Anna Netrebko will make her debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the 2012-2013 Season

Anna Netrebko will make her debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the 2012-2013 season where she will sing the role of Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème in March 2013. The role of Rodolfo for those performances will be sung by Joseph Calleja. Elizabeth Futral will be Musetta. The perfromances will be conducted by Emmanuel Villaume.

If you are looking forward to seeing Anna Netrebko in any of those performances you better get a subscription as only subscribers are eligible for Anna Netrebko-La Bohème performances.

LA BOHÈME
Giacomo Puccini

Mar. 9, 12, 15 (mat), 18, 22, 28 (mat)

San Francisco Opera production – new to Chicago

CAST
Mimi: Anna Netrebko
Rodolfo: Joseph Calleja
Musetta: Elizabeth Futral
Marcello: Lucas Meachem
Colline: Andrea Silvestrelli
Schaunard: Joseph Lim
Benoit: Dale Travis
Alcindoro: Dale Travis

PRODUCTION TEAM
Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
Director: Louisa Muller
Sets: Michael Yeargan
Costumes: Walter Mahoney
Lighting: Duane Schuler

Universal Music launches the new Centre Stage Artist Management (CSAM) agency

Universal Music Group has launched Centre Stage Artist Management (CSAM), a new Berlin and London-based agency to provide management services to classical singers.

Judith Neuhoff, who had been working with Jeffrey D. Vanderveen in IMG Artists and Universal Music Classical Management and Productions, has been appointed as Managing Director of CSAM.

Neuhoff said the company’s philosophy was about supporting individual clients and added “Through in-depth collaboration with opera houses and concert halls, record labels, PR agencies and promoters around the world, we are able to offer unique perspective and guidance to artists. We will continue to develop an artist roster of supreme excellence, with quality, transparency and accountability as our guiding principles.”

CSAM is currently working with Anna Netrebko, Mojca Erdmann, Ruxandra Donose, Joseph Calleja, Massimo Giordano, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson and Roman Trekel.

Deutsche Grammophon releases the album "Anna Netrebko - Live at the Metropolitan Opera"

Deutsche Grammophon releases the album "Anna Netrebko - Live at the Metropolitan Opera".

The CD, which will be released on 16. Sep 2011, includes works by Prokofiev, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Gounod, Offenbach and Puccini.

Anna Netrebko sings with top opera singers such as Dimitri Hvorostovsky, Juan Diego Florez, Roberto Alagna, Joseph Calleja and Piotr Beczala.

Valery Gerviev, Sylvain Cambreling, Placido Domingo and James Levine conduct the Metroplitan Opera Orchestra.

Live At The Met features excerpts from live performances on the Met stage from La Boheme, Don Giovanni, War &Peace, I Puritani, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Romeo etJuliette, Don Pasquale and Lucia di Lammermoor.

TRACK LIST
1. Bellini I Puritani Act 2 Aria: "Qui la voce" Elvira Rec. 1/6/2007
2. Prokofiev War & Peace Act 1, Sc. 1 "Ya ne budu.." + Duet "Kak solntze za garoi" Natasha Rec. 3/2/2002
3. Mozart Don Giovanni Act 2 Aria: "Vedrai carino" Zerlina Rec. 2/15/2003
4. Donizetti Don Pasquale Act 3, Finale Finale: "Senz'andar lungi ... La morale in tutto questo" Norina Rec. 4/15/2006
5. Verdi Rigoletto Act 3 Terzetto: "Ah piu non ragiono" Gilda Rec. 12/17/2005
6. Gounod Roméo et Juliette Act 4, Sc.1 Duet: "Nuit d'hyménée!" Juliette Rec. 12/15/2007
7. Gounod Roméo et Juliette Act 4, Sc.4 Aria: "Ah Dieu! Quel frisson...Amour, ranime mon courage" Juliette Rec. 12/15/2007
8. Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor Act 2, Sc.5 Aria: "Il dolce suono...Ardon gli incensi..." Lucia Rec. 2/7/2009
9. Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann Act 3 Duet: "Pourtant, ô ma fiancée" ... C'est une chanson d'amour" Antonia Rec. 12/19/2009
10. Puccini La Bohème Act 3 Aria: "D'onde lieta usci" MimÌ Rec. 2/27/2010
11. Puccini La Bohème Act 1 Duet: "O soave fanciulla" MimÌ Rec. 2/27/2010

Information about the cast and conductor for each one of the above shown recording dates can be found at the Anna Netrebko Performances Database.

Check the Deutsche Grammophon "Live at the Metroplitan Opera" special site

Deutsche Grammophon Promotional Videoclip

BREAKING NEWS - Anna Netrebko and Joseph Calleja will not join the Met Tour to Japan

Met officials said on Monday that star soprano Anna Netrebko and star tenor Joseph Calleja will not take part of the Met Tour to Japan 2011. The two stars dropped out at the last minute due to their concerns about nuclear radiation following the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant disaster.

