Roméo et Juliette from the MET, Broadcast in HDTV starting 6. April 2008

The Metropolitan Opera's live high-definition satellite transmissions will be seen on public television in a fourteen-part series, beginning on March 30. Great Performances at the Met, presented by Thirteen/WNET New York, will feature the broadcast premieres of all eight presentations from the 2007-08 season of "The Met: Live in HD," as well as the six shows from the 2006-07 season. The series will air every Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m./EST for 14 weeks in selected public television markets. In New York, the programs will be a part of Thirteen/WNET's new SundayArts programming showcase.

Broadcast premiere of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette on Great Performances at the Met, starring Anna Netrebko, Roberto Alagna, Isabel Leonard and Nathan Gunn with Plácido Domingo conducting, is schedule on 6. April 2008. This performance was live broadcasted to select theaters over the world on 15. December 2007.

Bellini's I Puritani performance on 6. January 2007, live broadcasted last season of Great Performances at the Met, will be broadcasted as an encore on 4. May. Now in its second year, "The Met: Live in HD" is presented in more than 600 theaters in 15 different countries and, so far this season, have been seen by nearly 650,000 people around the world who have joined together to experience the excitement and drama of live opera in movie theaters. The transmissions are produced by leading television and film directors. Mobile cameras capture the spectacle of the live performances and provide a front-row perspective. The viewing experience is enhanced by backstage coverage, including live interviews with the artists. Also presented on Thirteen HD, the television broadcasts are presented in their original high definition format, with Dolby 5.1 digital Surround Sound.

GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: "Roméo et Juliette" Broadcast in HD starting April 6, 2008 on PBS
Great Performances at the Met PBS Schedule, 28. March 2008

Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca and Erwin Schrott, Abu Dhabi 29. Mar 2008

Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca and Erwin Schrott with the Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater conducted Alexander Vedernikov performed in an Opera Gala held at the Emirates Palace Auditorium, Abu Dhabi on 29. March 2008, within the 5th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival (ADMAF).

The first part of the Gala was devoted to W.A. Mozart and began with the Overture of Le Nozze di Figaro. Then Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca made their appearance on the stage to sing the duet "Ah perdona il primo affetto", followed by Erwin Schrott's first appearance to sing "Madamina, il catalogo e questo" from Don Giovanni. This was followed by Elina Garanca singing an excerpt from La Clemenza di Tito and Anna Netrebko singing "D'Oreste d'Aiace" from Idomeneo. After a March from Idomeneo, the three stars returned to the stage to sing "Soave sia il vento" from Cosi fan Tutte.



The Overture from Verdi's La Forza del Destino opened the second part of the Gala, followed by Erwin Schrott singing an aria from Verdi's Machbet. Anna Netrebko returned to the stage to sing Bellini's Casta Diva from Norma followed by Elina Garanca to sing "Nacqui all affanno" from Rossini's La Cenerentola. After an orchestral piece of Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims, the gala ended with a spanish flavour provided by Anna Netrebko singing "Les Filles de Cadiz" from Delibes, Erwin Schrott singing the Toreador from Gounod's Carmen and Elina Garanca singing La Chanson Bohèmienne also from Carmen. After a long and enthusiastic standing ovation, the artists graced the audiende singing "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni as an encore.

The sixth evening of the 5th Abu Music and Arts Festival, Zawya, 30. March 2008
Thanks to Heather for the information

Live report from the Abu Dhabi Concert Gala with Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca and Erwin Schrott
Written by Attila Kulcsar

I was lucky enough to be at the truly spectacular Emirates Palace Hotel for the concert which took place in the hotel's 1200 seat auditorium just a couple of days after the Bolshoi Ballet's wonderfully confident and enthusiastic Swan Lake.

The first half of the concert was all Mozart - a little disappointing for many of her fans - and in truth I think it served only as a nice warm up, especially for Anna. In the first duet from La Clemenza with Elina, Anna looked pale and unsure of herself as if suffering from nerves. She kept looking into the audience of local Emiratis and European expats as if looking for familiar faces. Certainly next to Elina who was cool and stentorian as usual, Anna seemed particularly unsettled. Both women in shoulderless beige or brown dresses, Anna's not suiting her as much as the later red gown that's shown in the photograph of the final curtain call. At the beginning of the duet, Anna sounded vocally uncertain, but by the last few phrases the bloom of the voice was beginning to rise up into the head. Erwin's first appearance singing "Madamina..." was by contrast supremely confident. He certainly raised the temperature of the auditorium - especially among many of the female members. The voice very attractive, but I wondered if he relied if a little too much on personality rather than refined technique. Elina then followed with another piece from Clemenza - "Parto, parto." - which was well sung but left me cold. Anna returned with her first solo aria of the evening - "D'Oreste d'Aiace" from Idomeneo. Her tone was stunning, the best I have heard her sing and the portrayal was full of venom, but I felt she didn't really connect with the audience and the cackles of evil hysterivcal laughter that end the aria echoed somewhat hollowly. After an unecessary orchestral interlude from Idomeneo, the three singers presented the trio, "Soave sia il vento," from Cosi fan tutte. This seemed to be the opportunity that Anna had been waiting for to step up to the level of her colleagues and surpass them. She seemed to gain the necessary confidence from their support and her beautiful tone floated above their efforts, never pushed, and at times she sang in what seemd half reverie, half ecstacy.

