Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012

Anna Netrebko | Soprano
Erwin Schrott | Bass-baritone

Claudio Vandelli | Conductor

Baden-Badener Philharmonie
Philharmonia Chor Stuttgart

PROGRAMME

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ouvertüre zur Oper Le nozze di Figaro

Luigi Arditi
"Il bacio"

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
"Madamina, il catalogo è questo", Arie des Leporello aus der Oper Don Giovanni

Charles Gounod
aus der Oper Faust:
„Ah, je ris“ Juwelenarie der Marguerite
"Le veau d'or est toujours debout" Rondo des Mephistopheles

Giachino Rossini
Ouvertüre zur Oper L’italiana in Algeri

Gaetano Donizetti
aus der Oper L’elisir d’amore:
“Che voul dire” Chor
"Udite, udite, o rustici!, Auftrittsszene des Dulcamara
"Quanto amore” Duett Adina-Dulcamara

Franz Lehár 
“Lippen Schweigen” – Duett Hanna und Danilo aus der Operette Die lustige Witwe 

Jerónimo Giménez
Intermedio aus La boda de Luis Alonso

Antonín Dvorák
“Lied an den Mond” – Arie der Rusalka aus der Oper Rusalka

Pablo Sorozábal
„Despierta negro“ aus der Zarzuela La tabernera del Puerto

Francesco Cilea
„Io Son L’Umile Ancella“ aus der Oper Adriana Lecouvreur

George Gershwin
"Bess, You Is My Woman Now", Duett aus Porgy and Bess

REPORTS
Herbert attended the concert of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden on 29. Apr 2012 and he kindly wrote the following report for the Blog:

Just returned from Baden-Baden. Yes, it was a great joy to see both of them again together on stage. 

There were 3 encores: Anna sang "O mio babbino caro", and Erwin sang two tangos: "Oblivion" and "Rojotango". But there were two personal "highlights" for me. ;-)) 

When Erwin sang Leporello's "catalogo", he showed me the pictures of some beautiful women on his tablet PC (I was sitting in the first row). And when he was Dulcamara, he "sold" a bottle of exquisite pear "schnaps" (made in the Baden-Baden area) to someone in the first row - me again... I knew this would happen, so I was prepared for it. I took the bottle, gave him 50 euro - which surprised him - and after the applause he returned the money to me. When they came out of the stage door I asked Erwin to sign this bottle of "elisir", and he did it and said to me: "You were very generous".

PHOTOS

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert 

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert  

Claudio Vandelli, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Anne

"L'elisir d'amore" bottle dedicated to Herbert by Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 29. Apr 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012

Tonight, Thursday 26. Jan 2012, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott gave a sold-out concert at the Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany.

PROGRAMM

Anna Netrebko & Erwin Schrott,
Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012

Anna Netrebko Sopran
Erwin Schrott Bassbariton
Claudio Vandelli Dirigent
Parager Philharmonie

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Ouvertüre zur Oper „Le nozze di Figaro“

Luigi Arditi (1822–1903)
„Il bacio“
Anna Netrebko

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
„Madamina, il catalogo è questo“
Arie des Leporello aus der Oper „Don Giovanni“
Erwin Schrott

Charles Gounod (1818–1893)
„Ah! Je ris de me voir“
Juwelenarie der Marguerite aus der Oper „Faust“
Anna Netrebko

„Le veau d’or est toujours debout!“
Reigen des Mephistopheles aus der Oper „Faust“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

Gioachino Rossini (1758–1839)
Ouvertüre zur Oper „L’italiana in Algeri“

„Udite, udite, o rustici!“
Arie des Dulcamara aus „L’elisir d’amore“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

„Quanto amore“
Duett Adina-Dulcamara aus „L’elisir d’amore“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

Pause

Franz Lehár (1870–1948)
„Lippen Schweigen“
Duett Hanna-Danilo aus der Operette „Die lustige Witwe“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

Gerónimo Giménez (1854–1923)
Intermedio aus der Zarzuela „La boda de Luis Alonso“

Antonin Dvořák (1841–1904)
„Lied an den Mond“
Arie der Rusalka aus der Oper „Rusalka“
Anna Netrebko

Pablo Sorozábal (1897–1988)
„Despierta negro“
Arie des Simpson aus der Zarzuela „La tabernera del puerto“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

Francesco Cilea (1866-1950)
„Io son l'umile ancella"
Aus Adriana Lecouvreur
Anna Netrebko

George Gershwin (1898–1937)
„Bess, you is my woman now“
Duett Porgy und Bess aus der Oper „Porgy and Bess“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

REPORTS

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012
By Herbert

The Beethovensaal (about 2000 seats) at the Liederhalle was sold out, and by the end of the concert there were standing ovations for Anna, Erwin, the Prague Philharmonics and the chorus.