Ms. Netrebko has made a public statement posted on her official website. "This was an incredibly difficult decision for me; it was made on a very personal level with a great deal of pain and conflicting emotions." said Netrebko.

Ms. Netrebko and Mr. Calleja only made their intentions known last week, days before the begin of the tour. In a statement, the Met said, "Ms. Netrebko changed her mind because of the emotional weight of having also lived through the tragedy of Chernobyl." Mr. Calleja "also had last-minute misgivings", the Met said.

James Levine, due to health issues, and Jonas Kaufmann also dropped out of the tour some weeks ago.

Barbara Frittoli, who sings the role of Elisabeth in Verdi's "Don Carlos", will substitute Ms. Netrebko as Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème". Marina Poplavskaya will join the tour to sing Elisabeth, a role she filled during the season in New York.

The Met contacted the tenors Marcelo Álvarez, Rolando Villazón and Alexey Dolgov, and they agreed to fill in for performances by Mr. Calleja. Mr. Alvarez will sing the role of Rodolfo in two performances of Puccini's "La Bohème" and Mr. Alvarez and Mr.Villazón will each sing the role of Edgardo in one performance of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". Piotr Beczala already was taking turns in both roles.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann premieres at Great Performances at the Met on 24. Mar 2010

The performance of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann held at the Met on 19. December 2009 premieres on Thirteen’s "Great Performances at the Met" series on Wednesday 24. March 2010 at 9 PM ET.

Starting 25. March 2010, Les Contes d'Hoffmann will be available in HD on the Met Player.

Joseph Calleja sings the title role and is joined on stage by Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse and The Muse, Anna Netrebko as Antonia and Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta and Alan Held as the Four Villains. James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Bartlett Sher is the stage director.

Cast changes on tonight's performance of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" at the Met

Canadian tenor David Pomeroy will make his Met debut tonight, singing the title role in Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" replacing the Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja who is ill.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 19. Dec 2009

On 19. December 2009 it was the fifth performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

The performance on 19. Dec 2009 has been transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. It has been also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.

It will be broadcast on Great Performances at the Met on PBS on Wednesday 24. March 2010.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 19. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. Furthermore the performance on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Reports
Our friend Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance live at the Met. Howard kindly wrote the followind detailed report for the blog:

My wife Paula and I attended the "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" performance at the MET on 19-December which was also simulcast around the world as a live broadcast. As snow was encroaching on New York City, the crowds came out to see the Tales of Hoffmann.

I totally agree with Irina, that there is truly nothing like a live performance, although this spectacle deserves a second review with the encore HD performance in January. Although there were some vacant seats due the inclement weather it was clear that Netrebko has her devoted following. The gift shop was playing a DVD of her Berlin Concert with Villazon and Domingo and copies were literally flying off the shelves. One woman flew in from Dallas just for this performance. The MET intentionally sanitized this production leaving out the partial nudity (G strings and pasties) reviewed by Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times.

There was a rousing ovation for James Levine who recently returned from back surgery for a ruptured disc. He has the uncanny ability to allow the orchestra to support, but not overpower the singers. Bartlet Sher the director pretty much took a static opera with no dimension of time or change of venue. and made a spectacle of the opera. While there were some incongruities, it pretty much came off rather well and was very well received.

Olympia, the mechanical doll played by Kathleen Kim was adorable, cute and sang with coloratura ease. She danced and walked like a mechanized doll as the voice lifted just like a young adolescent nymph. This was not the role for Netrebko. Although other productions have had wind up keys built into the costume, this rendition was just adorable. Ekaterina Gubanova as Giuletta was stiff and uninspiring. The part of Nicklausse sung by Kate Lindsay was just average, as her voice and expression appear not ready for prime time. Alan Held had a commanding presence as Dr. Miracle and sang with convincing authority.

The clear winners of the afternoon were Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann and Anna Netrebko as Antonia. Calleja displayed confidence, presence and endurance. His voice has an unusual tenderness and affection that is reminiscent of Jussi Bjorling. Calleja had strength, the ability to project and literally sang the entire opera without much rest. His tenderness in recounting his lost loves came across with passion and conviction. This is an enormous role early in his career and it was clear that he was up to the task.

Although Anna Netrebko's role as Antonia in the 2nd act was limited, she ruled the stage with passion, illumination and exquisite acting ability. One only has to think of her Salzburg Traviata for an analogy. Her deep Slavic tone and elegant poise was well suited to this role. She truly commanded the stage and all around her. Her duets with Hoffman were poignant, elegant and dramatic. She had the ability the sing along with his commanding presence. She was dressed in a beautiful nightgown that highlighted her style, grace and sumptuous figure. It is evident that she has lost much weight after her pregnancy, but her voice and timbre have become richer, more colored and exquisite. There were time when you could pick out her voice on top of the chorus. She has not lost her high register at all and there were some hints of exquisite trills in her singing. In short, this role was made for her, a sumptuous, melancholy lover with a great sense of pathos and drama.

