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
Cecilia Bartoli’s début in L’italiana in Algeri is cancelled
Cecilia Bartoli's much anticipated début as Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri this weekend has been cancelled. The Italian girl in Dortmund, where the concert performance of Rossini's opera was planned for Friday 27 June and Sunday 29 June, is ill. Being that her presence in the cast is the main reason for buying a ticket, there will not be a substitution. Jean-Christophe … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s début in L’italiana in Algeri is cancelled
Fiorenza Cossotto receives the Marietta Alboni award
Mezzo soprano Fiorenza Cossotto has been awarded the first Contr’alto di donna prize, given in honour of the great contralto Marietta Alboni. The ceremony and conversation with Fiorenza Cossotto came after a concert celebrating the repertoire of Alboni, held in the enchanting Teatro Bonci, the theatre of her hometown Cesana, near Italy's northeast coast. Cossotto, … [Read more...] about Fiorenza Cossotto receives the Marietta Alboni award
Teresa Berganza’s 80th birthday bash
Tomorrow evening, 21 June 2013, the Teatro Real in Madrid celebrates the 80th birthday of local girl Teresa Berganza. Certainly, the encyclopedias say that she was born in 1935, but she can hardly have posters announcing celebrations for her 78th birthday, so I guess time has finally caught up with her. Sylvain Cambreling and Alejo Pérez will be conducting the Teatro Real's … [Read more...] about Teresa Berganza’s 80th birthday bash
Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini
Joyce DiDonato well and truly conquered La Scala's audience during her recital last night. She was greeted by an ovation that took her aback - the sort of applause reserved for a Marilyn Horne or Teresa Berganza, recognising their past triumphs on the legendary stage. In this case is was more of a signal to the theatre's management to get DiDonato back to Milan: she's not … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini
New records set at Cecilia Bartoli’s Whitsun Festival in Salzburg
A new record for visitors and revenue has been set at Salzburg's Whitsun Festival. The Festival, which ran from 17-20 May, boasted 13,450 visitors from 43 countries, who spent 1.3 million Euros in tickets. After the artistic and economic success of last year's and this year's Festival, the contract with the artistic director Cecilia Bartoli has been extended until 2016, … [Read more...] about New records set at Cecilia Bartoli’s Whitsun Festival in Salzburg