Both artists were in top form. Anna’s voice is still getting deeper, fuller and more powerful. I enjoyed most her aria „Io son l'umile ancella" from Adriana Lecouvreur. But each song, even those which are well-known, sounded fresh and stupendous.

The same for Erwin! He was charming and showed stage presence as well as a great comic talent. Their 3 duets were either pure comedy (“Quanto amore”) or full of passion (“Lippen schweigen”, “Bess, you is my woman now”).

After the official finale they added two encores: Anna sang “O mio babbino caro”, and Erwin made the house cheer when he announced music from South America (“Rojo tango”).

I met them afterwards at the stage door, where they were awaited by many fans, who behaved very disciplined and polite. So everybody got an autograph, and Anna and Erwin spent a lot of time for photographs. Oh yes, and Anna spoke more German than usual! ;-))

PHOTOS

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012, Programm. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert 

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert  

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Erwin Schrott, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert  

Anna Netrebko, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Anna Netrebko, Liederhalle, Stuttgart 26. Jan 2012. Photo: Herbert

Neujahrskonzert · Anna Netrebko & Erwin Schrott, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 3. Jan 2012

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Königsplatz, München 29. Jul 2011. Photo: Herbert

Neujahrskonzert
Anna Netrebko & Erwin Schrott,
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden 3. Jan 2012

Anna Netrebko Sopran
Erwin Schrott Bassbariton
Claudio Vandelli Dirigent
Baden-Badener Philharmonie
Philharmonia Chor Stuttgart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Ouvertüre zur Oper „Le nozze di Figaro“

Luigi Arditi (1822–1903)
„Il bacio“
Anna Netrebko

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
„Madamina, il catalogo è questo“
Arie des Leporello aus der Oper „Don Giovanni“
Erwin Schrott

Charles Gounod (1818–1893)
„Ah! Je ris de me voir“
Juwelenarie der Marguerite aus der Oper „Faust“
Anna Netrebko

„Le veau d’or est toujours debout!“
Reigen des Mephistopheles aus der Oper „Faust“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

Gioachino Rossini (1758–1839)
Ouvertüre zur Oper „L’italiana in Algeri“

Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848)
„Che vuol dire codesta sonata“
Aus der Oper „L’elisir d’amore“ (Der Liebestrank)
Chor

„Udite, udite, o rustici!“
Arie des Dulcamara aus „L’elisir d’amore“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

„Quanto amore“
Duett Adina-Dulcamara aus „L’elisir d’amore“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Vorspiel zum 3. Akt der Oper „La Traviata“ 

Franz Lehár (1870–1948)
„Lippen Schweigen“
Duett Hanna-Danilo aus der Operette „Die lustige Witwe“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

Gerónimo Giménez (1854–1923)
Intermedio aus der Zarzuela „La boda de Luis Alonso“

Antonin Dvořák (1841–1904)
„Lied an den Mond“
Arie der Rusalka aus der Oper „Rusalka“
Anna Netrebko

Pablo Sorozábal (1897–1988)
„Despierta negro“
Arie des Simpson aus der Zarzuela „La tabernera del puerto“
Erwin Schrott, Chor

George Gershwin (1898–1937)
„Bess, you is my woman now“
Duett Porgy und Bess aus der Oper „Porgy and Bess“
Anna Netrebko und Erwin Schrott

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott in a New Year's Concert at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden on 3. Jan 2012

The Festspielhaus Baden-Baden has just uploaded the new 2011-2012 season.

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will give a concert on 3. January 2012. Claudio Vandelli will conduct the Baden-Badener Philharmonie.

Ticket prices are from 63 EUR to 210 EUR.

Check out the last updated version of Anna Netrebko's 2011-2012 season.

Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg 11. Dec 2010

December 11 in St. Petersburg was the "Night Music" devoted to the 170 anniversary of Piotr I. Tchaikovsky.

More than 100 musical events and theater performances were organized at different venues, including both traditional ones, such as opera houses, concert halls or theaters, and non-traditional ones, such as lobbies of subway stations, lobbies of museums, radio and television studios or night clubs.