At intermission, I met a gentlemen who was at her MET debut in War and Peace. He said that he heard a lone voice above the chorus that transcended all. He said that he knew then that she was very special as only time would demonstrate. He loved her role here, but was not as enthusiastic about her coloratura capabilities in Lucia last year.

The production did have some weaknesses that seemed to detract from the overall message. In the opening of the third act which simulated an orgy or bordello, the well choreographed dancers with exquisitely flexible bodies were on top of men reminiscent of strippers at a bar. Their modern day costumes seemed out of place from the elegant victorian gowns and long coat worn by Hoffmann. My wife found some of this mildly offensive and inappropriate. If this was the sanitized version, I am sure that other performances had similar responses.

Parts of the opera appeared to make fun of the Jews and were mildly anti-Semitic in nature. While not offensive, it is clear that Bartlet Sher chose to highlight these issues in his interpretation. I found it to be mildly amusing and perhaps this reflects some of Offenbach's beliefs.

Some general thoughts are in order. Having attended opera and concerts throughout Europe, I am astounded by the lack of decorum of many participants in the audience. On a Saturday afternoon where tickets are rather expensive, I am shocked by people dressed in dungarees and sweatshirts. My opinion is that the audience should be respectful to others in the audience as well as the performers. People sitting next to me in the opera talked throughout the opera and you could hear the incessant vibration of cell phone and occasional audible ones that were extremely bothersome. As Hoffmann was singing his heart out in the 3rd act, a cell phone went off at the most inopportune time. I realize that times are much more casual than in the past, but a modicum of decorum, appropriate dress and behavior is a rather low bar for such an exquisite art form.

In closing our trip to NYC was well worth the effort. Netrebko was enchanting, ravishing and skilled in her abilities. Our trip home was delayed by snow and ice, but fortunately we had a young female bus driver that was safety conscious, courteous and skilled in her driving abilities. She had to stop 4-5 times to clear ice from the wipers. Fortunately she beat the storm as she traveled North to Boston.

Looking forward to Boheme later this spring as well as Carmen with Garanca.

On-line Press Reports
Channeling Fellini - The Wall Street Journal, 22. Dec 2009 - By Heidi Waleson [English]
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Musical Criticism, 27. Dec 2009 - By David Abrams [English]
`Los cuentos de Hoffmann' una joya del siglo XXI - El Nuevo Herald, 29. Dec 2009 - By Daniel Fernandez [Spanish]

On-line Blog Reports
Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews: Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Metropolitan Opera live relay, December 2009
Can Belto: An even better Hoffman
Maldito Candelabro: "Hoffmann" desde el Met: Sensualidad decadente
CNY Café Momus: The Met’s Contes d’Hoffmann: an engaging journey from id to ego to ear

Videoclips
"Elle a fui, la tourterelle", Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009 - Anna Netrebko


Deborah Voigt interviews Joseph Calleja and Anna Netrebko, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Finale, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 7. Dec 2009

On 7. December 2009 it was the second performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 7. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
John Yohalem wrote on Opera Today,

Netrebko sang the most powerful Antonia since Sutherland, and in Sher’s vision (which is not Offenbach’s), her grand operatic posturing worked very well.

On-line Press Reports
Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the MET - Opera Today - By John Yohalem

Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Today on 3. December 2009 it has been the season premiere of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Joseph Calleja has made his role debut as Hoffmann. As it was announced in exclusive on this blog on 26. May 2009, Joseph Calleja replaced Rolando Villazón who cancelled his appearance when he announced in April that he needed surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx.

Kathleen Kim has made also her role debut as Olympia, the mechanical doll.

Anna Netrebko made her role debut as Antonia at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg on 11. November 2000 in a performance conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and directed by Marta Domingo. The critic of the St. Petersburg Times wrote that "her captivating performance was the genuine highlight of the production. Her tormented Antonia, suffering over the paths she had to choose, was pierced with despair."

Ekaterina Gubanova has made her role debut as Giulietta. She made her Met debut in 2007 as Hélène Bezukhova in War and Peace.

Kate Lindsey has made also her role debut as Nicklausse/The Muse, replacing Elina Garanca who decided to withdraw and to sing the title role in the upcoming performances of Carmen at the Met, when Angela Gheorghiu withdraw from those performances.

Alan Held made his debut as the four villains at the Met in 1993. He has replaced René Pape who decided not to add the four villains to his repertoire.

