mahler Great Composers - Vol. 3 - Mahler / Tchaikovsky / Puccini [DVD] [1997]

3. Duetto - Marcelo Alvarez, Salvatore Licitra Duetto: The Concert at the Roman Colosseum

4. Lesley Garrett - live at Christmas (with José Cura, Guy Barker, Sibongile Khumalo) Lesley Garrett Live At Christmas / Guy Barker, Sibongile Khumalo, Jose Cura

5. José Cura in concert Budapest 2000 Jose Cura: In Concert Budapest 2000

6. José Cura - Palm Sunday Concert In Passione Domini: Sacred Concert / Jose Cura

7. Great Stars of Opera - live in concert (Agnes Baltsa, Neil Shicoff, Lucia Aliberti, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Kurt Rydl) Great Stars of Opera / Shicoff, Aliberti, Baltsa, Tomowa-Sintow, Rydl, Barcellona, Sasson, Emmerlich, Schwarzhaupt, La Scola

8. Gala Concert 50 anniversary of the Reopening of the Vienna State Opera (Baltsa, Domingo, Gruberova etc.) Vienna State Opera Gala Concert / Domingo, Terfel, Gruberova, Urmana, Hampson, Baltsa, Kirchschlager, Polaski, Struckmann, Schade, Furlanetto

9. The Original Three Tenors Concert (Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, Mehta) The Original Three Tenors Concert

10. The 3 Tenors Paris 1998 (Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, Levine) The 3 Tenors: Paris 1998

11. The Three Tenors Christmas (Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti) The Three Tenors Christmas

12. Operahits - music from Madama Butterfly, The Barber of Seville, La Traviata, La Boheme, Carmen & more (featuring José Carreras, Placido Domingo, Shirley Verrett, Jon Vickers & more) Opera Hits / Domingo, Carreras, Vickers, Ewing

13. Concerto di Natale / Christmas Concert - José Carreras Concerto di Natale Christmas Concert with Jose Carreras

14. Johann Strauss Gala (Andrea Rost, José Carreras, Zubin Mehta) Johann Strauss Gala - An Evening of Polka, Waltz, and Operetta

15. José Carreras Around the  World Jose Carreras: Around the World

16. Plácido Domingo - Hommage a Sevilla Placido Domingo: Hommage a Sevilla [DVD Video]

17. European Concert 1992 - Plácido Domingo, Daniel Barenboim European Concert Volume 1: 1991-1995

18. Placido Domingo - My Greatest Roles, the documentary  MY GREATEST ROLES-THE DOCUMENTARY

19. Placido Domingo - My Greatest Roles Volume 1 Puccini Placido Domingo Vol. 1: Puccini - Tosca / Manon Lescaut / La Fanciulla Del West

20. Placido Domingo - My Greatest Roles Volume 2 Verdi Placido Domingo: My Greatest Roles, Vol. 2 - Verdi (Otello / Il Trovatore / Ernani)

21. Bizet: Carmen, Metropolitan Opera (Agnes Baltsa, José Carrreras) Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera

22. Bizet: Carmen - Francesco Rosi (Julia Migenes, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi) Bizet - Carmen / Maazel, Migenes, Domingo

23. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Stefania Bonfadelli, Marcelo Alvarez) Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Bonfadelli, Alvarez, Frontali, Olivieri, Palazzi, Fournillier, Genoa Opera

24. Giordano: Andrea Chenier (José Cura, Maria Guleghina) Giordano - Andrea Chenier / Jose Cura, Maria Guleghina, Carlo Guelfi, Giacinta Nicotra, Cinzia De Mola, Carlo Rizzi, Bologna Opera

25. Giordano: Andrea Chenier (José Carreras, Eva Marton) Giordano - Andrea Chenier / Jose Carreras, Eva Marton, Piero Cappuccilli, Silvana Mazzieri, Riccardo Chailly, La Scala Opera

26. Massenet: Werther (Marcelo Alvarez, Elina Garanca) Massenet - Werther / Marcelo Alvarez, Elina Garanca, Adrian Erod, Ileana Tonca, Peter Jelosits, Philippe Jordan, Vienna Opera

27. Mozart: Cosi fan tutte (Cecilia Bartoli, Agnes Baltsa, Liliana Nikiteanu) Mozart - Cosi Fan Tutte / Harnoncourt, Bartoli, Nikiteanu, Zurich Opera

28. Don Giovanni - Mozart, Losey (Ruggero Raimondi, Kiri Te Kanawa, Teresa Berganza) Mozart - Don Giovanni / Maazel, Raimondi, Te Kanawa, Paris Opera

29. Mozart - Don Giovanni (Herbert von Karajan) Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video - Mozart - Don Giovanni

30. Mozart: Le  Nozze di Figaro (Agnes Baltsa, Bernd Weikl, Lucia Popp)

31. Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Plácido Domingo, Agnes Baltsa) Offenbach - Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) / Pretre, Domingo, Royal Opera Covent Garden

32. Puccini: La Boheme (Teresa Stratas, José Carreras) Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Franco Zeffirelli · James Levine - T. Stratas · R. Scotto · J. Carreras · MET

33. Puccini: Edgar (José Cura, Amarilli Nizza, Julia Gertseva) Edgar

34. Puccini: La Fanciulla del West (Plácido Domingo, Carol Neblett) Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden

35. Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Daniels, Domingo, Milnes, Croft, Laciura, Fitch, Slatkin, Metropolitan Opera

36. Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa) Puccini - Manon Lescaut / Sinopoli, Domingo, Te Kanawa, Allen, Royal Opera Covent Garden

37. Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Maria Guleghina, José Cura) Puccini - Manon Lescaut / Cura, Guleghina, Gallo, Roni, Berti, Banditelli, Mori, Bolognesi, Muti, La Scala Opera

38. Puccini: Tosca (Maria Guleghina, Salvatore Licitra, Leo Nucci) Puccini - Tosca / Guleghina, Licitra, Nucci, Mariotti, Gavazzi, Parodi, Muti, La Scala

39. Puccini: Tosca (Fiorenza Cedolins, Marcelo Alvarez, Ruggero Raimondi) Puccini - Tosca

40. Puccini: Tosca (Francesca Patane, José Cura, Renato Bruson) Puccini - Tosca / Morandi, Patane, Cura

41. Puccini: Il Trittico - Riccardo Chailly (Il TABARRO with José Cura)

42. Puccini: Turandot (Eva Marton, José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli) Puccini: Turandot [DVD Video]

43. Saint-Saens: Samson et Dalila (Plácido Domingo, Olga Borodina) Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Domingo, Borodina, Leiferkus, Fink, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

44. Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa) Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier / Tomowa-Sintow, Baltsa, Perry, Moll, Herbert Von Karajan- Wiener Philharmoniker, Salzburg Opera

45. José Cura - Verismo (DVD audio) Verismo [DVD Audio]

46. Verdi Gala 1991 (Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, José Cura, Marcelo Alvarez) Verdi Gala / Placido Domingo,Jose Carreras,Jose Cura,Marcelo Alvarez

47. Verdi Gala 2004 (Cura, Nucci, Borin, Damato...) Verdi Gala 2004 / Cura, Nucci, Canettieri, Damato, Fabbricini, Rezza, Borin, Casalin, De Grandia, Michailov, Sacchi, Stoyanov, Zanellato, Palumbo, Parma

48. A Passion for Verdi with José Cura and Daniela Dessi Jose Cura - A Passion for Verdi

49. Verdi: Aroldo (Gustavo Porta, Adriana Damato) Verdi - Aroldo

50. Verdi: Il Corsaro (Michailov, Bruson, Damato)

51. Verdi: Don Carlo (Luciano Pavarotti, Samuel Ramey, Daniela Dessi) Verdi - Don Carlo / Pavarotti, Dessi, Ramey, d'Intino, Coni, Muti, La Scala Opera

52. Verdi: Don Carlo (José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa) Verdi - Don Carlo / von Karajan, Carreras, Baltsa, Furlanetto, d'Amico, Cappuccilli, Salminen, Salzburg

53. Verdi: I Lombardi (José Carreras, Ghena Dimitrova) Verdi - I Lombardi / Carreras, Dimitrova, Carroli, Bini, Gavazzeni, La Scala Opera

54. Verdi: Macbeth (Carlos Alvarez, Maria Guleghina) Verdi - Macbeth / Alvarez, Guleghina, Scandiuzzi, Berti, Alberdi, Campanella, Barcelona Opera

55. Verdi: Nabucco (Nucci, Guleghina, Colombara, Sartori)

56. Verdi: Nabucco (Nucci, Guleghina, Dvorsky) Verdi - Nabucco / Leo Nucci, Maria Guleghina, Giacomo Prestia, Miroslav Dvorsky, Marina Domashenko, Goran Simic, Fabio Luisi, Vienna Opera
 
57. Verdi: Nabucco (Juan Pons, Maria Guleghina) Verdi: Nabucco

58. Verdi: Otello (José Cura, Krassimira Stoyanova) Verdi - Otello

59. Verdi: Requiem (Margaret Price, Jessye Norman, José Carreras, Ruggero Raimondi)
  Verdi - Requiem / London Symphony Orchestra

60. Verdi: Requiem (Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras, José van Dam) Verdi - Requiem / Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Jose Carreras, Agnes Baltsa, Jose van Dam, Herbert von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic

61. Verdi: Il Trovatore (José Cura, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Yvonne Naef, Veronica Villarroel) Verdi - Il Trovatore / Cura, Hovorostovsky, Villarroel, Naef, Rizzi, Covent Garden

62. Verdi: La Traviata (José Cura, Eteri Gvazava)

63. Verdi: Stiffelio (José Carreras, Catherine Malfitano) Verdi - Stiffelio / Downes, Carreras, Malfitano, Royal Opera Covent Garden

64. José Carreras Collection

65. Plácido Domingo - My Greatest Roles Volume 3 French Opera

66. Puccini: Tosca (Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi) Puccini - Tosca / Gheorghiu, Alagna, Raimondi, Muraro, Cangelosi, Pappano, Royal Opera (2000 film)


67. Cecilia and Bryn at Glyndebourne - Arias and Duets / Opus Arte, Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli


67. The 3 Tenors In Concert 1994 with The Vision: Making of the Concert (Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, Mehta)


68. Plácido Domingo - Great Scenes
For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com