The main event of the "Night Music" was the "Opera Gala Concert" held at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory featuring Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, making their first joint concert in Russia, with Claudio Vandelli conducting the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia".

The day before, Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli gave a press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, the place where Anna had followed her musical studies. Anna had left the Conservatoy before having finished her studies and, therefore, she never got the Diploma. Before the concert Anna Netrebko received the Diploma from the St. Petersburg Conservatory delivered by the chairman of the Culture Committee, Anton Gubankov, and the rector of the Conservatory, Sergei Stadler.

Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli arrived to St. Petersburg after having been giving two joint concerts in Ukraine, in Odessa on 1. Dec and Kiev on 5. Dec 2010, and one joint concert in Latvia, in Riga on 8. Dec 2010. Following this concert in St. Petersburg, they will travel to Moscow, where they will end this tour, to give a private concert at the Kremlin.

Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg
Saturday 11. December 2010

PERFORMERS
Anna Netrebko, soprano
Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone
St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia"
Claudio Vandelli, conductor

PROGRAMME
1. Part
Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture
Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott
Massenet | "Manon" | "Suis-je gentille ainsi?... Je marche sur tous les chemins... Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus
Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

2. Part
Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko
Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture
Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko
Sorozábal | "La Tabernera del Puerto" | "Despierta, negro, que viene el blanco... La luna es blanca muy blanca" | Erwin Schrott
Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko
Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

Encores
Lehar | "Giuditta" | "Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss" | Anna Netrebko
Piazzolla | Tangos | Erwin Schrott

Videos
Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010


Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010


Press conference at the hall of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory on 10. Dec 2010


Excerpts of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the press conference and at the concert at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory


Excerpts of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the press conference and at the concert at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory


Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus


Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott


Massenet | "Manon" | "Suis-je gentille ainsi?... Je marche sur tous les chemins" | Anna Netrebko


Massenet | "Manon" | "Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" | Anna Netrebko and Chorus

Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott made their debut in Riga with a concert held at the Latvian National Opera on 8. December 2010. Maestro Claudio Vandelli conducted the Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

The concert in Riga was organized as part of a Concert Tour given by Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Claudio Vandelli including concerts at the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Odessa 1. Dec 2010, Palace Ukraine, Kiev 5. Dec 2010, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010, Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg 11. Dec 2010 and Kremlin, Moscow 13. Dec 2010.

The day before the concert, Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrrott and Claudio Vandelli gave a press conference held at the Latvian National Opera.

Latvian National Opera, Riga, Latvia
Wednesday 8. Dec 2010

PERFORMERS
Anna Netrebko, soprano
Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone
Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Claudio Vandelli, conductor

PROGRAMME
1. Part
Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture
Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott
Gounod | "Faust" | "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir" | Anna Netrebko
Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus
Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

2. Part
Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko
Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture
Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko
Sorozábal | "La Tabernera del Puerto" | "Despierta, negro, que viene el blanco... La luna es blanca muy blanca" | Erwin Schrott
Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko
Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

Encores
Lehar | "Giuditta" | "Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss" | Anna Netrebko
Piazzolla | Tangos | Erwin Schrott

Press Reviews
Концерт Анны Нетребко в Латвийской опере: как это было | LifeNews 9. Dec 2010

Reviews
Anne-Laure has has attended the concert of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott in Riga and she has kindly written the following detailed review for the Blog.

Concert of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010
By Anne-Laure

This concert was a mega event in Latvia and the very beautiful hall was packed.

After the overture of "Ruslan and Ludmila", Anna arrived on stage to sing Ludmila’s cavatine. In a white and silver dress, with her long hair on her shoulders and somehow still a girlish face, she was utterly gorgeous. In fact, with this dress, she could have been escaped from a fairy tell where she would have been a snow princess. But of course, the most important thing was the singing… and it was equally gorgeous. Her beautiful voice easily filled the hall, with power and control. She managed to convey both the little Slavic melancholy of the beginning of the aria and the girlish irony of the second part very well, both in her facial acting and her singing. She added subtle colors, nuances and the slow parts where the voice could deploy itself were fantastic, as the faster parts. That was the first time I heard her perform this live and I if I already loved the piece, I was really amazed by how splendid it is live. I really hope she’ll come in France with this kind of repertoire (well, in fact I thought the same thing during the performance when she sang Marguerite – isn’t the Opéra de Paris able to make her come to sing in Faust ????? -, Rusalka, Operetta and Italian repertoire for those too…).

