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Sundays, 7pm
NPR World of Opera
Program Website: http://www.npr.org/programs/worldofopera/
World of Opera with host Lisa Simeone brings listeners the world
of tragedy and triumph, passion and seduction, intrigue and disaster,
jealousies and dreams -- the world of opera. Featured are the best in
opera performances from around the world, both historical and contemporary.
August 29
GAETANO DONIZETTI: Lucrezia Borgia
Washington National Opera, Orchestra and Chorus
Placido Domingo, conductor
CAST: Renee Fleming (Lucrezia Borgia); Vittorio Grigolo (Gennaro); Kate
Aldrich (Maffio Orsini); Ruggero Raimondi (Don Alfonso); Oleksandr Pushniak
(Ascanio); Girgory Soloviov (Apostolo); Jose Ortega (Oloferno); Yingxi
Zhang (Rustighello); David B. Morris (Astolfo)
This new production features two of the greatest singers of our time --
with soprano Renee Fleming giving a spectacular and highly-emotional performance
in the unforgiving title role, and Placido Domingo, the Washington National
Opera's General Director, conducting.
September 5
ALBAN BERG: Wozzeck
Bolshoi Theater, Moscow
Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Bolshoi Opera Chorus
Teodore Currentzis, conductor
CAST: Georg Nigl (Wozzeck); Mardi Byers (Marie); Maxim Paster (Captain);
Pyotr Migunov (Doctor); Fredrik Akselberg (Andres); Roman Muravitsky (Drum
Major); Xenia Vyaznikova (Margret); Valery Gilmanov (First Apprentice);
Nikolai Kazansky (Second Apprentice); Leonid Vilensky (The Idiot)
One of the truly great operas of the 20th century, Berg's masterpiece
has deep roots in age-old forms and traditions, yet still explores the
limits of both musical and emotional expression. The production from the
historic Bolshoi in Moscow features a stunning performance by baritone
Georg Nigl, in one of opera's most challenging and deeply moving roles.
September 12
CHARLES GOUNOD: Faust
Opera Carolina
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Opera Carolina Chorus
James Meena, conductor
CAST: Maureen O'Flynn (Marguerite); James Valenti (Faust); Chester Patton
(Mephistopheles); Corey McKern (Valentin); Diane McEwen-Martin (Siébel);
Jeremy Collier ( Wagner); Kim Blanchard (Marthe)
This lush drama by Gounod is surely the most popular musical representation
of the immortal story of Faust, who confronts the hellish consequences
of his own weakness when the devil makes him an offer he can't refuse
-- but probably should have. Opera Carolina brings it to us in a production
featuring a top-notch cast from the Belk Theatre in Charlotte.
September 19
VINCENO BELLINI: I Puritani
Vienna State Opera, Orchestra and Chorus
Jan Latham-Koenig, conductor
CAST: Désirée Rancatore (Elvira); José Bros (Arturo
Talbot); Alexandru Moisiuc (Gualtier Walton); Christof Fischesser (Giorgio);
Mariusz Kwiecien (Riccardo Forth); Benedikt Kobel (Bruno Robertson); Roxana
Constantinescu (Queen Henrietta Maria)
When Bellini moved to Paris in the 1830s, he declared that French composers
and opera lovers had "little understanding of real song." He
apparently decided to remedy that with I Puritani -- Bellini's first opera
for Paris and the last opera he composed before his death at age 33 --
is blessed by a raft of his finest melodies.
September 26
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK: Hansel and Gretel
Royal Albert Hall, London (Proms)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus
Robin Ticciati, conductor
CAST: Alice Coote (Hänsel); Lydia Teuscher (Gretel); Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrkacke
(Witch); Imrgard Vilsmaier (Mother); William Dazeley (Father); Tara Erraught
(Sandman); Ida Falk Winland (Dew Fairy)
The phrase "for children of all ages" is surely overused. but
it's also just right to describe Humperdinck's beautifully tuneful drama
based on the familiar fairy tale. The production is this quarter's second
show from Royal Albert Hall and the 2010 Proms Concerts.
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