The second half was really something else. After a rousing Forza del Destino aria, Erwin followed with a not unimpressive but maybe a little uninteresting Macbeth aria. Anna then walked on stage looking spectacular. Dripping with diamonds in a stunning red silk gown that really made her look radiant, dispelling the slightly sick pallour she had begun the evening with. Revealing a slight pregnancy bump, she turned to the conductor for reassurance as he began the opening bars of Casta Diva, and she remained motionless without facing the audience as if waiting for divine inspiration. When she finally turned to face us, the reverie had returned and she sang with a fluidity of tone I had not heard from her before. The voice soared effortlessly, the tone never pushed or catching in the throat. The trills and runs were still not those of Callas, but the ease and transfiguration were total. She finished the aria looking possessed, like a shaman in contact with another world. Anyone who has seen the DVD of the 2007 Gala from Baden-Baden will be pleased to hear that this Casta Diva was something very different, in everyway better and in itself made it worth the effort and expense for all those attending the Abu Dhabi concert. She didn't sing the cabaletta as she did in Baden-Baden, but the audience was satisfied. After an unconvincing Cenerentola aria from Elina (but again, much better than the same aria sang at Baden-Baden), Anna returned with the playful "Les Filles de Cadiz" - the high priestess was replaced with a kitten that held the audience in the centre of its paw. At the Barbican in 2006 I found this bravura piece impressive, but this time it was the total effortlessness and total indentification with the piece that were breathtaking. Again, the voice was never forced or squeezed up, and the high notes especially were full of bloom and ecstacy. Nothing after that mattered. Erwin and Elina followed with rather hollow pieces from Carmen, and when all three returned to the stage to take their final bows the audience rose in a standing ovation. For some time there seemed no possibility of an encore, despite the shouts and cheers and demands for more. Eventually, Anna and Erwin came on - later followed by Elina - in a playful rendition of "La ci darem la mano" which was full of wit - especially when Anna dragged off the conductor before the end of the piece, leaving the orchestra to continue on their own. But there was no final spectacular aria from Anna to seal the evening, which certainly left the audience wanting more. But with the impact of Casta Diva very much engraved in people's minds and souls, no one could say they went home unsatisfied.

I myself felt the concert marked a new stage for Anna, a purer tone, a more sublime and less physically bound approach to singing. The confidence that was missing at the beginning became supreme by the end, and when I replayed the Baden-Baden DVD I felt I had been lucky enough to see a completely different singer here in Abu Dhabi.

Thanks to Attila for writing this report for the blog

Move over, Edinburgh, Abu Dhabi wants its arts festival to be the envy of the world
Updated on 4. April 2008

How to get standing room tickets at the WSO

The blogger Mostly Opera has written a very interesting and detailed post, including pictures, describing the locations, explaining the procedure and giving useful tips to be able to get standing room tickets at the Wiener Staatsoper. Useful information and tips for the upcoming Anna performances in Wien. Recommended.

DVD release - Manon, Berlin 2007

A video recording of Manon at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin on 29. April 2007, with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in the leading roles and Daniel Barenboim conducting, will be released as a DVD by DG in June 2008.

JULES MASSENET
Manon (Gesamtaufnahme · Complete)
Anna Netrebko · Rolando Villazón
Alfredo Daza · Christof Fischesser
Staatskapelle Berlin Daniel Barenboim
Directed by Vincent Paterson
2 DVD-VIDEO NTSC 073 4431 GH 2 STEREO: PCM / SURROUND: DTS 5.1 · Picture Format: 16:9Subtitles: French/German/English/Spanish/Chinese
A production of UNITEL, Munich
Release: Jun. 2008
2 DVD-Videos

Thanks to Gary for the information

DVD release - A Mozart Gala from Salzburg

The Mozart Gala held on 30. July 2006 in Salzburg will be released as a DVD by DG in June 2008. Anna sings the aria "D'Oreste, D'Aiace" from Idomeneo.

