2012-05-25 A travel to Madrid and La Chulapona

Finally I am going to Spain, again. For 2 Chulapona and 1 Nabucco.

The week did not start well. I felt sick. My abdomen hurt. I went to the doctor and I was allowed to travel provided it did not get worse. I was told to get another appointment immediately if the pain got worse. I felt well enough to start my travel a bus ride to Oslo. This time I could take the bus directly to the airport, Oslo Gardermoen. All was well and soon I had my suitcase ready for Madrid. The stop in Copenhagen was short I wondered if my suitcase... Yes, yes, no problem, said he. So 1215 I was in Madrid Barajas Airport and I waited for my new and very black, little suitcase. No. NO. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Then I was in the wrong queue, my back sack was secretly killing me. Then in the right one. OK! ok! I have my paper with my case number thanks to Swissport. Well, one thing was good, now I had less to carry for my bus ride to the Atocha station. Great! My hotel is on Calle Atocha so it should be a piece of cake finding it. With the help of taxi drivers who evidently did not understand I want a taxi to the hotel, I don't care how close it is, they showed me the direction in which either they were wrong or I understood it wrong. Probably me. I was tired, you see. Madrid is not flat, may cities are not flat, and my street upwards, upwards I go. Tired, hungry.

TRYP Madrid Atocha Hotel ****

Fantastic!! I have a room. I can rest. I can be happy that my my back pack is so heavy because it means I have everything except tooth paste and such. Resting a bit and the out I go to hunt food. McDonald's in Calle Atocha, great rest and some food. I not quite well. My tiny cheeseburger is hard to get down, pain...
But then I get to Teatro de la Zarzuela to get my real tickets. Thank you so much, woman who helped me. Gracias!!!

Finally at 2000 LA CHULAPONA in Teatro de la Zarzuela with Milagros Martin as Manuela and Carmen Gonzalez as Rosario. The production is from 1988 and there exists a DVD from it also with Milagros Martin and Carmen Gonzalez.


2012-05-25 La Chulapona (Moreno Torroba), Teatro de la Zarzuela (Madrid)
Manuela = Milagros Martín
Rosario = Carmen González
José María = Marcelo Puente
Juan de Dios = Carlos Crooke
Señor Antonio =Luis Alvarez
Doña Venustiana = Charo Reina
El Chalina = Jesus Castejón
Don Epifanio = Gerardo Malla
Emilia = Raquel Torres
Organillero = Jesus Alcaide
Lolita = Ana Santamaria
Ascensión = Isabel Gonzalez
Concha = Ada Rodriguez
Ist Guard = Keni Roldan
2nd Guard = Abel Garcia
Manolito = Neric Forcada / Raul Ruiz / Pedro de la Torre
Chico de la taberna = José Varela
Cantaora = Eva Duran
Ganadero = Saturnino Garcia
Maestro Cansino = Juan Rueda
Maravilla = Maria Briones
Guadalupe = Sagrario Mielgo
Engargado de Café = Juan Luis Cobo
Durmiente = Jesus Landin
Plachandoras = Rosa Maria Gutierrez, Carmen Gaviria, Paloma Curros
Zapatero = Carlos Duran
Hojolatero = Pedro Azpiri
Cliente = Gustavo Berliete
Voz Interna = Paloma Suarez
Giutarrista = José Maria Molero
Invitado = Ignacio Del Castillo


 Dirección musical: Miquel Ortega
 Dirección de escena: Gerardo Malla
 Escenografía y figurines: Mario Bernedo
 Coreografía: Goyo Montero
Iluminación: Eric Teunis

Despite I still don't understand all that much Spanish I understood much more than I did in 1989 when I saw this zarzuela during the Edinburgh Festival. I love zarzuela and have recently started a small collection of zarzuelas. Federico Moreno Torroba (the composer) is a genius and the music in Chulapona is just marvellous. Naturally I have the CD with Teresa Berganza as Manuela and the wonderful Pilar Lorengar as Rosario. A wonderful CD with the perfect Manuela and perfect Rosario.

24 years after the premiere are Milagros Martin and Carmen Gonzalez still the perfect Manuela and Rosario. Aged but like fine wine only better and more refined than ever. Marcelo Puente in the role of Jose Maria, loved by these two different women, was also wonderful.


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

Love is ... Fedora by Giordano

Usually one think only of romantic love in opera, and only about he protagonists but not in this post. Loris Ipanoff and Fedora Romazoff. It is Count Loris and Princesss Fedora.

Loris Ipanoff
Mother,Valerian Ipanoff, Wanda, Vladimir, Fedora.