The audience (who was already hers from her entrance) greeted with bravos and applauses.

Then Erwin (very elegant) came to show us why he is the best Leporello today. Playing with the audience, he displayed all his cards in this, vocally and with his scenic charisma. His voice too filled the hall and his tone is definitely beautiful.

Anna came back to give the jewel song and I must say that the color of her voice in this aria is absolutely great ! She managed to produce (or smartly fake ;-)) the trills and roulades needed and she seemed to have a real good time… which was equally true for the audience. The only thing I could regret was the little breathing before the last high note, in the middle of the word “passage”, who was not really appropriate. But it’s better than a crack I guess.

Still from Faust, Erwin sang the rondo of the Veau d’or. I thought that it was really convincing, even if some French “S” consonants became “Ch” (for quite a strange effect for a French) and if some sounds were not covered as the others. But this aria is a killer and he impressed me (I would add that he also scared me, because there was a devilish look in his eyes).

The orchestra then gave the Gazza Ladra’s overture with some cracks in the winds section and Erwin came back with a bottle of vodka to sell Dulcamara’s potion.

He really played with the audience and managed to get a bill from a man of the first row. Vocally his Dulcamara was secure and fun. Great time.

Short after he went backstage and while the audience was still applauding, Anna/Adina came on stage to lament over Nemorino’s departure. She was quickly rejoined by Erwin/Dulcamara who tried to consulate her with his “elisir” (vodka again, of course). The both played at the same time their characters and themselves. Anna is definitely one of the greatest Adinas ever and here her match with “her” Dulcamara was fantastic.

Maybe they played too much with the audience, because the crowd couldn’t help laughing and applauding even while they were singing (which was a shame because we couldn’t hear those beautiful notes as I would have liked), especially when Erwin tried to sell his potion to the Letton President. At this time, the audience laughed VERY loud while Anna was singing, to the point she took Erwin by the shoulders and get him back with a smile and a “OK darling, that’s great, but I’m singing” look on her face.

Of course, she “provoked” such reactions in the audience herself, especially when she made her face and signature crying realizing that Nemorino was gone by her fault. The audience bursted into laughters.

To finish the duet, Erwin, whose Dulcamara couldn’t give the potion to Adina, managed to sell it again to a man in the audience. Then he (as Erwin and no more Dulcamara) turned to Anna (who was no longer Adina) with the bill in the hand and a proud face like “look Honey, I’m getting money back home”. She put on an ironic or amused smile, took the bill from his hands, laid glamorously on the front of the stage and hided it in the flowers just before the man, giving him a wink and sending him a kiss too, as for apologizing on her man’s behavior (just when singing that “her elisir” was her face).

Then she stood up and while she was looking in another direction, Erwin, who had taken a annoyed face took the bill back and put it in his pocket.

They finished the duet with Anna grabbing Erwin and kissing him, then rejecting him and leaving the stage, letting him amazed for 3 seconds before he finally ran after her.

All that was of course totally prepared I guess, but they managed to make it so well and natural that it was perfect. Most of all, they did it while singing as good as we know they can do, so the musical part was not let beyond. Then it was a huge pleasure and the audience rewarded them with a huge and deserved ovation.

The second part began with Anna, coming this time with a beautiful blue dress and her hair put up. That made her a more woman face than the previous girlish style, and maybe more glamorous, but equally GORGEOUS !

She sang Il bacio with joy in her voice and even if she eluded the final high-D, it was a beautiful moment.

Then followed the Merry widow duet. If (to me) Erwin’s German sounded even stranger than Anna’s one, it was beautifully and tastefully sang. They made it quite in a romantic mood, danced a bit to seal the lovers (Hannah and Danilo) reconciliation and finally kissed. That was cute.

After the Vêpres’ overture, Anna sang Rusalka’s aria. What can I say ? I love it and I love her singing that piece. Feelings, emotion, beautiful tone. She had to come back to bow as the audience didn’t want her to go and was still applauding.

Erwin (wisely I think, and I’ll add that I’m really tired of the Toreador song) came to sing a zarzuela (I guess). The piece even if not really brilliant was pleasant and was perfectly fitted to let Erwin’s voice show all his male beauty. Here again the audience asked for a come-back on stage.

