Don Carlo DVD

Just a few days ago I posted that Sony was planning on Releasing Two new Jonas Kaufmann DVDs and that they were getting there act together. Now it seems like they will be releasing Don Carlo as well. It seems like the company has obtained the rights to all the recent Salzburg performances including this extraordinary performance. The company has yet to announce a Fanciulla del West release but perhaps that could be their future plans. For now it is rumored that Sony also has plans on releasing the new Don Giovanni from Baden Baden so stay tuned for upcoming news.   

Revival of Macbeth for 2014-15 season

La Cieca is reporting that  the 2014-2015 Met season will include a revival of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Anna Netrebko with Joseph Calleja and René Pape. However there is no baritone announced. From the looks of it, it may Dimitri Hvorostovsky or Zeljko Lucic. Of course it could also be Simon Keenlyside, George Gagnidze, or Thomas Hampson. So these are only a few options. Tell us who you want to see alongside this stellar cast.
Update: It looks like teh eventual Macbeth will Be Lucic reprising the role he sang at the premiere of the production. What do you link of the Met's casting 

Deutsche Grammophon Announces Red Square DVD

 The Yellow label has announced the DVD to the historical Red Square concert and the cover art is exactly the poster that was used to promote the concert. The program featured works by Verdi, Tchiakovsky, Giordano, Puccini and Cilea.

2014 Salzburg Festival Plans

Alexander Perriera has previewed the 2014 Salzburg Festival and promises a lot of surprises. The director said that he is planning a new production of Il Trovatore with Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo and Francesco Meli. He is also planning a new production of Der Rosenkavalier with Zubin Mehta conducting. There will also be a Don Giovanni production and Scubert's Fierrabras. On the concert schedule there will be a full cycle of Bruckner sypmphonies, conducted by the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Muti, Daniele Gatti, Riccardo Chailly, Philippe Jordan, Bernard Haitink and Christoph Eschenbach. No details have been revealed yet but more will come in November. 

Elina Garanca To Change Repertoire

The Latvian Mezzo soprano recently told the Kurier her desire to change repertoire and revealed that she wants to sing Verdi. 

She stated, "As I turn 40 I want to sing more Verdi, and look more at the dramatic repertoire. I dream of Amneris in Aida, that would be the summit. I have Parsifal at home right now, and I'm looking at Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde. Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana is already scheduled, and in Don Carlo is on the books for 2016."

Anna Netebko Verdi Album review

I recently published my first Cd review through Latinospost. Here is a sample of the review and you can continue reading.

"It has been five years since Anna Netrebko recorded a solo album for her record company Deutsche Grammophon. This year she celebrates her tenth anniversary with the company with a CD dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's 200^th anniversary entitled "Verdi." The CD is a selection of arias that were personal favorites of the soprano and a preview of works she will add to her repertoire in the coming seasons.Since her album "Souvenirs" Netrebko's voice has obtained a larger, heavier and darker sound. The soprano who once sang the coloratura and lyric roles proves in her latest album she is ready for more dramatic ones." Continue Reading.

Jonas Kaufmann in First Don Carlo Pictures From Salzburg

The first pictures of Salzburg's Don Carlo have been revealed. And I am happy to announce that it is not all black. After seeing Munich and the Met's hideous productions, Peter Stein seems to have realized that Verdi operas can also have color. This is by far the most anticipated production of the year and one that am most looking forward to. The opera will be broadcast from Medici and ORF and should eventually get a DVD (Hopefully). 

Anna Netrebko to Sing Lady Macbeth at the Met

Anna Netrebko has revealed her future plans for the upcoming season. She revealed that she has already signed a contract with the Met to sing Lady Macbeth and that she will do a new production of Il Trovatore in Salzburg. She also said she would sing Manon Lescaut with Riccardo Muti conducting and would also sing Adriana Lecrouveur. She also plans on singing the role of Elsa in Lohengrin and the four last songs. For more information click here.

A New Simon Boccanegra

Kristine Opolais has recently posted a picture to her new recording of Simon Boccanegra with Thomas Hampson and Joseph Calleja. The recording is slated for a September release on Decca Classics. 

Jonas Kaufmann Verdi CD

Jonas Kaufmann announces his new CD which surprises many fans as he recorded the new CD for Sony Classical. The question that many are wondering is if it concludes his contract with Decca which has been one of the most fruitful discographies in years. He has a new Verdi DVD also being released through Decca. More will be announced in the coming months. 