A MOZART GALA FROM SALZBURG
Anna Netrebko · Magdalena Kožená
Patricia Petibon · Ekaterina Siurina
Michael Schade · Thomas Hampson · René Pape
Wiener Philharmoniker Daniel Harding
Directed by Brian Large
DVD-VIDEO NTSC 073 4430 GH STEREO: PCM / SURROUND: DTS 5.1 Picture Format: 16:9 · Filmed in High Definition
Subtitles: Italian/German/English/French/Spanish/Chinese
A production of UNITEL, Munich

A MOZART GALA FROM SALZBURG
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor Daniel Harding
Orchestra Wiener Philharmoniker
Soloists Anna Netrebko, Magdalena Kožená, Ekaterina Siurina, Patricia Petibon, Thomas Hampson, René Pape, Michael Schade
Directed by Brian Large

Don Giovanni · Overture
·"Madamina, il catalogo è questo" (René Pape)
·"Dalla sua pace" (Michael Schade)

Mitridate, Re di Ponto
·"Nel grave tormento" (Patricia Petibon)

La clemenza di Tito
·"Se all‘impero, amici Dei" (Michael Schade)
·"Parto, ma tu ben mio" (Magdalena Kožená)

Così fan tutte ·"Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo" (Thomas Hampson)

Idomeneo · Overture
·"Se il padre perdei" (Ekaterina Siurina)
·"S‘io non moro a questi accenti" (Magdalena Kožená, Ekaterina Siurina)
·"D‘Oreste, d‘Aiace" (Anna Netrebko)

Symphony in D major K. 504 "Prague"

Recorded at the Felsenreitschule Salzburg

Total length 93'

A co-production of ORF, Thirteen/WNET New York
NHK and Unitel Classica
in co-operation with Salzburg Festival

Thanks to Gary for the information

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper 2010 with Elina Garanca, Rolando Villazón and Anna Netrebko

A Bizet's Carmen with Elina Garanca in the title role, Rolando Villazón as Don José and Anna Netrebko as Micaela, would be sheduled in 2010 at the Wiener Staatsoper conducted by Mariss Jansons. Ildebrando d'Arcangelo could sing the role of Escamillo.

KLASSIK: Shootingstar Elina Garanca aus Lettland singt solo in der Laeiszhalle, Hamburger Abendblatt 24. March 2008
Garanca - Die Opernwelt hat eine neue, ideale Carmen, Oe24.at 24. March 2008
Die Netrebko im Großeinsatz, Madonna24.at

News Magazin

Thanks to blog visitor Humble Novice for the information

Film version of Carmen with Elina Garanca, Rolando Villazón and Anna Netrebko

Robert Dornhelm, director of the movie version of Puccini's La Bohème with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in the leading roles, said that he had never imagined how strong and intensely the interplay performance of Anna and Rolando could be. The film will be presented at the Film Festival of Cannes this year.

After such a great experience, Dornhelm is currently planning the filming of a movie version of Bizet's Carmen with Elina Garanca, Rolando Villazón and Anna Netrebko in the leading roles. Dornhelm did not give a name for Escamillo. Let me suggest one. What about Dmitri Hvorostovsky?

„Die Emotion ist der Motor“, OÖ Nachrichten 21. March 2008

Thanks to blog visitor Rock in the Pond for the information

Anna Netrebko at the ROH 2008-2009 Season

The ROH has announced the new 2008-2009 season. As expected, Elina Garanca and Anna Netrebko will sing the lead roles of Romeo and Giulietta of Bellini's I Capuleti e I Montecchi on 2, 5, 7, 30 March, 2, 7, 11 April 2009.

The production is a revival of the production created by Pier Luigi Pizzi in 1984, which was subsequently revived in 1985, 1992 and 2001, now returning to Covent Garden for the 2008-2009 season, once again directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi. This revival is conducted by Mark Elder.

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko sings the role of Giulietta for the first time at the Royal Opera House. She has previously sung the role at the Salzburger Festspiele in 2004 and at the Philadelphia Opera in 2002. Anna made her debut at the Royal Opera as Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito in 2002, and has subsequently returned to Covent Garden to sing Gilda in Rigoletto in 2005, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2007 and Violetta in La Traviata in 2008.

Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca sings the role of Romeo for the first time in a staged production. She has previously sung the role in concert version in Riga and Wien.

Italian bass Giovanni Batista Parodi sings the role of Lorenzo, Argentinian tenor Darío Schmunck sings the role of Tebaldo for the first time and American bass-baritone Eric Owens sings the role of Capellio.

Royal Opera House 2008-2009 Season - Press Release

Royal Opera House 2008-2009 Season - Further Press Information

Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007

On 30. May 2007 Anna Netrebko made her debut at the Carnegie Hall, New York, in a concert performance with Dmitri Hvorostosky. Asher Fisch was conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Here they are some exclusive photos of the performance.