Mother - Son = parental/filial love. Loris loves his mother but he still choses to marry Wanda, a woman his mother does not approve of, in secret.
Brother love - Loris is devastated when he finds out that his innocent brother has died accused of being his accomplice in the murder of Vladimir.
Wanda, Loris secret wife, who he describes as a vamp, a seductress. Loris takes no responibility in choosing Wanda even as his mother suspects Wanda to be after Loris.
Vladimir, one of Loris friends who knows and were there when he married Wanda. Wanda + Vladimir = lovers. Loris finds out and in a rage he kills Vladmir and then feel mightily sorry for himself. Wanda dies of grief not long after.

Princess Fedora: Vladimir, Loris.

Vladimir, the beloved son of the chief of the dreaded secret police, is living the life with many women, horse racing, bets etc and has a huge debt. Fedora is the wealthy widow from a powerful house. She thinks he loves her. When Vladimir is killed she will do anything to get the murderer, Loris.
Loris is in love with Fedora and have no idea he is just a mark for her. As soon as Fedora hears the confession of killing Vladimir she sets things in motion. Loris has been writing letters to his brother but that is enough for Fedora to write in the letter to the police chief, Valerian Ipanoff as accomplice. Then after the tragedy is set in motion she finds out about Wanda and Vladimir, and so she will save Loris.

Fedora loves Loris. It is probably a more real love than Fedora and Vladimir, Loris and Wanda. BUT, as they live together she has not told him she was Vladimirs fiancee or that she has been writing letters to the police chief. Then Valerian is caught and brought to prison and killed as the river floods the prison. And Loris mother dies when she hears about it. Loris is free from accusations and can go home but his family is dead. Fedora asks desperately for forgiveness for the unknown woman in Paris, herself. Then Loris finally realizes it and is in a rage, and Fedora commits suicide. And Loris feels sorry for himself.

TRAGEDY but why? Fedora and Loris is really two unhinged persons. They can only think in extremes. That is the first part of the tragedy, thr second is the lack of honesty. Fedora is about a crime passionel. It used to be OK to kill people if you caught them in adultery, the wife is with another man. Some places if you killed both you were OK, only one of them then you were a killer. For Fedora Loris is not guilty when she hears about the adultery, but she would have prefered Wanda killed too. I THINK that you cannot be innocent when you suspect something and you are carrying your gun. BESIDE intention/reason matters not if you kill someone THEN you are a KILLER. Jalousy does not makes you innocent, it is not a better reason to kill than greed. Murder is murder, and I don't except your excuses!!!

And for FEDORA and all who could act like her. Get all the facts first, don't be a vigilante, and don't lie.

As I look ahead into the future

April 2012 started as it used to with April 1, April Fools Day. But on April 1, 2012 at 0930 the oldest sister of my mother died. It was a shock for me even as I had been told how serious her condition was this time, I still believed in Life. But Death came and for my aunt it must have been a relief too after so many years of suffering painfully of Parkinson's. A comfort was that she had her children with her even as she was not able even speak. It was so inappropriate that it was April Fools Day, much better that it was also Palm Sunday. SAD!! Her husband had died on April 1 last year and my aunt even shared her burial day with her husband, April 13, 2012. Friday the 13th, indeed.

My Easter Holiday at my parents' home never really recovered and I got sick and come to hospital for one night stay. Fun, it was not. Luckily one still have hobbies, opera. On April 15 I could experience a wonderful Opera gala in Sogndal Kulturhus. Even though Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss are not one of my favorite composers the soprano Elena Nebera made me forget that. My travel to Monte Carlo to see Maria Guleghina as Lady Macbeth was cut by flight engine problems, but Elena Nebera could in many ways remind me of Guleghina. Dark, big voices!

May has started. It is cold. My mother has cancer but finally she is getting help. And she is positive about it. But the delays because of low staffed hospitals and a bad combination of people getting sick and holidays that keep things from getting done fast.  But we are positive. Work and the love of opera is keeping me up.

My plans: May 25-30 Spain (La Chulapona in Madrid, Nabucco in Bilbao). June 9 Tosca with Cura in Stockholm, Early July in Zurich for Carreras and Boccanegra with Placido Domingo. Then Summer Holiday and the library and all the books and journals etc is going to another building, a brand new building with a new library. Two libraries is going to ONE big library in a NEW Building. I get an even shorter walk to my work. WOW!

About 2012/2013 only one thing is certain Carmen in Deutsche Oper Berlin on December 15, 2012.

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

A frustrating day, and no Macbeth for me.

