Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
La Boheme, starring Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Simon Keenlyside, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Elisabetta Scano, will be released by Decca on February 6, 2012 (originally released in 1999). It's part of a larger collection, called Decca Opera.
This series starts with 20 legendary Decca Opera Recordings in new and fresh packaging, showcasing many of the greatest opera recordings ever made. Several of these recordings have been unavailable for many years, so see a welcome return to the catalogue.
Time to start listening to it. And ready to be Bohemized all year long.
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
Dear Angela,
Thank you for a year full of beautiful moments. Each trip, each three hours inside the opera house or concert hall mean entering another world, so different from my every day life. A world where I can cry or laugh, be amazed or breathless. It's an amazing, unique, long lasting, addictive feeling that I call Angela effect. All because of your voice. And each time I try to put down in words what I can't say in person and make others believe that magic exists.
You'll always have my appreciation, affection and respect. Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays to all my friends around the world, new or old. Can't wait to see you again next year!
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The entire interview is on OK Romania. But the layout in the magazine is way nicer than online.The interview is mainly about being at home in Romania and spending Christmas with family and friends, about love and accomplishments.
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Friday, December 23, 2011
"Music and pure emotion with.. Angela Gheorghiu". I was waiting for this one. I think it's the longest so far. The broadcast starts at 8pm (GMT+2) and lasts for 2 hours. Live streaming available on RRM.
.If you miss the first broadcast, it will be relayed again on Christmas day, December 25 at 6pm, also on Radio Romania Muzical.
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Enjoy!
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
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Holograf is a famous Romanian pop/rock band. The song name is "Nu mai e timp" (sort of.. there's no time left...for love, friendship and so on). They recorded the song for Holograf's new album that will be released next year. The video was recently shot in Romania and will be broadcast on ProTV after Christmas.
.Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Puccini's ever popular Tosca from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with a star-studded cast - Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu as Floria Tosca, Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel as Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia, and tenor Jonas Kaufmann as the liberal revolutionary Cavaradossi.
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December 24, 2:35pm (UK time) on BBC Two and BBC HD.
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The opera is preceded by Pappano's Essential Tosca (1:35pm). This documentary goes behind the scenes of the recent production of Tosca by the Royal Opera House, conducted by Pappano and starring some of the hottest names on the opera stage today - Angela Gheorghiu, Bryn Terfel and Jonas Kaufmann. Pappano examines the drama and musical language of Tosca and explores Puccini's creative genius in producing one of the greatest of theatrical experiences.
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Here's some of what Tony Pappano and the cast have to say
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Monday, December 19, 2011
Teatro alla Scala published the dates and the casts for La Boheme for September 2012. Angela Gheorghiu is scheduled to perform on September 26, October 1, 4 and 8. One Mimi, two Rodolfo(s): Piotr Beczala and Vittorio Grigolo.
Happy to note that another Romanian soprano, Anita Hartig, is part of the cast as Mimi.
The tickets go on sale on July 26, 2012 at 9am.
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
EDIT: If anybody speaking German could answer this question, please do: if you're buying tickets for this concert from abroad, are they delivered or held at the box office?
Next concert: Essen, February 11, 2012. And this is the program, as published on the website of Philharmonie Essen. It looks a lot like the one in Valladolid this year...
Giuseppe Verdi - Overture to "La Forza del Destino”
Georg Friedrich Händel - “Lascia ch’io pianga”
Giuseppe Verdi - “Amato Alfredo … Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo”
Giacomo Puccini - “E lucevan le Stelle”
Giacomo Puccini - Intermezzo aus “Manon Lescaut”
Jules Massenet - “Vive Amour qui rêve”
Giacomo Puccini - “O mio Babbino caro”
Giacomo Puccini - “O soave Fanciulla”
Johann Strauß - “Kaiserwalzer”, op. 437
Charles Gounod - “Va, je t’ai pardonné”
Antonín Dvořák -“Song of the Moon”
Giuseppe Verdi - “Ah, la paterna Mano”
Pietro Mascagni - Intermezzo from “Cavalleria rusticana”
Alfredo Catalani - “Ebben, ne andrò lontana”
George Grigoriu - “Muzica”
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Next concert: Essen, February 11, 2012. And this is the program, as published on the website of Philharmonie Essen. It looks a lot like the one in Valladolid this year...
Looking forward to the program for Salle Pleyel.
