Cecilia Bartoli was made to sing Isabella. Rossini wrote L’italiana in Algeri 200 years ago, but he could have been thinking of her. She waited until she was 50 to sing the role, though having pushed her voice into the stratosphere with feats of extreme-singing in her Sacrificium programme [the castrati repertoire] she hindered her ability to return to such a low-laying part. … [Read more...] about Salzburg, L’italiana in Algeri – the role Cecilia Bartoli was born to play
Rossini
Gioachino Rossini at La Scala – a new exhibition, 150 years after the composer’s death
Gioachino Rossini died in France on 13 November 1868. For the 150th Anniversary of the composer’s death director and designer Pier Luigi Pizzi will curate an exhibition to commemorate the event.La Scala’s musical director Riccardo Chailly brought The Thieving Magpie to the theatre last season, as well as the Mass for Rossini, dedicated to him by the leading Italian … [Read more...] about Gioachino Rossini at La Scala – a new exhibition, 150 years after the composer’s death
Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
Chénier is not only a masterpiece of verismo, but it mirrors many contrasting aspects that preceded the music of the 20th century: there’s Wagner, with echoes of the prelude of Tristan; there is Mahler, in the striking modernity of the orchestration; there is Puccini, who was certainly influenced when writing his Tosca four years later... Riccardo Chailly has said that he … [Read more...] about Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala after 145 years
After 145 years, Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala. Incredibly, it hasn’t been performed at the theatre since 1870. A welcome return then for Rossini’s take on Shakespeare’s story, which he and his librettist took some liberties with (a billet-doux instead of a handkerchief and no Cassio), one of the biggest changes being to pump up the role of Rodrigo so that he is on equal … [Read more...] about Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala after 145 years
The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album
Joyce DiDonato's new album, Stella di Napoli, is out in September and "ventures far off the beaten bel canto track", says her Erato label.Graciously, Cecilia Bartoli is nominated because, as everyone knows, she has been wandering far from the traditional mezzo career path for years. Italian conductor Riccardo Minasi, who collaborated with Bartoli when he was the curator and … [Read more...] about The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album