A number of first impressions about the performance, collected during the live broadcast, can be read at the comments sections of a post published on Parterre Box.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Season Premiere
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 3. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Live Broadcasts
The premiere on 3. Dec 2009 has been live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79 and via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
Anthony Tommasini, talking about Anna Netrebko, wrote on The New York Times,

[...] she was vocally lustrous, charismatic and wrenching as Antonia [...]. She also made a captivating and tart Stella [...]

The review published on Parterre Box says,

[...] Netrebko was rapturous as Antonia, bathing us in her sweet sound, and showing both detail and presence in all parts of her range.

Ronni Reich wrote on the nj.com,

Here, full focus was on soprano Anna Netrebko, and rightfully so. Virtually unmatched in her luscious tone, Netrebko sang as if each phrase were truly her last, surprisingly full-throated, a little wild, and absolutely spellbinding.

On-line Press Reports
An Unamplified Voice: Hoffmann (after), 3. Dec 2009 [English]
Parterre Box: der musensohn, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
My Favorite Intermissions: Jar of Eyeballs, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Can Belto: Hoffmann opening night: Success!, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
The Old Stories, Updated With G-Strings - The New York Times - By Anthony Tommasini, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
No shortage of tales in this `Hoffmann' at the Met - San Francisco Chronicle - By Ronald Blum, AP, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Theatermania - By David Finkle, 5. Dec 2009 [English]
'Rousing ovation' for Calleja's Hoffmann at New York Met - Times of Malta - 6. Dec 2009 [English]
Good muse at the Met: Netrebko and clever staging lift Offenbach opera - nj.com - By Ronni Reich, 7. Dec 2009 [English]

Audioclips
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Romance: "Elle a fui, la tourterelle!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "C'est une chanson d'amour", Hoffmann, Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "Ne plus chanter! hélas!", Hoffmann Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final: "Tu ne chanteras plus?", Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final, Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Final Scene: "Mon père! Écoutez! c'est ma mère!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Epilogue. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera


Photos
A wonderful collection of photos by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera is available at the Archives of the Metopera Database.

Here you can get some additional photos, at the curtains calls and at the stage door, kindly provided by the author.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Bartlett Sher and Kate Lindsey at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Alan Held at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Kathleen Kim at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Ekaterina Gubanova at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Joseph Calleja at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Final Dress Rehearsal, Met, New York 30. November 2009

The final dress rehearsal of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the Four Villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse, took place yesterday, on 30. November 2009. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Bartlett Sher.

Three thousand free tickets to the final dress rehearsal were made available through on online drawing on the Met’s website.

The staging, costumes and sets of this new Bartlett Sher's production were gorgeous. Joseph Calleja, who had been fighting a sinus/pharynx infection on the last days, was not feeling well and he sang Hoffmann only in the first act, being replaced by David Pomeroy.

The official season premiere of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" will take place on 3. December 2009 and it will be broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79, as well as on the Met free live audio stream. The performance on 19. December 2009 will be broadcast live to select movie theaters around the world within the MET Live in HD Performances Series

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Final Dress Rehearsal
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 30. November 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja, Prologue, Act I/David Pomeroy, Acts II, III, Epilogue
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Blog Reports
What I read and Watched: Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met
A Liberal's Libretto: The Dreams of Hoffmann
Parterre Box: Gualtier tells "Tales"

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera

Anna Netrebko | 2010-2011 Season

Manon, Royal Opera Tour to Japan, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 11. Sep 2010 – Anna Netrebkoª (Manon Lescaut), Matthew Polenzani (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Russell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Guy de Mey (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Poussette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, Royal Opera Tour to Japan, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 14. Sep 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Matthew Polenzani (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Russell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Christophe Mortagne (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Poussette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, Royal Opera Tour to Japan, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 17. Sep 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Matthew Polenzani (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Russell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Christophe Mortagne (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Poussette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, Royal Opera Tour to Japan, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo 20. Sep 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Matthew Polenzani (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Russell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Guy de Mey (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Poussette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

La Traviata, Royal Opera Tour to Japan, NHK Hall, Tokyo 22. Sep 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Violetta Valéry), James Valenti (Alfredo Germont), Simon Keenlyside (Giorgio Germont), Adrian Clarke (Baron Douphol), Richard Wiegold (Doctor Grenvil), Kai Rüütel (Flora Bervoix), Changhan Lim (Marquis d’Obigny), Ji-Min Park (Gastone), Sarah Pring (Annina); Richard Eyre (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 29. Oct 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzaniª (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine* [Met Live Web Stream][Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 2. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 10. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 13. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Met Live in HD Broadcast]

2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 14. Nov 2010 – Pavol Breslik, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Elina Garanca, Marcelo Giordani, Susan Graham, Brandon Jovanovich, Simon Keenlyside, Angela Meade, Anna Netrebko, Lisette Oropesa, Deborah Voigt, James Valenti; New York Choral Society, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Marco Armiliato

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 18. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Barry Banks (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Joseph Colaneri [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Passionsmusik aus der Dresdner Frauenkirche, Stabat Mater and other works by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Frauenkirche, Dresden 27. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Marianna Pizzolato (Mezzo-soprano); Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden, Bertrand de Billy [ZDF broadcast]

Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater, Odessa 1. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebkoº (Soprano), Erwin Schrottº (Bass-baritone); Odessa Opera Orchestra, Claudio Vandelli

Palace Ukraine, Kiev 5. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebkoº (Soprano), Erwin Schrottº (Bass-baritone); National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Claudio Vandelli

Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebkoº (Soprano), Erwin Schrottº (Bass-baritone); Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Claudio Vandelli

Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, St. Petersburg 11. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrottº (Bass-baritone); State Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Claudio Vandelli

Kremlin, Moscow 13. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Bass-baritone); State Symphony Orchestra “Novaya Rossiya”, Claudio Vandelli

La Bohème, Royal Theater, Copenhagen 16. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebkoº (Mimi), Peter Lodahl (Rodolfo), Gisela Stille (Musetta), Palle Knudsen (Marcello), Thomas Storm (Schaunard), Ludvig Lindström (Colline), Mogens Gert Hansen (Benoit), Jens Bruno Hansen (Alcindoro), Peter Steen Andersen (Parpignol), Bo Anker Hansen (Sergeant), Rudi Sisseck (Officer); Mikael Melbye (Inszenierung), The Royal Danish Boy’s Choir, The Royal Danish Opera Chorus and The Royal Danish Orchestra, Marc Piollet

La Bohème, Royal Theater, Copenhagen 19. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Peter Lodahl (Rodolfo), Gisela Stille (Musetta), Palle Knudsen (Marcello), Thomas Storm (Schaunard), Ludvig Lindström (Colline), Mogens Gert Hansen (Benoit), Jens Bruno Hansen (Alcindoro), Peter Steen Andersen (Parpignol), Bo Anker Hansen (Sergeant), Rudi Sisseck (Officer); Mikael Melbye (Inszenierung), The Royal Danish Boy’s Choir, The Royal Danish Opera Chorus and The Royal Danish Orchestra, Marc Piollet

Silvesterkonzert, Emmerich Kálmán: “Heia, Heia, in den Bergen” aus “Die Csárdásfürstin” | Pablo Ziegler: “Rojotango” | Franz Lehár: Auszüge aus “Die lustige Witwe”, Semperoper Dresden, Dresden 30. Dec 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Bass-baritone); Anna Gabler (Hanna Glawari), Christopher Maltman (Graf Danilo Danilowitsch), Carolina Ullrich (Valencienne), Andrej Dunaev (Camille du Rossillon), Tom Martinsen (Baron Mirko Zeta), Christoph Pohl (Vicomte de Cascada), Aaron Pegram (Raoul de St. Brioche), Sangmin Lee (Kromow), Ilhun Jung (Bogdanowitsch), Gerald Hupach (Pritschitsch), Valda Wilson (Lolo), Stephanie Atanasov (Dodo), Romy Petrick (Clo-clo), Arantza Ezenarro (Jou-jou), Gala El Hadidi (Margot); Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden, Sächsischen Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann

Die Fledermaus, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 31. Dec 2010 – Markus Werba (Gabiel von Eisenstein), Camilla Nylund (Rosalinde), Alfred Sramek (Frank), Angelika Kirschschlager (Prince Orlofsky), Michael Schade (Alfred), Adrian Eröd (Dr. Falke), Daniela Fally (Adele), Helmuth Lohner (Frosch), Peter Jelosits (Dr. Blind), Lydia Rathkolb (Ida), Anna Netrebko (invited guest), Erwin Schrott (invited guest); Otto Schenck, Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Patrick Lange

27º Festival de Música de Canarias, Opening Concert, Sala Sinfónica, Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 7. Jan 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Bass-baritone); National Philharmonic of Russia, Vladimir Spivakov

27º Festival de Música de Canarias, Opening Concert, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 10. Jan 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Bass-baritone); National Philharmonic of Russia, Vladimir Spivakov

Stabat Mater by Gioachino Rossini, Grosser Saal, Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien 18. Jan 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Ruxandra Donose (Mezzo-soprano), John Relyea (Bass-baritone), Colin Lee (Tenor); Wiener KammerOrchester, Fréderic Chaslin

L’Elisir d’Amore, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 24. Jan 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), NN (Nemorino), NN (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Concert performance, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Luciano di Martino

L’Elisir d’Amore, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 27. Jan 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), NN (Nemorino), NN (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Concert performance, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Luciano di Martino

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 4. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Barry Banks (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 8. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 11. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 14. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 2. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó [Ö1 Live Broadcast] [BR-Klassik Live Broadcast]

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó [ARTE TV Live Broadcast] [ORF2]

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 11. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 14. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó

Anna Bolena, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 17. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Enrico VIII), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo Percy); Eric Génovèse (Director), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Evelino Pidó

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 11. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 14. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

L’Elisir d’Amore, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 17. Mai 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Gabriele Viviani (Belcore), Alessandro Corbelli (Dulcamara), Tara Erraught (Giannetta); David Bösch (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Marco Armiliato

L’Elisir d’Amore, Opening of the XIX Music Festival Stars of the White Nights, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 23. May 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Sergei Skorokhodov (Nemorino), Vladimir Moroz (Belcore), Andrei Serov (Dulcamara), Svetlana Kiseleva (Giannetta); Laurent Pelly (Stage Director), Christian Räth (Stage Director for the Mariinsky), Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev

Kölner Philharmonie, Köln 2. Jul 2011  – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Baritone)

Summit Meeting of Classical Music Stars, Königsplatz, München 29. Jul 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Baritone), Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor); Prager Philharmoniker, Marco Armiliato

Summit Meeting of Classical Music Stars, Stadthalle, Wien 6. Aug 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Baritone), Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor); Prager Philharmoniker, Marco Armiliato

Joseph Haydn: London Symphony | Gioacchino Rossini: Stabat Mater, Salzburger Festspiele, Grosses Festspielhaus 8. Aug 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Marianna Pizzolato (Mezzo-soprano), Matthew Polenzani (Tenor), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Bass-baritone); Chorus and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano [ORF2 broadcast on 1. Nov 2011][ARTE broadcast on 25. Dec 2011]

Joseph Haydn: London Symphony | Gioacchino Rossini: Stabat Mater, Salzburger Festspiele, Grosses Festspielhaus 9. Aug 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Marianna Pizzolato (Mezzo-soprano), Matthew Polenzani (Tenor), Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (Bass-baritone); Chorus and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano  [ORF2 broadcast on 1. Nov 2011][ARTE broadcast on 25. Dec 2011]

Le Rossignol | Iolanta, Salzburger Festspiele, Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg 15. Aug 2011 – Le Rossignol: Julia Novikova (The Nightingale), Julia Lezhneva (The Cook), Antonio Poli (The Fisherman), Yuri Vorobiev (The Bonze), Maria Radner (Death) | Iolanta: Anna Netrebko (Iolanta), John Relyea (René), Piotr Beczala (Count Vaudémont), Alexei Markov (Robert), Antonio Poli (Alméric), Yuri Vorobiev (Bertrand), Maria Radner (Martha), NN (Brigitta), NN (Laura); Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Ivor Bolton

Summit Meeting of Classical Music Stars, Waldbühne, Berlin 16. Aug 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Erwin Schrott (Baritone), Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor); Prager Philharmoniker, Marco Armiliato

Le Rossignol | Iolanta, Salzburger Festspiele, Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg 20. Aug 2011 – Le Rossignol: Julia Novikova (The Nightingale), Julia Lezhneva (The Cook), Antonio Poli (The Fisherman), Yuri Vorobiev (The Bonze), Maria Radner (Death) | Iolanta: Anna Netrebko (Iolanta), John Relyea (René), Piotr Beczala (Count Vaudémont), Alexei Markov (Robert), Antonio Poli (Alméric), Yuri Vorobiev (Bertrand), Maria Radner (Martha), NN (Brigitta), NN (Laura); Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Ivor Bolton

Metropolitan Opera Announces Three Week Tour To Japan From May 30 to June 20, 2011

The Metropolitan Opera announced plans today to return to Japan for a three-week tour in June 2011, presenting 13 performances of three fully staged operas in Tokyo and Nagoya. The operas will include Puccini’s La Bohème and Verdi’s Don Carlo, both conducted by Met Music Director James Levine, and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.

Star singers include Ildar Abdrazakov, Piotr Beczala, Olga Borodina, Joseph Calleja, Diana Damrau, Dmitri Hvorostovky, Jonas Kaufmann, Mariusz Kwiecien, Željko Lučić, Anna Netrebko and René Pape.

Performances will begin on June 4 at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Center in Nagoya with La Bohème, starring Anna Netrebko, Susanna Phillips, Piotr Beczala and Mariusz Kwiecien. Piotr Beczala and Joseph Calleja will share the roles of Rodolfo in La Bohème and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor.

This will be the Met’s seventh tour to Japan; the first was in 1975 and the most recent was in 2006. The tour is being presented by the Japan Arts Corporation of Tokyo and the Crown Sponsor is KDDI. Anna Netrebko was in four performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni of the 2006 Met Tour to Japan, with a strong cast starring Anna Netrebko as Donna Anna, Erwin Schrott as Don Giovanni, Matthew Polenzani as Don Ottavio, Melanie Diener as Donna Elvira, René Pape as Leporello, Magdalena Kozena as Zerlina and Jonathan Lemalu as Masetto.

