We are approaching the end of the first decade of the new century. I have prepared a list of what I could pick as the top-10 Anna Netrebko's performances of the decade. It has not been an easy task. Some of them are a clear choice for me, some others could be at a different position in the rank and there are others left, such as the performances of Manon in Los Angeles, Wien and Berlin, Don Giovanni in London, La Bohème in New York and Munich, which could have been added... but here it is my choice. Let us know what do you think and which would be yours.
- La Traviata, Salzburger Festspiele, Salzburg, Aug 2005 - Anna Netrebko (Violetta Valéry), Rolando Villazón (Alfredo Germont), Thomas Hampson (Giorgio Germont); Wiener Philharmoniker, Carlo Rizzi
- La Bohème, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, 3. Jan 2006 - Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Rolando Villazón (Rodolfo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev
- War and Peace, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, Feb-Mar 2002 - Anna Netrebko (Natasha Rostova), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Prince Andrei Bolkonsky); Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Valery Gergiev
- Don Giovanni, Salzburger Festspiele, Salzburg, Aug 2002 - Anna Netrebko (Donna Anna), Thomas Hampson (Don Giovanni), Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (Leporello); Wiener Philharmoniker, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
- La Traviata, Royal Opera House, London, Jan 2008 - Anna Netrebko (Violetta Valery), Jonas Kaufmann (Alfredo Germont), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Giorgio Germont); Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Maurizio Benini
- Roméo et Juliette, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien, May 2006 - Anna Netrebko (Juliette), Rolando Villazón (Roméo); Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Bertrand de Billy
- L'Elisir d'Amore, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien, Apr 2005 - Anna Netrebko (Adina), Rolando Villazón (Nemorino), Leo Nucci (Belcore), Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (Dulcamara); Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Alfred Eschwé
- Das Waldbühnenkonzert, Waldbühne, Berlin 7. Jul 2006 – Plácido Domingo (Tenor), Anna Netrebko (Soprano) und Rolando Villazón (Tenor); Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Marco Armiliato
- Iolanta, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, Jul 2009 - Anna Netrebko (Iolanta), Piotr Beczala (Vaudemont); Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev
- Liederabend, Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburger Festspiele, Salzburg 17. Aug 2009 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano); Daniel Barenboim (Piano)
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Well, I would definitely put her Giulietta from I Capuleti (Paris - Bastille 2008) in the top five !
ReplyDeleteA pesar de que hay alguna cosita que no he visto, me parece muy buena tu clasificación. Aprovecho para desearte que el año 2010 puedas disfrutar de muchas actuaciones y éxitos de Anna.
ReplyDelete¡Feliz Navidad!
Hehehe... yeah, AL... I knew that you would say that... well, that you would include those Capuleti... As I said, it's not easy to pick just ten...
ReplyDeleteMaking the choice I have included those that have played a key role in her career in terms of impact, such as La Traviata from Salzburg, War and Peace from NY, Don Giovanni from Salzburg. La Traviata from London was her first big success at the ROH and it was an outstanding performance, in particular the one that I was lucky enough to attend.
La Bohème at the Mariinsky was a very special performance in which both Anna and Rolando were at their very best, with an amazing chemistry between them. Furthermore as I said it was a very special performance because it was Anna's first Mimi, Roalndo's debut at the Mariinsky and Gergiev's first time conducting La Bohème.
The performances of Anna and Rolando along 2005 and 2006 were spectacular. Among those L'Elisir d'Amore and Roméo et Juliette in Wien.
The Iolanta in Baden-Baden was Anna's role debut. A fantastic performance in a role very well suited for her.
The concert at the Waldbuhne was unforgettable with Anna, Rolando and Plácido.
The Liederabend in Salzburg spectacular.
Other top performances of Anna were as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in London with Erwin singing the title role, I Capuleti e I Montecchi in Paris and London, Le Nozze di Figaro in Salzburg,... many more indeed! ;)
Regrettably I haven't seen most of these, although I would certainly think that the Met War and Peace and Salzburg Don Giovanni (seen in both 2002 and 2003 - slightly better the first year - I believe she was sick in the latter run) would be among her very best. I would also not her excellent Met Zerlina.
ReplyDeleteAs luck would have it, I was in Japan on business during the Met tour in 2006 and was fortunate enough to get tickets to a couple of the Don G performances where her Donna Anna was even better than previously at Salzburg.
You were really lucky to be able to attend one of the 2006 Met Japan Tour... Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any recording of those performances, but the cast, including Erwin and René Pape, was glorious...
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't it possible to put 15 or 20 items in a top-10-list? ;-)) From a personal point of view I would definitely squeeze in Anna's MANON in Berlin (2007) and her Giulietta from I CAPULETI in Paris (2008) AND in London (2009). Make it a top-13-list, please! ;-))
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Herbert
It would be fantastic if a recording of the Tokyo Don G. were to surface and, indeed it would make sense to release a commercial DVD and/or CD - it would certainly sell. The names more than lived up to the billing and this was overall the best Don G I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteAnna was just about as good I've heard her. The other female principals (common to the Salzburg 2002 production) were on superb form. Pape, a favorite singer, had actually been something of a disappointment as Leporello in earlier experiences but was particularly good here. In this company Ervin was somewhat bellow the tremendous level of the other pirincipals and was on balance somewhat better at the Met last year. By any absolute standard, however he was excellent. Moreover, there was a real chemistry and sense of occasion.
Again, it would be highly desirable for a recording to come about and if I were making decisions at DG (or whoever else might be responsible - although there may of course be contactual constrains) I would make sure this was commercially available.
@marcillac: I have been unsuccesfully trying to get some recording of that Met Tour to Japan... if anybody has a recording, please send me a private mail...
ReplyDelete@klassikfan: Yes... ;))) It would be great to include 13 or 15 items on the top-10 list... ;))
How about some American performances? Manon and Romeo and Juliet in LA, for instance. I think all are agreed on #1.
ReplyDelete