Anja Harteros as Violetta

and Andrezj Dobber as Giorgio Germont

in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA act II

(The Met - 2008)

 

See also Gallery

 

Michael Lewis as Renato

and Nicole Youl as Amelia

in Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERA act III

(Opera Australia - 2008)

 

See also Gallery

 

Mlada Khudoley as Leonora

and Lester Lynch as Di Luna

in Verdi's IL TROVATORE act IV

(Minnesota Opera - 2008)

 

See also Gallery

 

Petra Maria Schnitzer as Elisabeth

and Eric Halfvarson as Langraf Hermann

in Wagner's TANNHÄUSER act II

(San Francisco Opera - 2007)

 

See also Gallery

 

Wolfgang Brendel as Scarpia

and Catherine Naglestad as Tosca

in Puccini's TOSCA act II

(The Dallas Opera - 2008)

 

See also Gallery

 

Nancy Fabiola Herrera as Carmen

and Marcelo Alvarez as Don José

in Bizet's CARMEN act I

(The Met - 2008)

 

See also Gallery

 

Stephane Degout as Papageno and

Diana Damrau as Pamina

in Mozart's DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE act I

(The Met - 2007)

See also Gallery

 

Elisabeth Watts as Susanna and

Luca Pisaroni as Figaro

in Mozart's LE NOZZE DI FIGARO act IV

(The Met - 2008)

See also Gallery

 

José Cura as Samson and

Denyce Graves as Dalila

in Saint-Saëns' SAMSON ET DALILA act II

(The Met - 2005)

Four versions of the aria Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix are published in Gallery. (ed.)

 

Michael Colvin as King Argirio and

Robert Pornakov as Orbazzano in

Rossini's TANCREDI act I

(Canadian Opera Company 2005)

An audio and video on the opera Tancredi are published in Gallery. (ed.)

 

Piero Cappuccilli as Gérard and

José Carreras as Andrea Chénier in

Giordano's ANDREA CHÉNIER act II

(Teatro alla Scala 1985)

A free video including this scene is published in Gallery. (ed.)

 

Dongwon Shin as Calaf and

Carter Scott as Turandot

in Puccini's TURANDOT act II

(Fort Worth Opera 2008)

 

SUOR ANGELICA Ave Maria piena di grazia >>

The soprano is Rosanna Carteri in 1950 (ed.)

 

Andrea Giovannini as Rinuccio and

Amarilli Nizza as Lauretta

in Puccini's GIANNI SCHICCHI

(Teatro Comunale di Modena - 2007)

GIANNI SCHICCHI O mio babbino caro >>

The soprano is Liz Schwarzkopf in 1948 (ed.)

 

Lisa Gasteen as Brunhilde and

James Morris as Wotan

in Wagner's DIE WALKÜRE act III

(The Met - 2008)

See also Gallery

 

NABUCCO by Giuseppe Verdi

A review of NABUCCO, the opera itself, a comparison between the Arena di Verona production featuring Ghena Dimitrova as Abigaille in 1981 and the St. Margareten production featuring Gabriella Morigi as Abigaille in 2007, comments, marks allotted by members of the panel and video files in support are published.

See Opera review  

 

 Dimitrova as                     Morigi as

   Elisabetta                        Norma

 

Gabriella Morigi as Abigaille

in Verdi's NABUCCO act III scene 1

(Opernfestspiele St. Margarethen - 2007)

 

Tenor Salvatore Fisichella

Our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, has accepted our invitation to give his thoughts on the two productions of NABUCCO. His expert comments, written in his usually elegant and inimitable style, are published in English and Italian. (ed.)

See Opera review  

 

 

Adina Tinescu as Manon and

Dario Volontè as Des Grieux

in Puccini's MANON LESCAUT act IV

(Teatro dell'Opera di Roma - 2007)

 

 

Marcello Giordani as Paolo

in Zandonai's FRANCESCA DA RIMINI act III

Artistic Director: Giancarlo Del Monaco

(Opernhaus Zürich - 2007)

 

 

Tchaikovsky's THE NUTCRACKER act I

(National Ballet Sofia - 2006)

 

 

THE BIRDS

(Arabesque Dance Company Sofia - 2006)

See "Free ballet"

of Gallery

 

ADRIANA LECOUVEUR Medley >>>>>

See also Gallery

 

 

Two of the greatest tenors of the Italian Romantic Opera will be recalled in January and July 2008:

 

Salvatore Fisichella             Luciano Pavarotti

       as Arturo                         as Riccardo

 

"On winning the Concorso Lirico Adriano Belli, in 1970 Fisichella debuted at Spoleto in Werther and one year later at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma in Rigoletto and I Puritani. Since then, Fisichella advanced in his career triumphantly." writes Joseph