It started so well. On Friday I was in hospital for my Remicade treatment. It went well. I felt well enough to take the night bus to Oslo. And I even slept well in the bus. Then it was airport bus to Gardermoen airport. My Swiss flight was 0945 and I was in the airport 0615. If I had no luggage I could just have gone through security at once. But I had to wait until 0745 when Swiss opens. So I waited and then my luggage was ready all the way to Nice. Security line was long, but 11 minutes went fast. Then I bought a French parleur book. Later I bought Pepsi Max and Pizza Vegetar. Then there was a wait at Gate 44 and our plane came late but soon we were ready for boarding.

But why was we allowed into the plane and our luggage when they must have known they had troubles. Why not wait with boarding until the technical problems was sorted out? No, we sat in the plane for longer than a hour. That was not the worst part. The worst part was that is was more important that the Business Class was taken care of first, and last the Economy Class. They should have sorted us by to Zurich only, and transfers to different places. It would have made sense and made the work easier for the "Swiss". But it was chaotic from the moment we left the plane we were not sure where to go. And then only one person to take care of 150-200 persons. What is Swiss, an amateur airline, or what? My back was hurting from waiting more than 2 hours to be helped. It was hell. Annoying. Finally my iphone came with an sms from Swiss I was rebooked via Copenhagen to to Nice. 1355 from Oslo, and in Nice 1835. I was happy. So happy until reality set in, I would not be able to be at Monte Carlo Opera to see Macbeth with Maria Guleghina as Lady Macbeth. I would be late.

To see Maria Guleghina as Lady Macbeth live on stage is a dream that thought Monte Carlo would give me, but SWISS failed me.

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

Brava, Elena Nebera! (Sogndal 2012-04-15)

2012-04-15 Strauss/Wagner, Sogndal Kulturhus

Elena Nebera, soprano
Jørgen Halstein Moe, baritone

Michael Pavelich, conductor
Opera Nordfjord

Program

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)


Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg - Vorspiel

Orchestra



Tannhäuser - O, du mein holder Abendstern

Trond Halstein Moe



Tannhäuser - Dich, teure Halle

Elena Nebera



Der Fliegende Holländer - Wie aus der Ferne

Trond Halstein Moe, Elena Nebera



Götterdämmerung - Siegrieds Trauermarch

Orchestra



Die Walküre - Wotan Abschied

Trond Halstein Moe



PAUSE



Richard Strauss (1864-1949)



Rosenkavalier suite, op. 59

Orchestra



Vier letzte Lieder (Frühling, September, Beim Schlafengehen, Im Abendrot)

Elena Nebera





In stead of Norwegian Soprano Turid Karlsen we got Elena Nebera, a wonderful Russian Soprano.

Elena Nebera was just a wonderful revelation. Passionate and always involved with the words and the drama. Her voice rides easilly above the orchestra. She has a very dark timbre in her voice. Her voice seemed to be to big for our little sale especially in the Last 4 songs by Richard Strauss. Dich teure Halle from Tannhäuser was just amazing, wonderful. It was worth going just for that. And then the love duet from The Flying Dutchman, wonderful.

Trond Halstein Moe disappointed me in Wolframs aria from Tannhäuser. Then came Elena Nebera and saved it. But appart from the first aria Trond Halstein Moe was wonderful. He read the Norwegian translation of Wotans farewell from Die Walküre before he sang it so that we should understand the text and he did the same for Strauss' Vier letzte Lieder.

Michael Pavelich and the orchestra of Opera Nordfjord was just wonderful. No extra numbers because several members needed to travel to other places like Sweden. The work of a musician is hard.

BRAVA, ELENA NEBERA!

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

Zarzuela! EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIÉS

L. MARIANO DE LARRA / F. ASENJO BARBIERO

Zarzuela Completa

Reparto:

Marquesita: ANA MARÍA OLARIA

Paloma: TERESA BERGANZA

Don Luis: CARLOS MUNGUÍA

Lamparilla: GERARDO MONREAL

Don Juan: JOSÉ Maria MAIZA

Coro de Cámara del Orfón Donostiarra, Director: JUAN GOROSTIDI

Orquesta Sinfónico, Director: ATAÚLFO ARGENTA

Novoson SL 2009 CDNS-486  Libretto

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Preludio - Dicen que en el Pardo 6:34 Chorus, Gerardo Monreal 1 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Como nací en la calle de la Paloma 2:52 Teresa Berganza 2 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Este es el sitio frente a la ventana 5:31 Ana María Olaria, José Maria Maiza, Carlos Munguía 3 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Lamparilla 7:04 Teresa Berganza, Gerardo Monreal, Ana María Olaria 4 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Preludio 2 - Aquí está la ronda 5:02 Chorus, Gerardo Monreal 5 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - En una casa solariega 4:20 Carlos Munguía, Ana María Olaria 6 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Una mujer que queire ver a un barbero - No hay que quitar los hilvanes 5:56 Teresa Berganza, Gerardo Monreal 7 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - En el Templo de Marte vive Cupido 2:14 Chorus, Gerardo Monreal 8 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Preludio 3 - El noble gremio de costureras 6:18 Chorus, Teresa Berganza 9 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - Aquí estoy: Ya vestida 4:04 Ana María Olaria, Teresa Berganza 10 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - El sombrero hasta las cejas 2:47 Gerardo Monreal, Carlos Munguía, Teresa Berganza, Ana María Olaria 11 av 12

EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES - En entrando una maja en San Lorenzo... 2:13 Chorus 12 av 12

A wonderful recording full of wonderful singing by the greatest Spanish singers.

http://www.diverdi.com/portal/detalle.aspx?id=39732

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

Zarzuela! EL ANILLO DE HIERRO

EL ANILLO DE HIERRO

Drama Lírico en Tres Actos, en Verso

ZARZUELA COMPLETA

Marcos Zapata / Pedro Miguel Marqués

Reparto:

Margarita: TERESA BERGANZA (Soprano)

William: MANUEL AUSENSI (Baritono)

Rodolfo: CARLOS MUNGUÍA (Tenor)

Rutilio: JOSÉ LUIS CANCELA (Bajo)

Ermitaño: SIGFREDO VIDERAS (Bajo)

Tiburón: GERARDO MONREAL (Tenor Cómico)

Coro Cantores de Madrid, Director: JOSÉ PERERA

Maestro Concertador: JULIÁN PERERA

Gran Orquestra Sinfónico, Director BENITO LAURET

Novoson SL 2011 CDNS - 228  Libretto

Acto I: 1. Preludio. 2. Coro de introducción “Tranquilo está el cielo, serena la mar”, plegaria y stretta “Venid, venid, bogad, bogad”. 3. Romanza de Margarita “Pasión del alma mía”. 4. Dúo de Rodolfo y Margarita “Negra noche es mi pasado”. 5. Quinteto “Tal infamia, tal deshonra”. Acto II: 6. Introducción, coro “Habla presto, nada temas”, y coplas de Tiburón “El sol se despedía”. 7. Dúo de Ledia y Tiburón “Eres tu Ledia mía”. 8. Dúo de Margarita y William “Llorando y por culpa mía”. 9. Barcarola “Yo no salgo de mi asombro”, concertante “En las flores más hermosas” y escena. Acto III: 10. Preludio. 11. Romanza de Margarita “Lagrimas mías”, Escena y tempestad “La vista se me nubla, sufrir no puedo más”. 12. Final orquestal.

En la versión discográfica se omiten los números 7, 10 y 12 y la segunda parte del 11, y se hace partir el Acto II del número 5.


Personajes
Los principales son:
Margarita: Hija del conde William, enamorada de Rodolfo. Soprano.William Belfort: Conde, con un secreto que le atormenta. Barítono. Rodolfo: Supuesto pescador y enamorado de Margarita. Tenor Rutilio Walter: Barón que chantajea al conde para conseguir a Margarita. Bajo. Ermitaño: “Desfacedor” de entuertos. Bajo. Tiburón: Compañero de Rodolfo. Tenor cómico. Ledia. Aya de Margarita. Tiple Notario. Barítono.

 I recommend this recording. Teresa Berganza is wonderful as Margarita, Manuel Ausensi is great as her father count William. Carlos Munguia is wonderful as Rodolfo, Margaritas love interest.


EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Preludio 6:29 Conductor Benito Lauret 1 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Tranquilo está el cielo 3:30 Chorus 2 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Pasión del alma mía 5:30 Teresa Berganza 3 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Negra noche es mi pasado 8:08 Carlos Munguía, Teresa Berganza 4 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Tal infamia, tal deshonra 6:03 Manuel Ausensi, Teresa Berganza, José Luis Cancela, Carlos Munguia, Sigfredo Videras 5 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Habla presto, nada temas 4:28 Chorus, Gerardo Monreal  6 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Llorando y por culpa mía 5:18 Teresa Berganza, Manuel Ausensi 7 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Yo no salgo de mi asombro (Barcarola, Concertante Y Escena) 7:01 Chorus, Teresa Berganza, Manuel Ausensi, Carlos Munguia, José Luis Cancela 8 av 9
EL ANILLO DE HIERRO - Lágrimas mías ¿en dónde estáis? 3:38 Teresa Berganza 9 av 9

2 great arias

Buy it at diverdi.com I just bought 13 CDs from diverdi.com so I can recommend them.

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