I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien 22. April 2008

Minutes of standing ovations after the first of the run of the three scheduled performances of I Capuleti e I Montecchi at the Wiener Konzerthaus in Wien on 22. April 2008 with a de-luxe cast leaded by Elina Garanca and Anna Netrebko in the title roles, Joseph Calleja as Tebaldo, Robert Gleadow as Lorenzo and Tiziano Bracci as Capellio. The Wiener Symphoniker Orchester und Wiener Singakademie Chor was conducted by Fabio Luisi.

The Austrian radio station Ö1 will broadcast this concert performance of I Capuleti e I Montecchi on 3. May 2008 at 19:30. Deutsche Grammophon is planning to release in 2009 a CD with the live recording of these concert form performances.

Garanca und Netrebko als Romeo und Julia, Wien Orf.at, 23. April 2008

Netrebko und Garanca im Konzerthaus, Oe1 Orf.at, 23. April 2008

Hochspannung und große Erleichterung, Karl Löbl, Oe24.at, 23. April 2008

Thanks to Georg for the information

MET HD-LIVE 2008-2009

The Metropolitan Opera Announces Expansion of Live, High-Definition Transmissions to Eleven in 2008-09. A live HD transmission of Lucia di Lammermoor with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón is scheduled on Saturday 7. February 2009.

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 (MET HD-LIVE)

Opera Gala Concert, Concert Hall, St. Petersburg 1. May 2008 - Anna Netrebko

Anna Netrebko will sing in an Opera Gala Performance at the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theater on 1. May 2008. The concert programme includes works by Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra.

Updated on 1. May 2008 00:05
Anna Netrebko has cancelled the Opera Gala Concert due to illness

DG Microsite for La Bohème has been launched

Deutsche Grammophone has created the microsite for the new 2CDs release of La Bohème, starring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón. The microsite includes insights on the recording, the track list, cast details, a picture galley, a multimedia gallery with 3 videoclips, an e-player and recording credits.

An all-in-one longer version of the 3 videoclips included in the DG microsite can be found at the Presto Classical web site.

Thanks to Rock in the Pond and Grrr for the info

Anna Netrebko at the VII Moscow Easter Festival

The VII Moscow Easter Festival will run from 27. April to 9. May 2008. World famous soloists such as Anna Netrebko (soprano), Olga Borodina (mezzo-soprano), Vladimir Galuzin (tenor), Olga Trifonova (soprano), Ulyana Lopatkina (prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater), Vadim Repin (violin), Lang Lang (piano), Yuri Bashmet (viola), Marie-Elisabeth Hecker (cello), as well as a number of outstanding orchestras and choral ensembles, including the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg), will participate in the Festival.

An Opera Gala Concert with Valery Gergiev conducting the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater and soloists Anna Netrebko (soprano), Olga Borodina (mezzo-soprano), Vladimir Galuzin (tenor), Vadim Repin (violin) and Yuri Bashmet (viola), will be held at the Grand Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory on 2. May 2008.
Tickets: Opera Gala Concert, Moscow State Conservatory, Grand Hall, Friday 2. May 2008 19:00

An Opera Gala Concert conducted by Kery-Lynn Wilson, with Anna Netrebko (soprano), Ruxandra Donose (mezzo-soprano) and Brad Cooper (tenor), will be held at the Grand Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory on 4. May 2008.
Tickets: Opera Gala Concert, Moscow State Conservatory, Grand Hall, Sunday 4. May 2008 19:00

An Opera Gala Concert with Anna Netrebko and Valery Gergiev conducting the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater will be held at the Grigory Ponomarenko Concert Hall of Krasnodar on 5. May 2008.

Radio Broadcast - Ö1 3. May 2008 - I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Wien 22. April 2008

The Austrian radio station Ö1 will broadcast on 3. May 2008 at 19:30, the performance of Bellini's "I Capuleti e I Montecchi" on 22. April 2008 at the Wiener Konzerthaus, with Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca in the leading roles.

Vincenzo Bellini: "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" Mit Anna Netrebko (Giulietta), Elina Garanca (Romeo), Joseph Calleja (Tebaldo), Robert Gleadow (Lorenzo) und Tiziano Bracci (Capellio). Wiener Singakademie; Wiener Symphoniker, Dirigent: Fabio Luisi (Aufgenommen am 22. April im Wiener Konzerthaus)

Thanks to Georg for the information

Anna Netrebko nominated for Classical BRIT Awards 2008

The BPI today announced the nominations for the ninth annual Classical BRIT Awards with NS&I. The launch, hosted by Myleene Klass and held at the MayFair Hotel, London, saw Jonathan Ansell, Blake and Lawrence Power perform to an invited audience of nominees and main show performers. The winners of the seven categories will be announced at The Classical BRIT Awards 2008 with NS&I on the 8 May at the Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony will be telecasted on ITV1 on Sunday 11. May 2008.

Anna Netrebko, winner of the Classical BRIT award last year in the category Singer of the Year, has been nominated again, now in the category Female of the Year. Netrebko will perform at the Classical BRIT Awards 2008 ceremony.