Angela Gheorghiu, Soprano
Marius Manea, Tenor
Philharmonie Südwestfalen
Tiberiu Soare, conductor
Giuseppe Verdi - Overture to "La Forza del Destino”
Georg Friedrich Händel - “Lascia ch’io pianga”
Giuseppe Verdi - “Amato Alfredo … Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo”
Giacomo Puccini - “E lucevan le Stelle”
Giacomo Puccini - Intermezzo aus “Manon Lescaut”
Jules Massenet - “Vive Amour qui rêve”
Giacomo Puccini - “O mio Babbino caro”
Giacomo Puccini - “O soave Fanciulla”
Johann Strauß - “Kaiserwalzer”, op. 437
Charles Gounod - “Va, je t’ai pardonné”
Antonín Dvořák -“Song of the Moon”
Giuseppe Verdi - “Ah, la paterna Mano”
Pietro Mascagni - Intermezzo from “Cavalleria rusticana”
Alfredo Catalani - “Ebben, ne andrò lontana”
George Grigoriu - “Muzica”
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Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
No, it's not Stridono lassu :). Although I was tempted to post a new version. For this weekend I chose Vissi d'arte, sung in Puerto Rico in 2005. There was a time when this aria was part of concert programs. I'm still in Tosca mood. I wonder if it is relayed in other cities in Romania besides Bucharest and Sibiu...
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To Number 1:... SF opera... one year from now... envy U!
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To Number 1:... SF opera... one year from now... envy U!
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Enjoy!
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Thursday, December 15, 2011
Among other things... Where are the Germans? I would like to sing something from the German composers. Maybe some Wagner and Strauss...
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First broadcast - BBC World Service, 13 Dec 2011. The interview is available on BBC iPlayer
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
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And an interview at Oliver Bellamy's "Passion Classique", starting at 6pm (GMT+1). Olivier Bellamy reçoit la chanteuse d'Opéra Angela Gheorghiu, qui partagera ses coups de coeur classiques avec les auditeurs.
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Listen here (or live streaming available on Radio Classique)
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
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| As mentioned HERE, the photo is from the general rehearsal |
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
In honour of the 4th UN Alliances of Civilization Forum, the grand opening hosted by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, will feature Vangelis’ original three-part Choral Fantasy, inspired by a message of hope. Gert Hof, the world’s greatest Light Artist, will enchant the audience and paint the skies over Doha to the alluring sounds of Vangelis.
The first part, played by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, will feature elements of improvisation mixed with European classical orchestral sequences. The second part will feature famed Soprano Angela Gheorghiu, accompanied by both the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Yurlov Moscow State Academic Choir.
The third act brings together beloved Tenorissimo Roberto Alagna and Ms. Gheorghiu for a duet and will then conclude with an encore of Vangelis’ greatest hits. The finale, entitled “Child of Hope,” will be performed by the multi-ethnic Qatar Philharmonic Children’s Choir.
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Friday, December 9, 2011
Yet another weekend post...
Out of more than 2500 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I found these 11 dedicated to people belonging to classical music. Arturo Toscanini has 2 different stars, one for radio broadcast and the other one for audio recording/music. I got really dizzy staring at the sidewalk on both sides of Hollywood Boulevard but it was an interesting hunt.
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Speaking of bookings, this is another reminder. If you want to attend La Boheme in Munich on July 17&20, then you should consider applying for tickets on the opera house website. It's a lottery. Three easy steps:
1. Choose the performances2. Apply (for all of them at the same time)
3. Pray. The orders will be processed starting February 1, 2012. Remaining tickets will be sold online and at the box office from March 24, 2012
.It's up to Bayerische Staatsoper if they give you the tickets requested or not. Rumor has it that you have higher chances if you don't apply for the cheapest tickets (pay attention to what you book. up where the pigeons nest and on the sides there are many seats with no view at all). Or if you apply for several performances in a row.
It's July, it's Festival so it's not very difficult to find goodies. What do you think about this...
July 16 - Simon Keenleyside recital
July 17 - La Boheme - Gheorghiu/Calleja/Tatulescu
July 18 - Jonas Kaufmann recital
July 19 - Les Contes D'Hoffmann - Villazon/Damrau
July 20 - La Boheme - Gheorghiu/Calleja/Tatulescu
So?
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It's morning in America! It's shopping time. Join the queue and get the ticket for Angela Gheorghiu's debut concert at Washington National Opera on March 3, 2012. The general sale already started on WNO website.
.Good luck!
