Anna Netrebko returns as Micaela to the Wiener Staatsoper

On Monday 3. May 2010, Anna Netrebko will be at the Wiener Staatsoper to sing the role of Micaela in the Franco Zeffirelli's production of Georges Bizet's "Carmen".

This is a wonderful role that Anna Netrebko sang at the beginning of her career, but that she has not been singing anymore in the last ten years. Our Anna Netrebko Performances Database includes four documented performances (venue, date, cast, production, conductor) in which she sang the role of Micaela, but probably she sang the role more times with the Mariinsky Theater.

The first documented performance we have is a "Carmen" performed during a Mariinsky Theater Tour to Japan in 1996. The performance was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo on 14. November 1996. Marianna Tarassova was Carmen, Vladimir Grishko was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Alexander Morozov was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev was conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 14. Nov 1996 – Marianna Tarassova (Carmen), Vladimir Grishko (Don José), Anna Netrebkoº (Micaela), Alexander Morozov (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Susanna Martirosian (Mercedes), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), Yuri Shkliar (Zúñiga), Aik Martirosian (Gipsy Boy); Eric Vigie (Director), Suginami Children’s Choir, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The second and third documented performances of "Carmen" we have were performed in 1997, one at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and the other one at the Wooden Church in Mikkeli. In St. Petersburg the title role was sung by Elena Obraztsova an it was her last performance as Carmen on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. Viktor Lutsyuk was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Alexander Morozov was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 1997 – Elena Obraztsova (Carmen), Viktor Lutsyuk (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Alexander Morozov (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Maria Gorzevskaya (Mercedes), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), NN (Zúñiga), NN (Gipsy Boy); Eric Vigie (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The thid performance was held at the Wooden Church of Mikkeli on 6. July 1997. On this occasion Olga Borodina was Carmen,  Yuri Marusin was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Fyodor Mozhaev was Escamillo. Valery Gergiev conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater.

Carmen, Wooden Church, Mikkeli 6. Jul 1997 – Olga Borodina (Carmen), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Yuri Marusin (Don José), Fyodor Mozhaev (Escamillo), Olga Trifonova (Frasquita), Maria Gortsevskaya (Mercedes), Alexander Gergalov (Morales), Viacheslav Lukhanin (Zúñiga), Leonid Zakhozhaev (Remendado), Vladimir Samsonov (Dancairo); Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

The last documented performance we have is at the 8th Opera Music Festival in Sigulda on 5. August 2000. Marianna Tarassova was Carmen, Ingus Petersons was Don José, Anna Netrebko was Micaela and Egils Silins was Escamillo. Aleksandrs Vilumanis was the conductor.

Carmen, 8th Opera Music Festival, Sigulda 5. Aug 2000 – Marianna Tarassova (Carmen), Ingus Petersons (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Egils Silins (Escamillo), NN (Frasquita), NN (Mercedes), NN (Remendado), NN (Dancairo), NN (Morales), NN (Zúñiga), NN (Gipsy Boy); Alexej Stepanjuk (Director), Aleksandrs Vilumanis

Since then, as far as we know, Anna Netrebko has been occassionally singing the Micaela's aria of Act III, "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante", in a few concert performances, but she has not been singing the role in a full performance of the opera.

Therefore, those upcoming five performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, starting on 3. May and lasting till 15. May, will be a great opportunity to see Anna Netrebko back on the stage as Micaela, ten years after her performance at the Opera Music Festival in Sigulda. The cast for those performances will be led by Nadia Krasteva (replacing Elina Garanca) as Carmen, Massimo Giordano (replacing Rolando Villazón) as Don José, Anna Netrebko as Micaela and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo. Andris Nelsons (replacing Mariss Jansons) conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper.

All the performaces will be broadcast live on big screens located at the Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz within the "Wiener Staatsoper für alle" program. Furthermore, the performance on 6. May will be broadcast on ORF2 and BR TV and the performance on 15. May will be broadcast live by Ö1 radio.

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 3. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Adrian Eröd (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsonsº [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 6. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Adrian Eröd (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle|Broadcast ORF2/BR]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 9. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 12. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle]

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. Mai 2010 – Nadia Krasteva (Carmen), Massimo Giordano (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), Anita Hartig (Frasquita), Zoryana Kushpler (Mercedes), Alexandru Moisiuc (Zúñiga), Boaz Daniel (Morales), Herwig Pecoraro (Remendado), Tae Joong Yang (Dancaire); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Andris Nelsons [Wiener Staatsoper für alle|Broadcast live by Ö1]

Anna Netrebko and Massimo Giordano have started the rehearsals at the Wiener Staatsoper some days ago. An interesting interview to Massimo Giordano was published on oe24.at on 27. April 2010. Talking about Anna, Massimo says: "Anna has not only a great voice, but as a human being is also unusual: no diva, very modest. She has a very special energy that she shares with her respective stage partners. We will also work together in the future".