Programme
Anna Netrebko, soprano
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
Orchestra of St. Luke's
Asher Fish, conductor

Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007

1. PART
ROSSINI: Overture to La gazza ladra
GOUNOD: "Je veux vivre" from Roméo et Juliette
BIZET: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" from Carmen
DONIZETTI: "Regnava nel silenzio" from Lucia di Lammermoor
VERDI: "Credo in un Dio crudel" from Otello
LEONCAVALLO: "Nedda! Silvio, a quest'ora" from Pagliacci

Anna Netrebko on stage during the first part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko on stage during the first part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Dmitri Hvorostovsky on stage during the first part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko on stage during the first part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on stage during the first part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

2. PART
DVOŘÁK: "Song to the Moon" from Rusalka
BORODIN: Igor's Aria from Prince Igor
TCHAIKOVSKY: Waltz from Eugene Onegin
RACHMANINOFF: "Oh, Do Not Sing to Me, Fair Maiden"
TCHAIKOVSKY: Yeletsky's Aria from Pique Dame
TCHAIKOVSKY: Closing Duet from Eugene Onegin

Encores
LEHÁR: "Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss" from Giuditta
TRADITIONAL: "Ochi chornyje" ("Dark Eyes")
MOZART: "La ci darem la mano" from Don Giovanni

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on stage during the second part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko on stage during the second part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on stage during the second part of the concert at the Carnegie Hall, New York 30. May 2007. Photo: Lin

Videoclips

La Bohème DGG 2CDs will be released in Germany on 9. May 2008

The new DGG 2CDs recording of Puccini's La Bohème, with Anna Netrebko as Mimi, Rolando Villazón as Rodolfo, Nicole Cabell as Musetta, Boaz Daniel as Marcello, Stéphane Dégout as Schaunard, Vitalij Kowaljow as Colline and Bertrand de Billy conducting the Symphonieorchester und Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, will be released in Germany on 9. May 2008.

Advanced orders can be placed at JPC at a reduced promotional release price.

Jeffrey D. Vanderveen quits IMG Artists

Jeffrey D. Vanderveen, has resigned as Senior Vice President and Director of the Vocal Division in Europe at IMG Artists. IMG Artists manages Anna Netrebko among others top rank opera singers such as Renée Fleming, Karita Mattila, Ana María Martinez, Elina Garanca, Rolando Villazón, Joseph Calleja, Thomas Hampson, Paolo Gavanelli, René Pape or Samuel Ramey.

IMG Artists Cancels China Philharmonic Tour; Key Executive Resigns

Broken IMG, Parterre Box Presents La Cieca

Universal adapter, Parterre Box Presents La Cieca

Anna Netrebko at the MET 2008-2009 Season

The MET 2008-2009 Season, the 125th Anniversary Season, has been announced on the MET website.

Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Mimi in La Bohème at the MET 2008-2009 season. Anna Netrebko will be joined by Ramón Vargas as Rodolfo, Susanna Phillips making her debut as Musetta, Mariusz Kwiecien as Marcello, Tommi Hakala as Schaunard, Oren Gradus as Colline and Paul Plishka as Benoit/Alcindoro. Frédéric Chaslin will be the conductor.

La Bohème, MET, New York 29. Dec 2008 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Ramón Vargas (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Tommi Hakala (Schaunard), Oren Gradus (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Frédéric Chaslin

La Bohème, MET, New York 3. Jan 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Ramón Vargas (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Tommi Hakala (Schaunard), Oren Gradus (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Frédéric Chaslin

La Bohème, MET, New York 6. Jan 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Ramón Vargas (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Tommi Hakala (Schaunard), Oren Gradus (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Frédéric Chaslin

La Bohème, MET, New York 10. Jan 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Ramón Vargas (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Tommi Hakala (Schaunard), Oren Gradus (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Frédéric Chaslin

Anna Netrebko, making her role debut at the MET, will sing the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor at the MET 2008-2009 season. The production, a revival of director Mary Zimmerman’s new staging that opened the 2007-2008 season, also features Rolando Villazón as Lucia’s lover Edgardo, in his MET role debut, Mariusz Kwiecien as her brother Enrico and Ildar Abdrazakov adding the role of Raimondo to his MET repertory. Marco Armiliato will be the conductor.

Lucia di Lammermoor, MET, New York 26. Jan 2009 – Anna Netrebkoª (Lucia), Rolando Villazón (Edgardo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato

Lucia di Lammermoor, MET, New York 29. Jan 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Lucia), Rolando Villazón (Edgardo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato

Lucia di Lammermoor, MET, New York 3. Feb 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Lucia), Rolando Villazón (Edgardo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato

Lucia di Lammermoor, MET, New York 7. Feb 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Lucia), Rolando Villazón (Edgardo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato