Two days, two countries, two operas: Tosca in Vienna with Jose Cura as Mario Cavaradossi was an old production, really old. Elektra in Budapest with Agnes Baltsa was a brand new production and I was there, at the premiere.
I did get some fine photos of the singers after the opera from stage. Jose Cura had already gone when we stood at the stage door, but I have already plenty of photos of him. Budapest with Elektra, premiere day so I did not wait in the cold for Agnes Baltsa. It was freezing cold (for me) so I went to my hotel. Lucky not far from the opera house.
I must up early in the morning for my flight back home. So I will not write much now about the operas. Except:
Tosca, the conductor was slower than Jose Cura sometimes, I do not blame the conductor. Nizza made her debut as Tosca in Vienna. She was better than in Verona as Aida (I think), but she has some old fashioned ways sometime. And Jose Cura he was really acting like a modern man when this should be Napoleatan time. And I missed Ruggero Raimondi as Scarpia. Vratogna was not Raimondi, otherwise he was good.
Elektra, I liked the production. It is set in modern times in a swimmingpool/sauna atmosphere. I guess a lot of people was happy when they finally could get dressed instead of with bathrobes and less. Beautiful Agnes Baltsa, wonderful Nadine Secunde. This production would almost be perfect if only Orestes did not shoot his two sisters with a machine gun in the end. No Greek tragedy this, only cynismen that won.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Friday, 23 November 2007
In Vienna 23.11.2007 before the opera
I am in Vienna, at last. Did not think it would be so stressful. First I almosz missed the airport bus to Oslo Airport. It was not that my bus was delayed... Second. The stress of finding that boarding had already started for my flight, had I known I would not have been so patient in the security line. Running and then when we are onboard, we heard it is fog in Vienna, we will be 50 minutes delayed. And yes we were. 1 hour delayed.
And in Vienna: I thought I had chosen a great hotel, but now I have changed that to a hotel I know how to find. My legs hurts after going a long way, probably in the wrong direction. Now, if the taxi drivers near Westbahnhof had looked more like taxi drivers back home then I would probably be relaxing in Hotel Schönbrunnerstrasse.
More later, now I need to eat. And go to my new hotel. (U-Bahnhof Westbahnhof.....)
And in Vienna: I thought I had chosen a great hotel, but now I have changed that to a hotel I know how to find. My legs hurts after going a long way, probably in the wrong direction. Now, if the taxi drivers near Westbahnhof had looked more like taxi drivers back home then I would probably be relaxing in Hotel Schönbrunnerstrasse.
More later, now I need to eat. And go to my new hotel. (U-Bahnhof Westbahnhof.....)
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
About the new Elektra in Hungarian
Népszabadság Online: Elektra - vitán felül
Agnes Baltsa és Nadine Secunde már Athénban is együtt énekelte az Elektrát ... Erről is mesélt a mezzoszopránsztár, Agnes Baltsa, aki beszélgetésünk ...nol.hu/kultura/cikk/471714/ - 87k
Kultura.hu
Agnes Baltsa és Nadine Sacunde nemrég Athénban énekelték ezeket a ... Baltsa, aki nem először jár Magyar-országon, a következőket mondta: "A Carmen ...kultura.hu/main.php?folderID=910&
Fidelio - Agnes Baltsa is az Operaház vendége lesz
Két világsztár is jön az Operába Richard Strauss: Elektra című operájára. ... Agnes Baltsa talán ismertebb a hazai közönség előtt, sőt az opera zenészei ...www.fidelio.hu/hir.asp?id=11633 - 47k
HírTV - Kultúra :: Az Operaház legfontosabb premierje (+képriport)
A rendezés modern és érdekes, és végre Elektra szerepét egy gyönyörű ruhában játszhatom el!" Baltsa, aki nem először jár Magyarországon, a következőket ...www.hirtv.hu/kultura/?article_hid=185558
Terasz.hu • online kulturális magazin •
| Richard Strausz: Elektra Egyfelvonásos tragédia Rendező: Kovalik Balázs Díszlet: Antal Csaba Jelmez: Benedek Mari Szereplők: Agnes Baltsa / Kovács Annamária ... www.terasz.hu/terasz.php?id=galeria& |
Photos of new Production of Elektra in Budapest
http://www.opera.hu/index.php?module=sajat/oldalak/elektra5
November 13, 2007
The facade of Budapest's Opera House has been wrapped in red sheets in preparation for the premiere of Elektra next Saturday. The performance, directed by Balázs Kovalik, will feature Nadine Secunde in the title role. Agnes Baltsa will sing the role of Clytemnestra.
The production is a milestone for the Hungarian State Opera and serves as an attempt to raise its international profile, said director Balázs Kovalik at a press conference before the premiere.