Metropolitan Opera Tour to Japan 2011
SATURDAY, June 4— La Bohème, Aichi Prefectural Arts Center, Nagoya, Puccini's "La Bohème" with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro)

SUNDAY, June 5— Aichi Prefectural Arts Center, Nagoya, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

WEDNESDAY, June 8— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

THURSDAY, June 9—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Joseph Calleja (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

FRIDAY, June 10— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

SATURDAY, June 11— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

SUNDAY, June 12—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Joseph Calleja (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

WEDNESDAY, June 15—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

THURSDAY, June 16—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Piotr Beczala (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

FRIDAY, June 17—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Joseph Calleja (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

SATURDAY, June 18— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

SUNDAY, June 19— Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Piotr Beczala (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

SUNDAY, June 19—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Joseph Calleja (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

Related Links
Metropolitan Opera Press Release: Metropolitan Opera Announces Three Week Tour To Japan From June 5 to June 24, 2011

Related Posts
Anna Netrebko | 2010-2011 Season

Anna Netrebko will perform at the Richard Tucker Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 22. Nov 2009

Anna Netrebko will perform at the Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala 2009 which will be held at the Avery Fisher Hall, New York, on Sunday 22. November 2009.

A news release of 21C Media Group announces that Anna Netrebko will sing Arditi’s “Il bacio”, the duet “O soave fanciulla” from Puccini's La Bohème with Joseph Calleja and, closing out the evening, the Act II, Scene II finale from Verdi’s La Traviata, opposite Zeljko Lucic and this year’s Richard Tucker Award winner, tenor Stephen Costello.

Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala 2009
Avery Fisher Hall
Sunday 22. November 2009, 6:00 PM

Featuring:
Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Elina Garanca (Mezzo-soprano), Joseph Calleja (Tenor), Matthew Polenzani (Tenor), Stephanie Blythe (Mezzo-soprano), Susan Graham (Mezzo-soprano), Maria Guleghina (Soprano), Hei-Kyung Hong (Soprano), Zeljko Lucic (Baritone), James Morris (Bass-baritone), Samuel Ramey (Bass), 2009 Richard Tucker Award Winner Stephen Costello (Tenor); The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Fabio Luisi

Related Posts
Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season

The Met will offer free tickets for the Dress Rehearsal of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" on 30. Nov 2009

The Metropolitan Opera of New York will offer 3000 free tickets, limited to 2 per person, to the final dress rehearsal of the Bartlett Sher's production of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" on 30. November 2009, starring Anna Netrebko, Joseph Calleja, Alan Held, Kate Lindsey, Kathleem Kim and Ekaterina Gubanova.

Press Reports
Free Tickets for Dress Rehearsals at the Met - Arts Beat 2. Sep 2009 [English]

Link to the Anna Netrebko's Blog at the Joseph Calleja's Official Website

I first met Joseph Calleja on stage at the end of the premiere of La Bohème this year in München, where he sang some outstanding performances as Rodolfo, with a no less outstanding Anna Netrebko as Mimí.


Shortly after this first meeting, Joseph told me that he had given instructions to his webmaster to add a link to this blog in his official website. I have to say that I was deeply honoured with such a kind decission and even more when I read what he wrotes there: "A great blog dedicated to a great artist run by my friend Carlos!". Thank you Joseph for being such a great artist and such a nice and friendly person.

La Bohème, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 31. Mai 2009

La Bohème
Giacomo Puccini
Giuseppe Giacosa und Luigi Illica

Nationaltheater, München
Sonntag, 31. Mai 2009



Besetzung
Musikalische Leitung Daniele Callegari
Inszenierung Otto Schenk
Bühne und Kostüme Rudolf Heinrich
Chöre Andrés Máspero

Mimi Anna Netrebko
Musetta Jessica Muirhead
Rodolfo Joseph Calleja
Marcello Nikolay Borchev
Schaunard Christian Rieger
Colline John Relyea
Parpignol Ho-Chul Lee
Benoît Alfred Kuhn
Alcindoro Rüdiger Trebes
Ein Zöllner Christopher Magiera
Sergeant der Zollwache Igor Bakan

Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper

La Bohème - Synopsis

Reviews
Herbert attended also the third and last performance of the run and he wrote a short report:

The performance was sold out, of course, but today there were not so many people of the "high society" in the audience as last Thursday, but "ordinary" opera lovers who showed their feelings at the end of the performance. I saw some ladies wiping tears out of their eyes after Mimi had died and Rodolfo had broken down at her deathbed. There was a storm or even a tornado of applause - people were stamping their feet and cheering and applauding like hell. The German President Horst Köhler and his wife were also present, and they stood up like anybody else and kept applauding at curtain calls.

