Opernhaus Zurich 2010/2011 VERISMO-abo

Opernhaus Zurich


Verismo ABO 2010-2011

Verismo

Samstag, 4. September 2010
Tosca Puccini
Dirigent Nello Santi
Tosca Maria Guleghina
Cavaradossi Marcelo Álvarez
Scarpia Thomas Hampson
Angelotti Valeriy Murga
Mesner Giuseppe Scorsin
Spoletta Andreas Winkler
Sciarrone Morgan Moody


Samstag, 20. November 2010
La Fanciulla del West Puccini
Dirigent Massimo Zanetti
Minnie Emily Magee
Wowkle Katharina Peetz
Jack Rance Ruggero Raimondi
Dick Johnson José Cura
Harry Shinya Kitajima
Jack Wallace Davide Fersini
Nick Peter Sonn
Ashby Giuseppe Scorsin
Sonora Cheyne Davidson
Sid Tomasz Slawinski
Trin Martin Zysset
Bello Kresˇimir Strazˇanac
Joe Bogusl/aw Bidzin´ski
Happy Thomas Tatzl
José Castro Valeriy Murga


Dienstag, 14. Dezember 2010
Madama Butterfly Puccini
Dirigent Marco Armiliato
Cio-Cio-San Xiu Wei Sun
Suzuki Judith Schmid
Kate Pinkerton Margaret Chalker
Pinkerton Neil Shicoff
Sharpless Cheyne Davidson
Goro Andreas Winkler
Yamadori Kresˇimir Strazˇanac
Bonze Pavel Daniluk


Mittwoch, 16. März 2011
Cavalleria rusticana Mascagni
Dirigent Stefano Ranzani
Santuzza Paoletta Marrocu
Lucia Cornelia Kallisch
Lola Katharina Peetz
Turiddu Jose Cura
Alfio Cheyne Davidson

Pagliacci Leoncavallo
Nedda Fiorenza Cedolins
Canio José Cura
Tonio Carlo Guelfi
Peppe Boiko Zvetanov
Silvio Gabriel Bermúdez


Samstag, 23. April 2011
La Bohème Puccini
Dirigent Carlo Rizzi
Mimì Barbara Frittoli
Musetta N. N.
Rodolfo José Cura
Marcello Massimo Cavalletti
Schaunard Cheyne Davidson
Colline Andreas Hörl
Benoît Davide Fersini

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

Soon taking the Swiss travel to Otello & Baltsa

It is soon time for a new travel to Berlin and to Zurich. Premiere day of Otello in Deutsche Oper Berlin with José Cura and Anja Harteros. In Opernhaus Zürich on the last day of the month, Liederabend with Agnes Baltsa.

Liederabend Agnes Baltsa

AGNES BALTSA
Achilleas Wastor Klavier

Griechische Lieder

Mános Hadjidákis (*1925 Xanthi - †1994 Athen)
Peribanou
(Klavier solo)

Stavros Xarhákos (*I939 Athen)
Áspri méra ke ja mas (Es werden glücklichere Tage kommen, auch für uns)

Míkis Theodorákis (*1925 Khios)
To tréno févgi stis ochtó (Der Zug fährt um acht ab)

Mános Hadjidákis
Óniro pedión tis gitoniás (Die Träume der Nachbarskinder)

Vassílis Tsitsánis (*1915 Trikala - †1984 London)
Horisam’ ena dilino (Und eines Tages hatten wir uns auseinandergelebt)
Sinefiasmeni kiriaki (An einem regnerischen Sonntag)
(Klavier solo)

Stavros Xarhákos
Stou Óthona ta hrónia [Zur Zeit von König Otto)
Háthike to fegári (Der verlorene Mond)

Vassílis Tsitsánis
Archóntissa (Meine Edelfrau)
Ta kavourákia (Die Krabben)

---- PAUSE ----

Míkis Theodorákis
Hartaetí (Drachensteigen)
(Klavier solo)

Spíros Peristéris (*1900 Smyrna - †1966 Athen)
Mes ston ondá enós Passá (Im Privatgemach eines Paschas)

Mános Hadjidákis
O tachitrómos péthane (Der junge Postbote starb)

Stavros Xarhákos
To praktorío (Die einsame Station]

Mános Hadjidákis
Nihterino (Nocturne)
Kalamatianos
Megali sousfa
(Klavier solo)

Stavros Xarhákos
Varkaróla (Barkarole)

Mános Hadjidákis
Páme mia wólto sto fegári (Spazieren wir zum Mond)

Stavros Xarhákos
Nin ke aí (Jetzt und für immer)

That sounds interesting.

I am also looking forward to the new Otello. I just hope I will not be tired or have a headache on May 30. Premiere in Berlin. But I already feels a bit tired....