Published in Reflections

 

"Luciano Pavarotti was definitely acclaimed as the greatest opera singer since Caruso. His recordings are still selling by the millions, he was known and loved throughout the world because he brought opera into the lives of everyone." concludes Lynn

Published in Recalls

                                       

 

The following powerful tenore lirico-spinto has been recalled in November 2007 and the mythical basso will be recalled in February 2009:

 

  Mario Di Felici                     Boris Christoff

    as Rodolfo                            as Boris                       

 

"The very young Di Felici got an audition with the great tenor Mario Del Monaco. He was very impressed by the voice and physical presence of Di Felici to whom he gave some advice, wished him a quick progress and saw an heir in him." writes Joseph   

Saved in Archive       

         

       

 

Opera Gems has created a new series in gallery called OPERA YOUNG VOICES in line with a policy of exposing promising young talents. The following six ladies and two gentlemen will be recalled in gallery around and beyond Christmas 2006:

 

      Chiara Ursino                 Melita Lamicela

                          Sopranos                                   (2006)        

                               

     

     Paola Cacciatori               Mihai Bogdan

      Mezzosoprano                     Tenore                 (2006) 

             

       

    Alfie Boe                       Nancy Calà  

   Tenore                           Soprano 

 (2006)                             (2007)

 

    Ivanna Speranza               Roxana Cetali

                             Sopranos   

                               (2006)  

Login and Search by Keyword for operayoungvoices (no space) >>>>>

The new series in gallery on promising young talents is proving to be a continuous success. Some of the young singers have already expressed their thanks for the comments posted in gallery.

See Feedback

 

 

Pinkerton (from the distance):

Butterfly!…Butterfly!  Butterfly!

Madama Butterfly act III and finale ultimo

 

With style and elegance, our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, retraces the origin of Madama Butterfly, its music, its characters, the less amiable Pinkerton, the opera premiere disaster, the reasons for his preferred Milan version and his thoughts on Pinkerton's vocality.

(ed.)

The article in Italian and English is published in

Reflections

The production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY at Torre del Lago Puccini in 2000 is reviewed. Our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, sang Pinkerton opposite soprano Maria Pia Ionata as Cio-Cio-San. The music author Puccini is profiled and the opera critically evaluated, comments are made on and marks allotted to the performers by members of the panel, with 1 audio and 6 video files in support.

Saved in Archive

 

Charlotte: Ces lettres! ces lettres!

Ah! Je les relis sans cesse…

Werther acte III

(Stage set at Teatro Comunale di Bologna 2004)

 

A commentary of the opera WERTHER by Jules Massenet with a stellar cast led by tenor Georges Thill as Werther under Elie Cohen (1931) is published in featured bits

Soprano Ninon Vallin and tenor Georges Thill sing the languid duet IL FAUT NOUS SEPARER (We have to separate) from WERTHER act II by Jules Massenet (1842-1912) >>>>>

 

LA TRAVIATA Prelude and Violetta's entrance >>

 

A review of LA TRAVIATA, the opera itself, a comparison between the Covent Garden production featuring Angela Gheorghiu as Violetta in 1994 and La Fenice production featuring Edita Gruberova as Violetta in 2004, comments, marks allotted by members of the panel and 8 video files in support are published.

Saved in Archive

 

Gheorghiu (1990)           Gruberova (1975)

 

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST

Mara Zampieri as Minnie Falconer, Placido Domingo as Dick Johnson, Juan Pons as Jack Rance and Antonio Salvadori as Sonora at theTeatro alla Scala in 1991. A star cast with chorus and orchestra under Lorin Maazel.

Saved in Archive

 

The prelude, the miners' nostalgia and delight at Minnie's entrance >>>>>

 

Our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, relates a letter from Puccini to Ricordi concerning a Fanciulla del West. With elegance and fervor, the tenor writes about Puccini within the context of the opera and about its moments of nostalgia, passion and farewell. (ed.)

Our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, confides his initial feelings of strong doubt to sing the demanding role of Arnoldo in Guillaume Tell. He recollects his early experiences in the role and that great night in Zurich. (ed.)

Both articles in Italian and English are published and saved in Archive

 

 

NORMA

The great scene of Casta Diva in the opera Norma

The prelude >>>>>

 

A star cast led by Gabriella Morigi and Salvatore Fisichella (pictured) with chorus and orchestra under Alberto Hold-Garrido at the Finland National Opera in 2004 Helsinki. Direction by the celebrated oprano Renata Scotto. Scenography by Carlo Diappi, the renowned costume designer in films and television.