Secunde, also speaking at the press conference, joked that she had sung in 25 productions of Elektra, but had not seen a single Greek column in any of them.
"I was in a production of Carmen (in Budapest), and I worked with the Hungarian State Opera chorus on several occasions in Japan," she said.
November 17, 2007
The Hungarian State Opera is preparing for its most important premier of the year, a production of Richard Strauss's Elektra with Agnes Baltsa and Nadine Secunde on November 24.
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The production is extraordinary because of its impressive set as well as because of its two famous leads. It takes place in an abandoned bath dominated by a cube symbolising the world.
"This performance makes very big demands of the performers, but also from a technical point of view: It will not be easy to work with Csaba Antal's gigantic stage props, which have been built with engineering precision," said Kovalik.
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| Agnes Baltsa Photo: Máté Nándorfi |
"As far as I am concerned, the first consideration should be the stage and the acoustics, which is why my heart was lifted when I saw the outstanding work of these Hungarian artists," she said.
"The production is modern and interesting, and finally I get to wear a beautiful dress as Elektra," she added.
Baltsa said she had good memories of working with the members of the Hungarian State Opera.
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| Nadine Secunde as Elektra and Béla Perencz Béla as Orestes in Richard Strauss's opera Elektra, directed by Balázs Kovalik. The Hungarian State Opera will premiere the production on November 24. Photo: Péter Kollányi (MTI) |
János Kovács, who will conduct the orchestra at the premiere, said he had learned much from Secunde and Baltsa, making the production profitable for everybody.
Elektra - with Secunde and Baltsa in the lead roles - will be performed on November 24 and 28, and on December 1. The production will premiere with a new cast, including Annamária Kovács, Szilvia Rálik, Zsuzsanna Bazsinka and Attila Wendler on December 8.
Source: fidelio.hu
Monday, 19 November 2007
Friday, 16 November 2007
Norma on radio (Cura, Gruberova) 16.11.07
FROM operacast.com
Austrian radio ORF.
| GMT 1830/EST 1:30PM | GMT 1830/EST 1:30PM | |||||
| BARTOK RADIO Budapest, HUNGARY | | If you hear a white noise while playing this stream we suggest you change (at your own risk) the output driver in WINAMP to the directSound Driver. See instructions for this on our Internet Radio for Techies page 64K aacPlus [WINAMP] If you hear a white noise while playing this stream we suggest you change (at your own risk) the output driver in WINAMP to the directSound Driver. See instructions for this on our Internet Radio for Techies page | 64K WMP | | ||
| 1830 1:30PM | Opera: Kapcsoljuk a Bécsi Staatsopert - Vincenzo Bellini: Norma - kétfelvonásos opera I. felvonás Szövegét Felice Romani írta Vez.: Friedrich Haider Km. A Bécsi Staatsoper Ének- és Zenekara Szereposztás: Norma - Edita Gruberová, Pollione - José Cura, Adalgisa - Elina Garanca, Oroveso - Dan Paul Dumitrescu, Clotilde - Elina Garanca 2000/3:00PM: - kb.21. Az operabarátok negyedórája A belcanto újkori dívája: Edita Gruberová Magyar Kornél összeállítása 2015/3:15PM: Kapcsoljuk a Bécsi Staatsopert - Vincenzo Bellini: Norma - kétfelvonásos opera II. felvonás Szövegét Felice Romani írta Vez.: Friedrich Haider Km. A Bécsi Staatsoper Ének- és Zenekara Szereposztás: Norma - Edita Gruberová, Pollione - José Cura, Adalgisa - Elina Garanca, Oroveso - Dan Paul Dumitrescu, Clotilde - Elina Garanca (2 hrs., 35 min.) | |||||
| LATVIA RADIO KLASIKA Riga, LATVIA |  | 32K G2 RP 8 | | |||
| 1830 1:30PM | SP[ECIAL PROGRAM: Tiešraide no Vines Valsts operas – V.Bellini opera Norma. Elina Garanca, Edita Gruberova, Hose Kura, Vines Valsts operas koris un orkestris, dirigents Fridrihs Haiders. (3 hrs.) | |||||
Austrian radio ORF.
Ö1 Programm Fr, 16.11.2007
Vincenzo Bellini: "Norma"
Mit Edita Gruberova (Norma), Elina Garanca (Adalgisa), José Cura (Pollione), Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Oroveso), Caroline Wenborne (Clotilde) und Marian Talaba (Flavio). Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Dirigent: Friedrich Haider (Übertragung aus der Wiener Staatsoper)
(Übertragung in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound)
In der Pause:
"Norma" - Bellinis Oper abseits der gängigen Aufführungspraxis : Kompositionsweise, Fassungen, Besetzungsvarianten.