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

24. Placido Domingo, tenor

My photo of Plácido Domingo in Vienna 1998-05-31

I saw him as
Jean (LE PROPHETE) 1998-05-31
PARSIFAL 2002-01-13


1996-07-26 The 3 tenors, Ullevi Stadium Gothenburg
1996-08-03 The 3 tenors, Olympia Stadium Munich


LINKS to more information about this artist (agency, schedule etc.):
OperaBase

Personal/other websites
 http://www.placidodomingo.com

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

23. Luciana D'Intino, mezzo

My photo of Luciana d'Intino in Vienna 2006-12-18

I saw her as
Amneris (AIDA) 2005-06-24
CARMEN 2002-06-22
Eboli (DON CARLO) 2003-03-12, 2003-03-14, 2006-11-25, 2006-12-18

LINKS to more information about this artist (agency, schedule etc.):
OperaBase

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

2006 Baltsa 5 - Cura 9 - others 7

2006 started for me in Zürich with José Cura as Alfredo Germont in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA on March 22. I loved it. The day after I saw Donizetti's LA FAVORITE with Vesselina Kasarova as Leonor de Guzman. And then there were two performances of Verdi's STIFFELIO (March 24, 26) both with José Cura as Stiffelio.

In late April it was Jenufa with Agnes Baltsa and Turandot with José Cura. Jenufa was in Vienna, Turandot in Zürich. Both great performances that I am grateful for.

In June I traveled to Hungary for the Miskolc Opera Festival. I saw Cav/Pag on June 24. On June 25th came the event for me Verismo Gala with Agnes Baltsa, Paolo Gavanello, Miro Dvorsky and Natasa Katai. Loved it, I even was at the after-concert party. I saw Eva Marton in Miskolc. Then it was time to travel to Vienna for Werther with Marcus Haddock as Werther on June 26. It was OK. With Marcelo Alvarez it would have been better but I have the DVD so I am OK. I was lucky to get a ticket for Italiana in Algeri with Agnes Baltsa who replace Olga Borodina. When I heard that Agnes Baltsa was going to sing I got the ticket as fast as possible and rearranged my travel plans for June.

July was also great. This time Cav/Pag with José Cura as Turriddu and Canio in Arena di Verona on July 14. On July 15 it was Tosca with Marcelo Alvarez, Fiorenza Cedolins and Ruggero Raimondi. Superb! And it is on DVD. Lovely!

September meant that José Cura was Dick Johnson in Puccini's LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST. And I saw it on September 24. It was not my favorite production but not he worst. The day before we celebrated 10 years of Jose Cura Connexion. Cura was there. I sat on the same table as he did. I only wished I had been a member from the beginning.

On October 20th I saw Samson et Dalila in Bergen, Norway. It was interesting...

On November 25th I saw Don Carlo with José Cura in Zurich. Loved it, naturally.

Then it was finally December. Agnes Baltsa sang an Opera Concert in Munich on December 15th, then it was Werther with Marcelo Alvarez on December 16th (also in Munich), DON CARLO in Vienna with José Cura on December 18th, and on December 19th Opera Concert with Agnes Baltsa in Vienna. What can I say? Was it my best opera year, or what?

I am speechless. Two wonderful performances of STIFFELIO and two different productions of DON CARLO in two different cities. Two wonderful concerts with Agnes Baltsa, she was wonderful as Küsterin in Jenufa and Isabella in L'Italiana d'Algeri. Cura was great as Alfredo Germont, Stiffelio, Calaf, Turriddu, Canio and Don Carlo. I saw Marcelo Alvarez as Mario Cavaradossi and Werther, his best roles.


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

Home again

My travel to Berlin went well. No hassle in the air. Jose Cura and Maria Guleghina both sang (Turandot, May 13th 2010). The production was shit. But the singing was glorious. A big bravo not only for the soloists but for Deutsche Oper Berlin's Chorus and Orchestra.

The only hassle was on May 17th, National Day of Norway. My airport bus just only made it through Jessheim which was celebrating hard.

Wednesday May 12th: I work half day and take the airport bus to the airport. And after a short flight I am in Oslo Gardermoen Airport a little less a 3 hours before my flight to Berlin. I save money on the plane since the stewardess forgets to ask if I want to buy some food or something to drink. I use the next hour fuming about being overlooked. Question: was it I or the stewardess who destroyed the last hour of my flight?

I arrived in Berlin Schönefeld Airport on time. My luggage is number 118 (or something). So I had to wait a long time for my luggage, yes. But I have a hotel waiting so no stress. I take the train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof where I find my hotel Meininger. The hotel was good enough. Great bed, big pillows, nice shower (I didn't try it). The stay is 59 Euro pr night. And I am staying 2 nights. If I decided to eat breakfast at the hotel that will be 5,50 Euro pr person pr breakfast. So instead I was a regular at Pizza Hut in Hauptbahnhof. They have good Pizzas and great Salads.

On May 13th, 2010 I sleep a long time. Or rather I wake up but decides to sleep again and again. It is Ascension Day so not all shops are open. Some are open but have limited what they can sell. I collected my tickets early in the day, eats a Pizza piece at a Pizza Hut at Zoologischer Garten (train station) before the opera and after the opera. Great!

After a "miserable" production of Turandot it was great to greet Maria Guleghina (Turandot) and Jose Cura (Calaf). They both had some interesting things to say about this production. Guleghina was not finished with her two Turandots in Deutsche Oper Berlin (May 8, 13) for this season, any way. For Cura Turandot on May 13th was just the beginning, sadly he has to  sing also on May 23rd. Sadly because Jose Cura did not enjoy this production at all.

