Anna Netrebko at the Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Today it has been presented the Programme for the upcoming Salzburger Festspiele 2011.

Among the concerts, one of the highlights of the Festival is the Concert of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. On the programme the "London" Symphony by Joseph Haydn and the "Stabat Mater" by Gioacchino Rossini featuring Anna Netrebko, Marianna Pizzolato, Matthew Polenzani and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. Antonio Pappano conducts the Chorus and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Two performances are scheduled at the Grosses Festspielhaus on 8. and 9. August 2011 at 17:00.

Among the operas one of the highlights of the Festival is the double bill programme in concert performance: "Le Rossignol" by Igor Stravinsky and "Iolanta" by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky. Anna Netrebko sings the title role in Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta" opposite Piotr Beczala as Count Vaudémont, John Relyea as King René and Alexei Markov as Robert. Ivor Bolton conducts the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Two performances of those rarely performed together 1-act operas are scheduled on 15. August 2011 at 15:00 and on 20. August 2011 at 20:30.

Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 8. Aug 2011 17:00

Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Tuesday 9. Aug 2011 17:00

Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

PROGRAMME
Joseph Haydn • Symphony in D, Hob. I:104 – "London" Symphony
Gioacchino Rossini • Stabat Mater for Four Solo Voices, Choir and Orchestra

PERFORMERS
Anna Netrebko, Soprano
Marianna Pizzolato, Mezzo-Soprano
Matthew Polenzani, Tenor
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Bass
Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Ciro Visco, Chorus Master
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Antonio Pappano, Conductor


Salzburger Festspiele 2011
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 15. Aug 2011 15:00
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Saturday 20. Aug 2011 20:30

Igor Stravinsky • Le Rossignol
Lyric tale in three acts
Text by Igor Stravinsky and Stepan Stepanovich Mitusov after Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Nightingale

CAST
Julia Novikova, The Nightingale
Julia Lezhneva, The Cook
Antonio Poli, The Fisherman
Yuri Vorobiev, The Bonze
Maria Radner, Death

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Iolanta
Lyric opera in one act
Text by Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky after Henrik Hertz’s play King René’s Daughter

CAST
Anna Netrebko, Iolanta, blind daughter of King René
John Relyea, René, King of Provence
Piotr Beczala, Count Vaudémont, Burgundian knight
Alexei Markov, Robert, Herzog von Burgund
Antonio Poli, Alméric, armour-bearer to King René
Yuri Vorobiev, Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle
Maria Radner, Martha, Iolanta’s nursemaid

Ivor Bolton, Conductor
Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Jörn H. Andresen, Chorus Master

Anna Netrebko in Iolanta at the Salzburger Festspiele 2011

Kurier announces that Markus Hinterhäuser - since September of this year, interim director of the Salzburg Festival - has presented today the Programme of the upcoming Summer Salzburg Festival 2011.

One of the highlights of the Summer Salzburg Festival 2011 are two opera concert performance evenings at the Grosses Festspielhaus on 15. and 20. August 2011. The programme consists of two one-act operas, rarely performed together: "Le Rossignol" by Igor Stravinsky and "Iolanta" by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky.

Anna Netrebko sings the title role in Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta" opposite Piotr Beczala as Count Vaudémont, John Relyea as King René and Alexei Markov as Robert. Ivor Bolton conducts the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg.

Salzburger Festspiele 2011
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Monday 15. Aug 2011 15:00
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Saturday 20. Aug 2011 20:30

Igor Stravinsky • Le Rossignol
Lyric tale in three acts
Text by Igor Stravinsky and Stepan Stepanovich Mitusov after Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Nightingale

CAST
Julia Novikova, The Nightingale
Julia Lezhneva, The Cook
Antonio Poli, The Fisherman
Yuri Vorobiev, The Bonze
Maria Radner, Death

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Iolanta
Lyric opera in one act
Text by Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky after Henrik Hertz’s play King René’s Daughter

CAST
Anna Netrebko, Iolanta, blind daughter of King René
John Relyea, René, King of Provence
Piotr Beczala, Count Vaudémont, Burgundian knight
Alexei Markov, Robert, Herzog von Burgund
Antonio Poli, Alméric, armour-bearer to King René
Yuri Vorobiev, Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle
Maria Radner, Martha, Iolanta’s nursemaid

Ivor Bolton, Conductor
Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Jörn H. Andresen, Chorus Master

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010

Saturday, 6. November 2010. Third performance of the run of Otto Schenk's revival of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House of New York, featuring John Del Carlo in the title role, Anna Netrebko as Norina, Matthew Polenzani as Ernesto and Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta. The conductor is James Levine.