When I saw on the program that Anna had planned to sing Lauretta’s aria “O mio babbino caro”, I’m sorry to write that I was like “Oh no, please !!!!!”. Because I must say that I’m quite fed up with it, having heard it by many many sopranos, as if they all had to sing it during their concerts, especially as an encore. This aria I have heard too many times and I was hoping to hear something new.

Well, it was before having heard it live by Anna. OK, there were some odds vowels at the beginning, making a slight sensation of discomfort… but then the voice became huge with powerful notes then she gave piani that stayed in suspension in the hall… the audience stopped breathing and finally at the end erupted in wild bravos and huge ovation. She had to get back on stage as the audience called her. Amazing.

The program ended with the duet of Porgy and Bess. I’m not sure that their singing really matched the style of the piece, maybe because they didn’t sound particularly at ease with singing in English (especially Anna). Anyway, that was still beautiful and it is always pleasant and interesting to hear a singer in a new piece for him. 

The audience, who was already hot went mad… Standing ovation. Screams…

As an encore Anna gave her signature aria. Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss.

From the moment the audience heard the first notes and recognized it, they probably guessed what would happen and they immediately began to scream of approval.

Well, indeed Anna threw roses (even to the presidential loge, making the president nearly fall over it to catch them), kicked off her shoes, danced wildly across the stage and played with her curves at a point that made the men totally mad (one could hear some of them nearly die, I’m not kidding).

And what can I say about the singing ? Powerful, seductive, magnificent. The whole package.

Then the audience went again wild greeting her with another standing ovation. They could not stop applauding, which gave time to some people to install a mike.

Erwin came for his encore with Anna. He explained that he would like to give something from his country. (Anna was there to translate his speech in Russian). He said that in the opera, the soprano comes often half-sick from the beginning, that she makes the bariton jealous with the tenor, that both of them finally die to let the bariton cry all by himself. He added, while everybody was laughing, that they had the same thing in South America and that it was called Tango. He then proposed to sing a little selection.

I wouldn’t say that I’m basically a tango fan, but the 3 pieces he sang were quite pleasant and his voice fitted them perfectly. He put quite feeling in it too. As a result I really took pleasure discovering them. The crowd rewarded him with bravos and he finally was rejoined by Anna for the final bows, who lasted and lasted, with standing ovation, as the audience didn’t want to let them go. They had to come back on stage many times.

It was a beautiful gala. The program, if not really original, was cool and had mainly one purpose : made people happy and it was a huge success. Everybody had a huge smile on the face, was in a good mood when going out the theater. Thanks to those beautiful artists.

Photos

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Claudio Vandelli, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Claudio Vandelli, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Erwin Schrott, Anna Netrebko and Claudio Vandelli, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Erwin Schrott, Anna Netrebko and Claudio Vandelli, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Anna Netrebko, Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010. Photo: Anne-Laure

Videos
PBK News: Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott arrive to Riga


Latvian TV coverage of the Anna Netrebko and Ewin Schott concert to be held in Riga on 8. Dec 2010

Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Odessa 1. Dec 2010

Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Odessa, Ukraine
Wednesday 1. Dec 2010

PERFORMERS
Anna Netrebko, soprano
Erwin Schrott, bass-baritone
Odessa Opera Orchestra
Claudio Vandelli, conductor

PROGRAMME
1. Part
Glinka | "Ruslan and Ludmila" | Ochestral overture
Glinka | "Ruslan and Lyudmila" | Cavatina (1. Act) | Anna Netrebko and Chorus
Mozart | "Don Giovanni" | "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" | Erwin Schrott
Gounod | "Faust" | "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir" | Anna Netrebko
Gounod | "Faust" | "Le veau d'or" | Erwin Schrott and Chorus
Rossini | "La gazza ladra" | Ochestral overture
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | "Udite, udite, o rustici" | Erwin Schrott
Donizetti | "L'elisir d'amore" | Duetto: "Quanto amore! Ed io, spietata" (2. Act) | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

2. Part
Arditi | Il bacio | Anna Netrebko
Lehar | "Die lustige Witwe" | "Lippen Schweigen" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott
Verdi | "I Vespri Siciliani" | Overture
Dvorak | "Rusalka" | Song to the moon | Anna Netrebko
Bizet | "Carmen" | "Votre toast... Toreador, engarde!" | Erwin Schrott
Puccini | "Gianni Schicchi" | "O mio babbino caro" | Anna Netrebko
Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | "Bess, you is my woman now" | Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott

Inteview to Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott on TV [02:12]


Interview to Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott and some images of the concert in Odessa [31:29]