Commenting on her return to the Classical BRIT Awards, Anna Netrebko said, “I am thrilled to be returning to the Classical BRITs. It’s a wonderful occasion to meet the stars of the British classical music scene and a very beautiful event. I am also really looking forward to performing a piece from my new album, which will be released in the autumn, and hope that the audience will enjoy this!”

The Classical BRIT Awards 2008 - Classical BRITs Nominations Press Release, 8. April 2008

Anna Netrebko cancels tonight's Manon at WSO

Anna Netrebko has cancelled the tonight's performance of Manon at the Wiener Staatsoper. She is still scheduled for the two remaining performances on 12. and 15. April 2008. Tonight Netrebko has been substituted by Alexandra Reinprecht.

Thanks to Karen for the information

Manon, WSO 6. April 2008 - Anna Netrebko, Massimo Giordano

"Netrebko was all over the stage from the opening minutes, which saw her hopping up and down a waiting room bench to the literally "dying" moments, where she expires in the arms of her love — but only after one last desperately madcap pirouette recalling her high-octane life of pleasure that ends in remorse come too late."

"Netrebko was in her usual effortless control of the full range this opera demands — including the famous Gavotte that calls for hitting notes sandwiching high C. But her warm voice acquired an extra coating of honey, giving it an almost mezzo-like quality in the middle register.

Not that any of that hurt her in her depiction of a 16-year-old on her way to a convent until love catches up with her. Just like in previous performances, her voice fit the occasion — childlike, tender, passionate and supple in pitch, phrasing and expression.
And not only her voice reflected a transition from prim but flirtatious teenager, to young lover, to woman of the world and finally to a woman broken and dying in the arms of the man she truly loved. Even if she spoke instead of singing, Netrebko's acting qualities would be able to amply capture Manon's voyage from innocence through self-absorption to the final stop, introspection and death."
Netrebko fine in Massenet's 'Manon' (AP), George Jahn, Wien 6. April 2008

"Wären doch alle Aufführungen an der Wiener Staatsoper so hinreißend wie diese Manon am vergangenen Sonntag."
Eine Oper – sonst nichts, Peter Vujica, DER STANDARD/Printausgabe, 08.04.2008

Anna Netrebko - Opera Arias - Deluxe Edition

In September 2003 DG released the first CD of Anna Netrebko "Opera Arias". The DVD "Anna Netrebko - The Woman, The Voice", using some of the same audio recordings of the previously released CD with pop-like style videoclips, was realeased in May 2004.

Now DG announces the release in April 2008 of a Deluxe Edition of her best-selling debut CD "Opera Arias", including a bonus DVD containing five music videos from "The Woman - The Voice" plus a full-colour booklet. In fact, there are six tracks in the DVD, but the aria "Crudele!-Ah no, mio bene!" - "Non mi dir, bell'idol" from Donna Anna in Don Giovanni is twice. You do not believe me? This is not a joke. Take a look at the DG website.

I think that a commercial action such as the release of this Deluxe Edition is not a good idea. Something similar happened with the Deluxe Edition of "Duets" of Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón. On the other hand, there are several new Netrebko releases in the upcoming months. The CD of La Bohème will be released in May 2008 and two DVDs, Manon from Berlin UDL Staatsoper with Rolando Villazón and the concert Gala Mozart at 250 from Salzburg with various artists, will be released in June 2008. Furthermore, the DVD of the film version of La Bohème and a new CD will be realeased in a near future.

Therefore, with all these already announced new releases and the expected ones, why the release of a Deluxe Edition of "Opera Arias" collecting already released material?. If the Deluxe Edition includes a few unreleased videos, as it was the case for the "Duets", it can be even worst, as many people has already bought the first CD and it is not fair to have to buy the same CD again just to have the bonus DVD with a few videoclis. I hope that this will not be a rule for the upcoming DG Anna Netrebko's CDs.

Anna Netrebko in Lucia di Lammermoor and La Traviata at the WSO 2008-2009 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced the new 2008-2009 season.

On 14, 17, 21 and 24 March 2009 Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor. Giuseppe Filianoti and George Petean sing the roles of Edgardo and Enrico, respectively. The conductor is Marco Armiliato.

On 4, 7. and 11 May 2009 Anna Netrebko sings the role of Violetta Valéry in La Traviata. Joseph Calleja and Alberto Gazale sing the roles of Alfredo and Giorgio Germont, respectively. The conductor is again Marco Armiliato.

Anna Netrebko returns to the Wiener Staatsoper for Manon without Jonas Kaufmann

Anna Netrebko returns to the Wiener Staatsoper this sunday 6. April 2008 for a revival of Massenet's Manon. There will be only 4 performances, on 6., 9., 12. and 15. April. Jonas Kaufmann, which was initially scheduled to sing Le Chevalier des Grieux, has been replaced, at least in the first three performances, by Massimo Giordano. There is no name for this role at the WSO web site for the last performance. In any case, none of these performances appear on the schedule section of the Jonas Kaufmann official web site. Additional information can be found at the Jonas Kaufmann unofficial web site.
Updated 2. April 2008