Don Pasquale
Opera buffa in three acts
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Giovanni Ruffini

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. November 2010

John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale
Anna Netrebko, Norina
Matthew Polenzani, Enesto
Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta
Bernard Fitch, Notary

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

Otto Schenk, Production
Rolf Langenfass, Set and Costume Designer
Duane Schuler, Lighting Designer

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

Reports
Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance of "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House. Howard kindly wrote the following review for the blog.

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010
By Howard 

The performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Metropolitan Opera was truly a tour de force and exceeded all of our expecations. The cast was marvelous and uniform throughout.

     John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale (has also played in the Barber of Seville)
     Anna Netrebko, Norina (a reprise performance for her at the Met)
     Matthew Polenzani, Ernesto (a beautiful lyric tenor)
     Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta (a handsome match for Norina)

The opera begins with Dr. Malatesta singing a beautiful lyric melody which sets the stage for a comical farce based on love and playing jokes on an old codger. Both Mariusz Kwiecien and Matthew Polenzani were elegant and supportive, but the afternoon was dominated by Norina's antics. Her second scene putting on a pair of stockings on a the edge of the bed is the highlight of the opera showcased in a clip from the dress rehearsal at the MET. Her impish charm and seductive nature is amply paired with a lustrous voice which fills the opera house which hold nearly 4000 patrons. This scene was well choreographed and was a sheer delight to behold. She literally stopped the show with applause. As the curtain closed on the second scene of the first act, Norina did a small tumble onto the divan. As I recall, the earlier production for her in this role, she scaled back this effort, but took the audience by surprise.

As the opera continues in the 2nd act, Norina is on a roll, kicking Don Pasquale in the rear and smashing vases on the floor, destroying Don Pasquale's bed and simply carrying on with much fun as an overblown practical joke, calling Don Pasquale an old codger. The audience broke out in laughter on more than one occasion as the merriment evolved. Unlike most productions at the MET, there were numerous well behaved young children at this performance.

The third act reveals the nature of the joke and Don Pasquale blesses the love between Ernesto, the nephew, and Norina. There is a touching duet between John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale, and Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta, that was repeated at the end of the third act in front of the curtain.

Anna's voice and stature have grown, but she truly ruled the stage with charm, a great sense of humor and uncanny ability to act as an impish young girl. The role of Norina was certainly well suited for her and I was overjoyed to hear improvements in some of her trills, coloratura embellishments and thrilling high notes exemplified at the end of the 3rd act. Anna was clearly enjoying herself immensely, and sang with much confidence and panache. At one point late in the opera she even walked over to the prompter's box and sang from there. The curtain closed to thunderous applause for Anna and her colleagues. It is clear that James Levine is truly a genius, but he is now quite lame and came to the stage using a cane and holding on to other people to steady his balance. He is truly loved by the New York Audience and one could see "Jimmy" throwing a kiss to Anna as the cast took a collective final bow.

Having seen the earlier performance of Don Pasquale at the MET also, I could easily say that this one was filled wiith more humor and antics. Anna hammed it up to rapturous applause, but her real talents lie in an amalgam of acting, sensational looks and a rapturous voice. We loved it so much even havinf traveled from Boston to see it, that we are attending an encore HD performance. All of the nearby theaters were already sold out for the "Live" HD transmission. We will see Anna again at the Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on November 14th.

My only regret was having a dinner appointment in Manhattan with dear friends that precluded us from going to the stage door. I hope all of you will get to see this marvelous performance in the HD transmissions.

Photos

Don Pasquale poster at the Met. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Anna Netrebko (Norina) and John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will give a concert tour to Ukraine, Latvia and Russia

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will be performing together in a concert tour to Ukraine (Odessa and Kiev), Latvia (Riga) and Russia (St. Petersburg and Moscow) in December 2010. All concerts will be conducted by Claudio Vandelli.

This will be the first time Anna Netrebko sings in Ukraine. In Latvia she has performed at least once in Riga, where she sang the role of the Queen of the Night of Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte" at the Riga Independent Opera Avangarda Akadeemija, Riga in June 1994, and several times in Sigulda at the summer Festival organized in this city located at 53 km of the capital city Riga. At the 7th Opera Music Festival of Sigulda, Anna Netrebko sang the role of Rosina in Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" at the Sigulda's Castle Ruins on 31. July 1999 and she performed in a Gala Concert at the Sigulda's Castle Ruins on 1. August 1999. At the 8th Opera Music Festival of Sigulda, she sang the role of Susanna in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" on 2. August 2000, the title role of Bizet's "Carmen" on 5. August 2000 and performed in a Gala Concert on 6. August 2000. Anna Netrebko came back to the 9th Opera Music Festival of Sigulda to sing the role of Adina in Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore" on 22. July 2001.

Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater, Odessa 1. December 2010
The first concert of the tour will be held at the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater in Odessa on 1. December 2010. Claudio Vandelli will conduct the Odessa Opera Orchestra.

The programme will include arias from Glinka, Dvorak, Mozart, Gounod and Puccini.

Anna Netrebko will sing "Ludmila´s Cavatina" from the 1. Act of Glinka's "Russland and Ludmila", Marguerite's Vals from Gounod's "Faust", "Song to the Moon" from Dvorak's "Russalka" and Lauretta's aria from Puccini's "Gianni Schicci". Erwin Schrott will sing arias from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Gounod's "Faust", among others. Anna and Erwin will sing duets from Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore", Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and Lehár's operetta "The Merry Widow".

Palace Ukraine, Kiev 5. December 2010
The second concert of the tour will be given at the Palace Ukraine, Kiev on 5. December 2010. Claudio Vandelli will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.










Latvian National Opera, Riga 8. December 2010
Following those two concerts in Ukraine, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will give a concert at the Latvian National Opera, in Riga, Latvia on 8. December 2010. Claudio Vandelli will conduct the Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

The programme will include arias and duets from Glinka, Dvorak, Mozart, Gounod, Donizetti, Puccini and Gershwin.

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

Following the concert in Riga, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will move to Russia to give a first concert in St. Petersburg at the Theater of Opera and Ballet of St. Petersburg Conservatory (Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory) on 11. December 2010. This will be their first joint concert in Russia. Claudio Vandelli will conduct the State Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg.

Tickets: operabase.ru

Kremlin, Moscow 13. December 2010

The last concert of the tour given by Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott will take place at the Kremlin in Moscow on 13. December 2010.  Claudio Vandelli will conduct the State Symphony Orchestra "Novaya Rossiya". This is a private concert given at the Kremlin for Russian President Medvedev and 150 of his guests.

Anna Netrebko returns to the Met as Norina in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale"

Anna Netrebko retuns to the Met to sing the role of Norina in a revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale". The cast features Matthew Polenzani making his Met role debut as Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta and John del Carlo in the title role. Maestro James Levine conducts for first time ever this opera.

Anna Netrebko made her Met debut as Norina in Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" in 2006, opposite Juan Diego Flórez as Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien, who made his Met role debut, as Dr. Malatesta and Simone Alaimo in the title role. Maestro Maurizio Benini conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. Check out the Anna Netrebko Performances Database for further information about those performances.

Two sets of performances, six in October/November 2010 and five in February 2011, are scheduled. The premiere will take place on 29. October 2010.

A dress rehearsal and photo session was done on 21. October 2010. The final dress rehearsal was on 26. October 2010. This clip, courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera, shows Anna Netrebko as Norina in the final dress rehearsal.



The performance on 13. November 2010 will be transmitted to movie theaters worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD program.



Sirius/XM will live broadcast the premiere and the performances on 2., 10., 18. November 2010 and 19. February 2011. The last performance on 19. February 2011 will be also live broadcast as part of the Saturday Matinees International Radio Brooadcast Network. The premiere on 29. October 2010 will be streamed live through the Met website.

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* [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]

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]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 4. 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 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

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 19. 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 [Saturday Matinee Live Broadcast] [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

OPERA NEWS - Anna's Voyage

The November 2010 issue of Opera News, the annual Diva Issue, publishes the article "Anna's Voyage" by Oussama Zahr, one of the best articles ever written about Anna Netrebko.

On the cover, also devoted to the opera diva, Anna Netrebko photographed by Johannes Ifkovits at the Schloss Fuschl, near Salzburg. Makeup and styling by Evelyn Rillé.

DEAG Classics AG announces the "Summit Meeting of Classical Music Stars" with Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Jonas Kaufmann

Breaking news! DEAG Classics AG has announced today the "Summit Meeting of Classical Music Stars" featuring Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Jonas Kaufmann in a 2011 Eurpean concert tour.

Concerts will be held at the Königsplatz in München on Friday, 29. July 2011, Stadthalle in Wien on Saturday, 6. August 2011 and Waldbühne in Berlin on Tuesday, 16. August 2011.

Advanced ticket sales for those concerts commence on Friday, 22. October 2010.