There was a large crowd of fans at the stage door again. Joseph Calleja had to sign many autographs before he came out to get some fresh air. He said that tomorrow (!) he had rehearsals in London!

Then Anna came, in a short white coat. She was clever and promised that she would sign everything - but PLEASE outside where she would get some fresh air. So everybody went out with her and then she spent at least 20 minutes or more in front of the stage door and signed programmes, answered questions, talked about President Köhler who visited her backstage and was photographed many many times. She also accepted to be photpgraphed side by side with her fans. Finally, when everybody was happy, she waved and said good-bye and then she walked down the street, I guess she went to the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten.

The second report comes from Attila, who was also there for the last performance of the run.

Anna Netrebreko expects to sing Trovatore in 2012.

Mingling with fans at the stage door after the third successful performance of La Boheme in Munich, Anna gave a date for when she expects to sing the role of Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore - in 3 years time. She made the comment after dismissing my suggestion that she should sing Madame Butterfly. "Oh, no! Not Butterfly!" she said scrunching up her face "But I will sing Trovatore." When? "In three years."

Anna looked like a star; fresh and visibly relieved that the short run of Boheme's was finished. Anna stood with people in the street outside the stagedoor; chatting to everyone in turn, standing for photographs, making jokes, accepting expensive presents. Someone suggested she had been even better tonight than the previous performance on Thursday. She made a face dismissing the compliment "Really?? Nooooo!" This was not the same Anna we had seen in a post-performance trance on Thursday. Tonight's show had been more like a working evening for her.

Tonight's performance was indeed different because it wasn't the simple intuitive vocal approach but instead more of an interpretive performance, one which she made happen, rather than one of those evenings which just happen on their own. I think the relatively weak cast and conductor was a factor in making Anna pull out all the stops in this Boheme - aided and abetted by Calleja who was again fantastic this evening.

From the very beginning Anna sang with a noticeably richer voice, spinning the tone rather than just floating it; a slightly more Bellini-esque way of singing. It seemed that now she has fully regained the flexibility and ease of the upper voice, she is putting back into it more of its characteristic dark richness. For me it gave her interpretation more of a sense of forboding, certain passages - particularly the last act really benefitting from the extra body in the lower part of the voice.

Interpretation-wise, her themes were a little easier to read. In the first act, her fear of isolation was palpable; when Rodolfo is calling down to his friends in the street telling them he will follow, you could see the fear in Anna's face at the prospect of yet another evening alone. When Rudolfo invites her to join them for the Christmas Eve festivities, the invitation is a dream come true for her. She is seduced not just by his charm, but by the possibility of the kind of wonderful partying bohemian social life she probably envisaged when sher first arrived in Paris but which had so far elluded her.

In act two, Anna shows Mimi entering a whole new vagabond lifestyle with her new friends; I particularly liked the touch where Mimi steals a bottle of wine from the table and puts it under her shawl, passing it to Rudolfo who hides in his jacket.

The third act became one long extended duet for Anna and Calleja, as the fears of both of them - her fear of loneliness, and his fear of her imminent death -- turn miraculously into the warmest possible love duet. Calleja's envelopping arms were even more sensual this evening, turning the lovers' togetherness into a protective shelter from the harsh cold snowy winter. When Marcello and Musetta are having their comic squabble, Mimi and Rudolfo are totally oblivious to a world of arguments and bitterness; locked in an unending embrace - an eternal kiss.

In the final act, Mimi is back in her adoptive world with her beloved group of friends, oblivious to her own illness - but she is not the usual delirious Mimi who doesn't understand what's going on around her. This Mimi has made a journey from the 'nobody' she was when she first appeared on the stage, conquering all her fears through love and through her proximity to death. Unlike her Vienna Traviata who dies disconnected from the people and the world around her, this Mimi can face death easily because she has achieved a connectedness. Her added vocal richness and her earthbound quality made this evening's death seen much more real and human.

Calleja was great, especially in Acts 3 and 4. His fear of Mimi's worsening illness in Act 3 becomes a trauma in Act 4 when Mimi is brought in. He is absolutely devastated, finally breaking down in tears when Shaunard and Colline leave the two of them alone. It's this emotional devastation he suffers which stops him realising Mimi has died, his suffering isolates him from the reality going on around him. So when he does realise she has died, it brings him crashing back down to earth. An earth in which Mimi is no longer alive.

Press Reviews

On-line Press Reviews
München, Bayerische Staatsoper: LA BOHÈME, 31.05.09, Gisela Schmöger, Der Neue Merker [German]

English translated extracts of a number of reviews published in German press or websites, for different performances of the run, are available at the press review section of Joseph Calleja's website.

Photo Album
Curtain calls photos [1-4] by Herbert

Stage door photos [1-10] by Herbert

Related posts
La Bohème, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 24. Mai 2009
La Bohème, Bayerische Staatsoper, München 28. Mai 2009