Saved in Archive

Our Guest of Honour, tenor Salvatore Fisichella, reflects on his fascination for Bellini's music since childhood, his intense study and work on the Bellinian operas, culminating in a dream prize, and the last pearl of the chain: Norma. (ed.)

Saved in Archive

 

 

RIGOLETTO

Cast

Gilda – Renata Scotto

Rigoletto – Ettore Bastianini

The Duke – Alfredo Kraus

Maddalena – Fiorenza Cossotto

Sparafucile – Ivo Vinco

with chorus and orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under Gianandrea Gavazzeni (1960).

Our panel member, soprano Lynn Samohel, gives a splendid account of the opera and comments on the legendary performers.

 

RIGOLETTO The prelude >>>>>

RIGOLETTO act I Ch'io gli parli >>>>>

 

A commentary of the opera RIGOLETTO by Verdi is saved in Archive

 

LOHENGRIN

Lohengrin´ swan and the opera murals in King Ludwig´s Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

A commentary of the opera LOHENGRIN by Wagner with a cast led by tenor Ben Heppner as Lohengrin under Sir Colin Davis (1994) is saved in Archive

Prelude >>

 

11 November 1918 -

World War I ends: Germany signs an armistice deal with the Allies in a railroad car at Compiègne in France.

 

Tenor Georges Thill sings

Le chant du départ >>>>>

 

Peter Glossop

Peter Glossop, a Verdian interpreter of quality, was one of the pre-eminent baritones of the Sixties and Seventies and specialised in such demanding roles as Rigoletto, Iago, Rodrigo (Don Carlos) and Count di Luna (Il Trovatore). He was often heard in London, at both Sadler’s Wells and Covent Garden, and appeared at all the world’s leading opera houses. The voice was sumptuous, powerful, dark and bent to a play of ligature and portamento. (ed.)

From Otello by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), Peter Glossop sings Credo in un Dio crudel >>>>>

 

Gianni Raimondi as

Wilhelm Meister in

Thomas' MIGNON

Gianni Raimondi, a mainstay of La Scala during the Golden Age of Italian tenors, was Percy beside Callas' Anna Bolena, Devereux beside Caballé's Elisabeth of England and Alfredo beside Zeani's Violetta. With an extended, robust and thrilling voice, he sang Arturo in I Puritani, Guglielmo Tell in Rossini's masterpiece of the same name, Fernando in La Favorita and Rodolfo in La Bohème conducted by von Karajan in 1963. (ed.)

 

From Mignon by Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896), Gianni Raimondi sings Ah, non credevi tu  >>>>

 

Gabriella Morigi as

the High Priestess Norma in

Bellini's NORMA

She is the greatest Norma of her generation and sings the famous aria Casta Diva in Gallery

 

 

 

The  International Josef Traxel Vocal Society

It is a purely philanthropic society, established in 2005 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of passing of the great German tenor Josef Traxel and incorporated under the Quebec Registry of non-profit organizations ( Nr. 1164048960 ).

There is a NEW RELEASE of Historical Recordings by Hamburger Archiv für Gesangskunst: A Special Edition with the great German Tenor Josef Traxel  (1916 -1975). Many so far unpublished audio-documents are now accessible to the public. 
 

Further details may be obtained by contacting the following address:

Dr. Gérard MOHR

4048 Bd. Dorchester Ouest MONTRÉAL Qc. H3Z 1T9

Canada

(Tél. 514- 935 5658) gerardmohrmd@qc.aira.com

 

Tenor Salvatore Fisichella

in the title role of

Gaetano Donizetti's

ROBERTO DEVEREUX

One of the greatest interpreters of Italian Romantic operas

in Manrico's aria

Di quella pira

IL TROVATORE act III

(Concert at Solingen - 1989)

 

Verdi authorised the high C in the cabaletta “Di quella pira” but added, “provided it is beautiful and well flung". Countless legendary and great tenors have sung the cabaletta and the high C. Here above, tenor Salvatore Fisichella sings the cabaletta and his high C is the longest in history, 2 seconds longer than the one of the famous tenor Giacomo Lauri-Volpi. (ed.)

 

 

Leyla Gencer

Leyla Gencer known as the last diva of the XX century sang Gluck, Cherubini, Spontini, Pacini, Rossini, Bellini, Verdi but had a predilection for the prolific Donizetti with unforgettable portrays of Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, Antonina (Belisario), Paolina (Poliuto), Caterina Cornaro and Lucrezia Borgia, probably her masterpiece. She achieved a strong presence in the opera world, not only by the variety of her repertoire but also with the dramatic nuances of the operatic heroines she sang.

(ed.)

From Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Leyla Gencer sings Ah! Fuggi il traditor! >>>>>

See also Gallery

 

Giuseppe Di Stefano

From Mignon by Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896), Giuseppe Di Stefano sings Addio Mignon! >>>>>

See also Gallery

 

  

Roxana Briban as Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow (2004)

The great Romanian soprano exploded on the world stage in 2001. This unique ambassadress of the Italian and International repertoire has a solid technique, a taste for nuance, elegant articulations, dramatic gestures and steely top notes.

See also Gallery

 

The legendary Greek soprano lirico-drammatico Maria Callas as Paolina and Italian tenore lirico-spinto Franco Corelli as Poliuto in Donizetti's POLIUTO act I (La Scala 1960)

Published in Featured Bits

 

 

The celebrated Bulgarian soprano lirico-drammatico Ghena Dimitrova as the scheming Abigaille in Nabucco act I at the Arena di Verona (1981)

 

 

The great tenore lirico-spinto José Carreras and soprano lirico-spinto Eva Marton as the two lovers condemned to the guillotine in ANDREA CHENIER act IV at La Scala (1985)

See Gallery

 

 

The famous Hungarian

Sir Georg Solti

conducts Verdi's

SIMON BOCCANEGRA at Covent Garden (1991)

Saved in Archive

 

 

Morigi as Desdemona

Giacomini as Otello

OTELLO act I

(Theater Biel, Solothurn, 2005)

 

 

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

one of the greatest voices of XX century

in Elsa's aria

Einsam in truben tagen

from LOHENGRIN act I

(1956)

 

 

Corelli in 1946

He was one of the finest tenors of the XX century and had "a voice of heroic power yet great beauty of tone, of thunder, lightning, fire and blood, mysteriously melancholic and darkly sensuous" (Herbert von Karajan on Franco Corelli's voice at the Salzburg Festival).

From the Epilogue of Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito (1842-1918), Franco Corelli sings Giunto sul passo estremo >>>>>

From Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919), Franco Corelli sings Recitar >>>>>

Lynn, a member of the panel, knew Corelli in person. A recall of the great tenor is

published and saved in Archive

 

 

The famous American bass Samuel Ramey and tenor Mihai Bogdan outside The Met (2004)

 

The celebrated Mirella Freni and tenor Mihai Bogdan captured candidly at her Corso Accademico (September 2006)

 

Mirella Freni tutors tenor Mihai Bogdan at her Corso Accademico

(December 2006)

 

Paola Cacciatori as Carmen

at the concert of Velletri

(December 2006)

 

Nancy Calà  and the legendary soprano

Renata Scotto

(2007)

 

Moore as Louise

Grace Moore, the beautiful and popular American born soprano, sang on the stage and made numerous films in the 1920s and 1930s. Her femininity, charm and tenderness fascinated a myriad of people.

Grace Moore in the opera Louise act III is published in Gallery

 

 

Björling in 1946

The great Swedish tenor Jussi Björling (1911-1960) sang at The Met for years and his records continue to fascinate the listener. A sweet and beautiful, round and coloured voice let him approach the French and Italian repertories with success. (ed.)

With two supreme divas, soprano Milanov and mezzo Barbieri in the opera AIDA's tomb scene O terra addio

(d.t.)

 

 

Nilsson as Turandot

Irvin Kolodin once described her art of singing as 'a kind from which legends are born' and certainly she has become a legend in her lifetime. Nilsson retained her vocal power and quality until a remarkable old age.

The legendary soprano Birgit Nilsson sings Donna Anna's aria in Don Giovanni act I sc 13 by W.A. Mozart Or sai chi l'onore

(l.s.)

 

 

Mihaela Stanciu

Published and saved in Archive

 

 

The power couple of 2005

Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon in the duet from Traviata act I Follie! Follie! Delirio vano è questo (2005) >>

The Russian young soprano has a voice of unique colour and homogeneity, a lyrical expression of huge elegance and a technique so sure both in the emission and dynamic play.

(j.f.)

 

 

Tenor Mario Del Monaco

as Verdi's Otello

One of the great Otellos in history, Del Monaco was also a great Italian patriot. He sang the national hymn with ardor, vis, fervor and heroic top notes, showing his feelings for Italy superbly >>

 

 

Gabriella Morigi as Norma

A top soprano drammatico d'agilità, Morigi displays a soft, emotional and luminous voice as Aida, Odabella, Norma, Tosca and Elisabetta.

As Norma she gives a great demonstration of her vocal possibilities.

 

 

Johnson: Minnie, dolce nome
Minnie: Ti piace?
Johnson: Tanto! T'amo…

(Fanciulla act II)

 

Minnie: Lasciatemi, o l'uccido e m'uccido!

(Fanciulla act III)

Saved in Archive

 

 

Ben Heppner as Lohengrin

(1996 San Francisco Opera)