I have started to worry about Otello in Berlin. I have tickets for May 30th (Premiere) and June 13th. I hope that production is better but the photo that promotes this Otello makes me fear the worst. If that is not enough than there are ash clouds to be worried about.

May 14th, 2010: I am going back home so naturally I do not have a really good night sleep. This time I finally get to buy my Water Bottle and Boxer Chips. Unfortunately the chips are not really that good. I remembers my luggage but I forgot to count which number it was. Not that the numbers matters I just sometimes like to litter my blogs with times and numbers. Numbers often have the appearance of Facts but Letters could possibly just be a figment of your imagination.

Off to my parents' house. It is soon 17th of May which means that it is hard to sleep in the night due to all the cars which have too much sound equipment and too much sub-woof, what-ever.

National Day in Norway, May 17th 2010: I watched TV but I was really preparing to my flight back home.

And now I am home.

Until next time when I am going to Berlin again, I hope.

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

Turandot in Berlin on May 13th, 2010 (part 2)

Act 2: Ping, Pong and Pang is feeling sorry for themselves. They are slightly suicidal when their costumes are brought to them. Usual this is the light moment in Turandot. But in this production it was impossible for me to feel any sympathy for the 3 "ministers". The Emperor's balcony is filled up with officers and diplomats worthy as if any European Royal Family could be proud of. The Emperor is there trying to persuade Calaf to give up his quest. When Calaf refuses for the 3rd time then it is time for the Riddle scene. The aria In questa Reggia is drowned by the spectacle. Especially is the journalist/photographer annoying. Turandot's great aria has no unity in it as Maria Guleghina as Turandot has to accept the presence of the press and so cannot give full attention to the moving story of her ancestor. This aria is showing the whole motivation behind Turandot's actions but the director butchered it. But as the Riddle Scene starts finally we are brought to understand and enjoy the interaction between Calaf and Turandot. For the first time this is not played out as a crowd moment but as an intimate encounter. Reading the director's comments in the program I find out that his idea is that this is really a Love Duet. And that Turandot is in reality falling in love with Calaf as they sit down. This exciting idea is not being realized in the scene. Still Maria Guleghina and Jose Cura is really exciting in this duet. Calaf wins by guessing the right answer to the 3 riddles. The Emperor loves his new son-in-law and Turandot is given her wedding gown. She rejects it, of course. Sadly the director has decided to make Turandot, the Princess, into a whiny girl when she rejects the wedding plans. The Emperor and Calaf ignores Turandot. Calaf is the celebrity du jour and the crowd wants him. Finally he sees Turandot and in a way to save her embarrassment/win her over completely he challenges her with a riddle of his own. "Tell me my name, and by dawn I will die".


Act 3 is the act where nothing can go wrong. But the director decide to put a film about a boy and a girl who can't sleep and walk about fearfully in a palace. That is what is happening when Jose Cura sings Nessun dorma. The film is just a distraction from a wonderful rendition of Nessun dorma. Instead of a film the director could have made something out of having Turandot sleeping in her white dress onstage as Calaf sings Nobody shall sleep. Another opportunity lost for the director and the opera. Then Ping, Pong and Pang again tries to persuade Calaf to give in. It is only natural since Turandot has decreed that nobody shall sleep until the name of the stranger is found, death will be the reward for the people if they don't comply. In wanders Timur and now they are going to pry the name out of his mouth (torture). Turandot sleeps with her dagger, threatens Ping and then assumes her usual composure to order torture of the old man. Liu steps in defending Timur: She is the one with the Name. Of course, Calaf doesn't understand and threatens Liu. Another lost opportunity for the director was to give more insight into Turandot's mind when meeting Liu and her sacrificial love. Liu is tortured while singing Tu che in gel sei cinta. Liu kills herself with the executioner's knife. Incredible that she could just take the knife from him and incredible that she could have the strength to kill herself since a finger has been cut from each hand (that is my intepretation of the torture). One of the ministers, Pong?, hangs her dead body up. Timur cries up when he understands that Liu is dead. As Liu hangs suspended in the air, Timur sits down and take up his bottle and drinks. Traditionally Turandot and Calaf is alone when they sing the final duet. It is hard for me to find what to say about this duet because the singing/acting is simply glorious. Calaf tells Turandot her name and she proclaims she knows his name. The Emperor is there. Ping, Pong and Pang are dressed as Calaf, Turandot and priest making a mock wedding. Emperor gives Calaf a rich crown. Turandot hides her dagger, smiles to her father and stabs him. Calaf takes the dagger, goes over to his father and stabs him. Turandot sees Ping, Pong and Pang doing their mockery and Calaf gallantly walks up the stairs and stabs them. It is happy ending for Turandot and Calaf. They really loves each other.

Actually the father murders made sense.

BRAVO, Jose Cura!
BRAVA, Maria Guleghina!
Director, learn your craft...

Turandot in Berlin on May 13th, 2010 (part 1)

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