Anna Netrebko (unofficial by Carlos in Barcelona)

Passion and Death--"Manon Lescaut" (final dress rehearsal) in MET, Nov. 10, 2016 

Text and Photo by Yige This is a report of the final dress of Manon Lescaut in MET on Nov. 10, a general impression of Anya's characterization of Puccini's Manon, and a preview of what to expect in the performance. Once again Anna Netrebko surprised me. It was not the singing which, of course, was the top tier one could find around. What so inspiring was that she, as a complete artist, bring up every resource, with first and most importantly, her singing, to shape a character. When Anya canceled the performance in Munich, reports from different sources seemed to suggest the major problem between them was that the director's idea was that Manon needed to choose between love and money, she chose money but regretted later, while Anya felt Manon just wanted both and refused to choose. Some asked whether this difference of idea is something […]

Il Trovatore at the Met 

Text and Photos by Yige Li Il Trovatore, opera in four acts Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play "El trovador" by Antonio García Gutiérrez Co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera Association This review is of the general impression on the whole run of this opera during fall 2015, at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York City, NY Conductor: Marco Armiliato Leonora: Anna Netrebko Manrico: Yonghoon Lee / Antonello Palombi Azucena: Dolora Zajick Gypsy: Edward Albert Count Di Luna: Dmitri Hvorostovsky / Vitaliy Bilyy Ferrando: Stefan Kocán Ines: Maria Zifchak Ruiz: Raúl Melo Messenger: David Lowe Production: David McVicar Stage Director: Paula Williams Set Designer: Charles Edwards Costume Designer: Brigitte Reiffenstuel Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton Choreographer: Leah Hausman After watching Anya in "Il Trovatore" in MET for five times (four performances, plus the final dress […]

Il Trovatore at the Met 

Text and Photos by Yige Li Il Trovatore, opera in four actsMusic by Giuseppe VerdiLibretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play "El trovador" by Antonio García Gutiérrez Co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera Association This review is of the general impression on the whole run of this opera during fall 2015, at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York City, NY Conductor: Marco ArmiliatoLeonora: Anna NetrebkoManrico: Yonghoon Lee / Antonello PalombiAzucena: Dolora ZajickGypsy: Edward AlbertCount Di Luna: Dmitri Hvorostovsky / Vitaliy BilyyFerrando: Stefan KocánInes: Maria ZifchakRuiz: Raúl MeloMessenger: David LoweProduction: David McVicarStage Director: Paula WilliamsSet Designer: Charles EdwardsCostume Designer: Brigitte ReiffenstuelLighting Designer: Jennifer TiptonChoreographer: Leah Hausman  After watching Anya in "Il Trovatore" in MET for five times (four performances, plus the final dress rehearsal), maybe it's time to give a brief report summarizing some my impressions. […]

By Yige Li PROGRAM:Bellini: La Sonnambula: "Ah, non credea… Ah! Non giunge" (aria with cabaletta) Tchaikovsky: Iolanta AriosoRachmaninoff: Song: "Zdes horosho" (How fair this spot), op. 21, no. 7 Rimsky-Korsakov: Song "Redeyet oblakov letucaya gryada" (The line of flying clouds grows thin), op. 42, no. 3 Tchaikovsky: Song "Den li tsarit" (Amidst the day), op. 47, no 6========Intermission========Verdi: Otello, Duet Act I: "Già nella notte densa" duet with Yusif Eyvazov Strauss: Song: "Cäcilie", op. 27, no. 2 Dvorak: Rusalka: "Song to the moon" Ponchielli: La Gioconda: "Suicidio!" Kálmán: Die Csardasfürstin: "Heia, in den Bergen" Encores: Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur: "Io son l'umile ancella" Lehar: Il paese del sorriso: "Tu che m'hai preso il cuor" with Yusif Eyvazov Piano: Brian Zeger REVIEW Attending this recital at Vilar Performance Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colorado, was kind of dream-come-true moment for me! I've gone to many […]

By Yige Li PROGRAM: Bellini: La Sonnambula: "Ah, non credea… Ah! Non giunge" (aria with cabaletta)Tchaikovsky: Iolanta AriosoRachmaninoff: Song: "Zdes horosho" (How fair this spot), op. 21, no. 7Rimsky-Korsakov: Song "Redeyet oblakov letucaya gryada" (The line of flying clouds grows thin), op. 42, no. 3Tchaikovsky: Song "Den li tsarit" (Amidst the day), op. 47, no 6 ========Intermission======== Verdi: Otello, Duet Act I: "Già nella notte densa" duet with Yusif EyvazovStrauss: Song: "Cäcilie", op. 27, no. 2Dvorak: Rusalka: "Song to the moon"Ponchielli: La Gioconda: "Suicidio!"Kálmán: Die Csardasfürstin: "Heia, in den Bergen" Encores: Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur: "Io son l'umile ancella" Lehar: Il paese del sorriso: "Tu che m'hai preso il cuor" with Yusif Eyvazov Piano: Brian ZegerREVIEW Attending this recital at Vilar Performance Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colorado, was kind of dream-come-true moment for me! I've gone to many performances featuring Anya, but I had some […]

Text and photos by Herbert Yesterday afternoon there was the ECHO Klassik Award 2014 in the Philharmonie in Munich. Anna Netrebko received the award as "Singer of the Year". T he show was hosted by Rolando Villazón and actress Nina Eichinger, and it was Villazón who read the speech in honor of Anna and gave her the prize. Tenor Jonas Kaufmann should be honored by José Carreras, but unfortunately Kaufmann was ill and had to cancel. But Mr. Carreras was there, and he took Kaufmann's award and will hand it over later on. I don't know if the ZDF Mediathek can be received outside Germany, but here is a link to the video of the gala plus many photos: ici

Text and photos by HerbertYesterday afternoon there was the ECHO Klassik Award 2014 in the Philharmonie in Munich.Anna Netrebko received the award as "Singer of the Year". The show was hosted by Rolando Villazón and actress Nina Eichinger, and it was Villazón who read the speech in honor of Anna and gave her the prize.Tenor Jonas Kaufmann should be honored by José Carreras, but unfortunately Kaufmann was ill and had to cancel. But Mr. Carreras was there, and he took Kaufmann's award and will hand it over later on.I don't know if the ZDF Mediathek can be received outside Germany, but here is a link to the video of the gala plus many photos: ici

MACBETH Met, NYC, NY, 17 October 2014 Text and Photos by Herbert Last Saturday I was in New York and I attended the final performance of this year's run of Verdi's MACBETH at the MET. My first visit to the famous Metropolitan Opera - quite an experience! The auditorium and the stage are huge, and I can imagine that it may be awesome and almost scary for a singer to have to fill this space with one's voice and presence. Most opera lovers will have seen this production of Macbeth either in the cinema or even live, so I don't have to tell a lot about it. I loved the production! The scenes often looked like painted pictures, and the singers didn't have to fulfil weird maneuvers on stage, but they could act like "normal" people. The cast was amazing! Željko Lucic as Macbeth, René Pape […]