2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 14. Nov 2010

The 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala was held at the Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York on 14. November 2010.

The invited artists who sang at the 2010 Richard Tucker Gala were Pavol Breslik, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Elina Garanca, Marcelo Giordani, Brandon Jovanovich, Simon Keenlyside, Angela Meade, Anna Netrebko, Lisette Oropesa, Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham and, the 2010 Richard Tucker Award Winner, James Valenti.

Marco Armiliato conducted the New York Choral Society and Membes of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Mike Silverman wrote for AP "Netrebko steals fundraising opera gala", pointing out that "Netrebko was in prime form" and "if you're taking part in one of those galas that feature a parade of singers, try to make sure you don't go on right after Anna Netrebko."

PROGRAMME
"E' la solita storia" from "L'Arlesiana" | James Valenti
"Carceleras" from "Las hijas del Zebedeo" | Elina Garanca
"Riez! Allez!" from "Don Quichotte" | Ferruccio Furlanetto
"Caro nome" from "Rigoletto" | Lisette Oropesa
"Vision fugitive" from "Herodiade" | Simon Keenlyside
"Una furtiva lagrima" fom "L'elisir d'amore" | Pavol Breslik
"Era desso il figlio mio" from "Lucrezia Borgia" | Angela Meade
"Nessun dorma" from "Turandot" | Marcello Giordani
"Heia in den Bergen" from "Die Csardasfurstin" | Anna Netrebko
"Freunde! Das Leben ist Lebenswert" from "Giuditta" | Brandon Jovanovich
"Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso" fom "La rondine" | Angela Meade, Lisette Oropesa, James Valenti, Paul Appleby
"Ombra mai fu" from "Serse" | Susan Graham
"Bella figlia dell'amore" from "Rigoletto" | Lisette Oropesa, Jennifer Johnson, James Valenti, Simon Keenlyside
"This nearly was mine" from "South Pacific" | Ferruccio Furlanetto
"Sola, perduta, abbandonata" from "Manon Lescaut" | Deborah Voigt
"Toi! Vous!" from "Manon" | Anna Netrebko, Marcello Giordani
"C'est toi! C'est moi" from "Carmen" | Elina Garanca, Brandon Jovanovich
"Già ti veggo", Finale to Act 3 of "La Gioconda" | Deborah Voigt, Wendy White, Marcello Giordani, Tom Fox, Christophoros Stromboglis

Press Reviews
[1] "When Opera Stars Show Their Frisky Side" | By Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, 15. Nov 2010
[2] "Netrebko steals fundraising opera gala" | By Mike Silverman, AP

Reports
Howard and his wife Paula attended the 2010 Richard Tucker Gala and kindly wrote the following review:

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 14. Nov 2010
By Howard

On Sunday evening November 14th, 2010, we were delighted and priviledged to attend the 25th Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall. The foundation offers a $30,000 scholarship each year to an aspiring artist. This was a sold-out performance which was without intermission. Marco Armiliato conducted members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and New York Choral Society. After opening comments by Barry Tucker, Richard's son, the concert began with only 2 disappointments: Mariusz Kwiecen and Zeljko Lucic were both ill and could not attend. There was a suprise replacement by Susan Graham who had met Marco on the street and asked if she could attend. Marco said of course and joked with the audience that he did not need to consult with the Tucker Foundation.

As some of the reviews have indicated, Anna is a tough act to follow. Indeed dressed in a stunning royal blue gown that showed off her curvaceous assets, she again ruled the stage. In her first aria "Heia in den Bergen" from Die Csarasfurstin ( Kalman's "The Gypsy Princess), along with the chorus, she simply seductively danced and swayed her hips to the beat of the music while thrilling the audience with her voice. She was having the time of her life. In her second aria "Toi Vous... N'est-ce plus ma main" from Manon (Saint-Sulpice scene) she was on fire! Singing with Marcello Giordani, they embraced and even kissed passionately at the end of the aria! She simply stole the show.

There was indeed a preview of an up and coming coloratura soprano, Angela Meade who sang "Era desso il figlio mio" from Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia complete with florid embellishments. She had been featured in the film, "The Audition" about the MET's 2007 finalists and a previous winner of an Richard Tucker fellowship. We had seen her previously in Norma at Caramoor and indeed she has an incredible voice with a lot of talent. There were other artists who simply could not sing above the orchestra and chorus or who had wandering pitch, but there was no trace of faltering by Netrebko who was out to conquer all with an impressive performance.

Elina Garanca, a wonderful Latvian mezzo, appeared to gain some weight and did not ultimately make the most of her talents even with a duet with Brandon Jovanovich from Carmen, where the tenor could simply not project and did not connect with each other.

Anna simply dominates the stage and has raised the bar for all artists. She easily gets into the role, sings expressively and makes best use of both her physical attributes and artistic talents. After seeing Don Pasquale and now this gala, we can only wonder what is next.

We went to The Green Room, where celebrities usually meet their fans, but alas Anna had snuck out without greeting any admirers. Marco and other celeberities were there, but many fans were disappointed that Anna had departed.

Blog Reports
Parterre Box: "Cobra Jewel Song"
Un bel dì vedremo: "All about Netrebko"

Photos

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala poster. Photo: Howard

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

James Valenti, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Marcello Giordani at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Angela Meade at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Angela Meade at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard

Susan Graham at the Green Room, 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 14. Nov 2010. Photo: Howard