THE VERDI ALBUM – Jonas Kaufmann

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813–1901)

Rigoletto

1 “La donna è mobile” (Duca)

Aida

2 “Se quel guerrier io fossi! … Celeste Aida” (Radamès)

Un ballo in maschera

3 “Di’ tu se fedele” (Riccardo)

4 “Forse la soglia attinse … Ma se m’è forza perderti” (Riccardo)

Il trovatore

5: “Ah! sì, ben mio … Di quella pira” (Manrico)

with Giovanni Gregnanin Ruiz · Erika Grimaldi Leonora

Luisa Miller

6 “Oh! fede negar potessi … Quando le sere al placido” (Rodolfo)

Simon Boccanegra

7 “O inferno! Amelia qui! … Sento avvampar nell’anima … Cielo pietoso, rendila” (Gabriele)

Don Carlo

8 “È lui! desso, l’Infante! … Dio, che nell’alma infondere” (Don Carlo)

with Franco Vassallo Rodrigo · Daniele Cusari un frate

La forza del destino

9 “La vita è inferno all’infelice … O tu, che in seno agli angeli” (Alvaro)

I masnadieri

10 “Destatevi, o pietre! … Giuri ognun questo canuto” (Carlo)

Otello

11 “Dio! mi potevi scagliar” (Otello)

12“Niun mi tema” (Otello)

with Franco Vassallo Jago

BONUS TRACK

Macbeth

13 “O figli, o figli miei! … Ah, la paterna mano” (Macduff)

JONAS KAUFMANN

Coro del Teatro Municipale di Piacenza

Orchestra dell’Opera di Parma

PIER GIORGIO MORANDI

Placido Domingo Verdi Album

Yet another artist is recording a Verdi Album. This time Placido Domingo teamed up with Sony Classical to record baritone arias from many of Verdi's operas. Several of the works Domingo has already performed on stage. The works include Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Trovatore,  Macbeth, Don Carlo, Simon Boccanegra, La Traviata, and La Forza del Destino. The album comes out in August 19 in Europe.

Anna Netrebko's Verdi Album Confirmed (Track Listings)

It's Official Anna Netrebko's new album is being released. The album features arias by Giuseppe Verdi and is conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. My only complaint at this point is who the hell did the photoshop work and who took those pictures. 

Who is excited and what do you think of that cover?

Updated

According to Kassikakente the album includes three arias from Macbeth-Vieni t'Affretta, The Sleepingwalking scene and La Luce Langue. It also includes Elisabetta's aria from Don Carlo "Tu Che La Vanita," Giovanna d'Arco's Sempre all'alba, Elena's aria from I Vespri Siciliani- The Bolero and aria's from "Il Trovatore." According to the site Rolando Villazon also recorded a scene from Il Trovatore but since I do not read German I was not able to understand that portion. 

Controversy over Album Arises 

Happy Birthday Verdi

Happy 199th birthday to Giuseppe Verdi!


In celebration we want to know which is your favorite Verdi opera and which is your favorite aria. 

Il Trovatore Preview 2012-2013 Season

David McVicar's crowd pleasing Trovatore returns with a cast of up and coming stars which include Gwyn Hughes-Jones, Carmen Giannattasio and Alexey Markov

The Production

For years the Met had suffered from terrible productions of Il Trovatore from Fabrizio Melano and Grahm Vick. They were unable to tell the story that has become known for its complicated plot and its complex characters. In 2009, 6 years after the last Trovatore had been shown, the Met unvealed a new production by David McVicar and quickly became a critic and audience darling. The production has only missed one season and has been easily cast. Set in the Spanish Civil War, McVicar's sets uses a rotating turntable to easily move the action forward. The backdrops draw inspiration from “The Disasters of War,” Goya’s series of etchings and give the production a consistent and harrowing look. Having seen the production twice I was absolutely convinced the first time by its direction, and its imagery. As critics stated I believed the Trovatore "curse was broken." However the second time I was bored as the sets looked like drab and ultimately failed to provide any new insight. I don't know if it was because the cast was nothing special or because the production is ultimately a one shot deal. However what I do know is no matter how good a production is, the cast is ultimately what matters when it comes to this opera.

C Major celebrates Verdi

This upcoming September C Major is celebrating Verdi's centennial with a set of all 26 Verdi operas from Parma. The first three opera Un giorno di Regno, Oberto and Nabucco are scheduled for September 25 with more news to come in the coming days. Check out the pictures below.

Salzburg 2013 season rumors

 Salzburg comes to an end, rumors of the upcoming festival are already spreading. Like all houses, the Salzburg festival will celebrate the centennial of Wagner and Verdi with two Wagners and three Verdi's. They will also present one Rossini work and of course one Mozart.

The Verdi works that will be shown are Il Trovatore with a rumored Placido Domingo as Luna, Don Carlo with Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, and Rene Pape and Nabucco in concert.

The Wagner's will be Die Meistersinger with Michael Volle and a concert version of Rienzi.

Finally La Cenerentola and Cosi Fan Tutte will both get new productions. Cast have not been announced yet. More information to come very soon.