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Lots of rumors regarding the event. Info start coming.
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Where - Doha, Katara Cultural Village
When - December 11
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Where - Doha, Katara Cultural Village
When - December 11
Why - two reasons: United Nations' Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum's yearly summit and inauguration of the Ampitheatron at the Katara Cultural village. This one.
Who - Vangelis, who composed new music for this event, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Qatar's Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian State Academic Choir, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra's children choir
What - a concert that is going to be filmed and recorded for worldwide broadcasts, theatrical performances, and production of a DVD and CD. The registration will be directed by Hugh Hudson, acclaimed British director of Chariots of Fire and other award winning films.
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...how the venues look like from the stage. I wondered what the artists see at the applauses. This is view from the stage of National Opera Bucharest.
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| Photo @www.angelagheorghiu.com . |
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The article inside is similar to others. It gets back to point zero, hometown to ROH via Bucharest (Katona story included), it spices up with some Met Faust and ends gloriously with comments on Homage to Maria Callas. Reading it I felt sorry that the author didn't have the chance to listen to the CD in advance (the interview was taken during ROH Faust, as mentioned in the text). If he did, he wouldn't have insisted so much on the comparison with the person forgetting (or not knowing) what an amazing voice we listen to in all 13+1 tracks. After all, this is all about. The Callas issue is once more clarified in Angela's answers:
.Does she see herself as the New Callas?
No, no, no! Absolutely not! Perhaps there are similarities - my dark looks, my name, which is Greek in origin. But I'm not the New Maria Callas. I am the one and only Angela Gheorghiu!
So why the Callas thing?
It's not a comparison, rather it's a way of drawing together a legacy of 20 years at the top of the game. The thing is, I've done all these roles and lived a certain kind of intense life. Together my life and music tell the story. That's why I've taken Callas as a model - her career as a singer wasn't just a job. It was an expression of her entire being. And so is mine. So the new recording is a culmination of everything, a way of saying "This is me. Here is Angela!"
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If you're in UK, buy the magazine. There's another beautiful photo inside. My favorite, in fact.
Or buy the current issue on iTunes (for iPhone, iPad and other iGadgets). It's only 2,39 euro/issue. Go to Apps, search for Opera Now and you'll get the result in the photo.
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Or buy the current issue on iTunes (for iPhone, iPad and other iGadgets). It's only 2,39 euro/issue. Go to Apps, search for Opera Now and you'll get the result in the photo.
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Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
All these were posted in the past week, but I thought it's easier to have them all in one place. Two in English, two in Romanian (but only fragments as the long ones haven't been broadcast yet)
Interview on Minnesota Public Radio
"The aria from Samson and Delilah is my favorite too! It's my bathroom aria". May I say that I wish it turns into a concert hall aria soon? Oups.. I just said it :)
There are some thoughts on each aria on the CD, which I found very interesting. It's the story of the creation of the CD told by the artist. It gives a different feeling. There are many, many details for each aria. Actually this is why I put this interview first.
Interview on WQXR - Angela Gheorghiu Traces the Footsteps of Callas
What was your reaction when you first listened to Maria Callas. I loved her timber and her way to use her voice. She fought for everything. She was original in everything.. in life, in productions, in singing. I imagined her face when singing. Lots of emotions, of possibilities. I was impressed by her personality. A lot.
Weren't you afraid of somebody comparing the two of you? No, do it! It's exactly what I'm waiting for. You are curious, this is the important thing. Are you curious to see the video? I'm a winner.
Many things on the Faust at the Met, things she has never said before, on Adriana Lecouvreur, on not willing to be part of experiments in modern productions and on getting back on stage with Roberto next year at ROH.
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Interview on Radio Romania Muzical, by Luminita Arvunescu (fragment) - listen HERE
*this interview will be broadcast on RRM on December 24 at 8pm (local time) and again on December 25 at 6pm (local time)
I'm waiting for this one because at the some point the interviewer says "we'll talk about each track on the new CD". The general questions related to this CD are "why Callas" (because she was an EMI artist too), "why this repertoire?" (it's eclectic, arias I love), the "new Callas" stuff and so on... Hope this interview will go in depth, having the language in advantage.
Interview on Radio Romania Cultural, by Oltea Serban Parau (fragment) - listen HERE
Radio Romania Cultural - something from the press conference before Tosca relay at National Opera Bucharest on Nov 28 - listen HERE (scroll down till you see the photo then click on the title)
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