Chris Tengel im Gespräch mit dem Belcantospezialisten Dr. Thomas Lindner
Mit Edita Gruberova (Norma), Elina Garanca (Adalgisa), José Cura (Pollione), Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Oroveso), Caroline Wenborne (Clotilde) und Marian Talaba (Flavio). Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Dirigent: Friedrich Haider (Übertragung aus der Wiener Staatsoper)
(Übertragung in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound)
In der Pause:
"Norma" - Bellinis Oper abseits der gängigen Aufführungspraxis : Kompositionsweise, Fassungen, Besetzungsvarianten.
Chris Tengel im Gespräch mit dem Belcantospezialisten Dr. Thomas Lindner
Musikliste:
EBU-Fanfare (4x)
Länge: 00:20 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Textdichter/Textdichterin, Textquelle: Felice Romani
Titel: Norma, Oper in 2.Akten (Live aus der Wiener Staatsoper)
Solist/Solistin: Jose Cura/Pollione
Solist/Solistin: Dan Paul Dumitrescu/Oroveso
Solist/Solistin: Edita Gruberova/Norma
Solist/Solistin: Elina Garanca/Adalgisa
Solist/Solistin: Caroline Wenborne/Clotilde
Solist/Solistin: Marian Talaba/Flavio
Chor: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper
Orchester: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Leitung: Friedrich Haider
Label: Eigenmaterial Wr.Staatsoper
Länge: 141:00 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus "Casta Diva"
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 00:35 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus "Casta Diva"
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 00:30 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Duett Norma-Adalgisa/I
Solist/Solistin: June Anderson, Daniela Barcellona
Orchester: L'Europa Galante
Leitung: Fabio Biondi
Label: TDK
Länge: 00:45 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Terzett Norma- Adalgisa-Pollione/I
Solist/Solistin: June Anderson, Daniela Barcellona
Orchester: L'Europa Galante
Leitung: Fabio Biondi
Label: TDK
Länge: 00:58 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Duett Norma-Adalgisa/II
Solist/Solistin: Grace Bumbry, Lella Cuberli
Orchester: Orchestra Sinfonica di Bari
Leitung: Michael Halasz
Label: Dynamic
Länge: 00:30 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus der Szene Norma-Oroveso- Chor/II
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland, Richard Cross
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 03:03 min
EBU-Fanfare (4x)
Länge: 00:20 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Textdichter/Textdichterin, Textquelle: Felice Romani
Titel: Norma, Oper in 2.Akten (Live aus der Wiener Staatsoper)
Solist/Solistin: Jose Cura/Pollione
Solist/Solistin: Dan Paul Dumitrescu/Oroveso
Solist/Solistin: Edita Gruberova/Norma
Solist/Solistin: Elina Garanca/Adalgisa
Solist/Solistin: Caroline Wenborne/Clotilde
Solist/Solistin: Marian Talaba/Flavio
Chor: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper
Orchester: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Leitung: Friedrich Haider
Label: Eigenmaterial Wr.Staatsoper
Länge: 141:00 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus "Casta Diva"
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 00:35 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus "Casta Diva"
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 00:30 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Duett Norma-Adalgisa/I
Solist/Solistin: June Anderson, Daniela Barcellona
Orchester: L'Europa Galante
Leitung: Fabio Biondi
Label: TDK
Länge: 00:45 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Terzett Norma- Adalgisa-Pollione/I
Solist/Solistin: June Anderson, Daniela Barcellona
Orchester: L'Europa Galante
Leitung: Fabio Biondi
Label: TDK
Länge: 00:58 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus dem Duett Norma-Adalgisa/II
Solist/Solistin: Grace Bumbry, Lella Cuberli
Orchester: Orchestra Sinfonica di Bari
Leitung: Michael Halasz
Label: Dynamic
Länge: 00:30 min
Komponist/Komponistin: Vincenzo Bellini
Titel: Norma: aus der Szene Norma-Oroveso- Chor/II
Solist/Solistin: Joan Sutherland, Richard Cross
Orchester: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Leitung: Richard Bonynge
Label: Decca
Länge: 03:03 min
Weitere Informationen:
Diese Sendung wird in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound übertragen. Die volle Surround-Qualität erleben Sie, wenn Sie Ö1 unter "OE1DD" über einen digitalen Satelliten-Receiver und eine mehrkanalfähige Audioanlage hören.
Mehr zu "OE1DD" in oe1.ORF.at
Die nächste Opernübertragung finden Sie hier
Diese Sendung wird in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound übertragen. Die volle Surround-Qualität erleben Sie, wenn Sie Ö1 unter "OE1DD" über einen digitalen Satelliten-Receiver und eine mehrkanalfähige Audioanlage hören.
Mehr zu "OE1DD" in oe1.ORF.at
Die nächste Opernübertragung finden Sie hier
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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