The Opera Gala –
- Live from Baden-Baden (DVD)
The “Festival Theatre” at the German resort town of Baden-Baden is a modern concert hall behind their 19th-century railroad station. Some years ago, the theater hosted an evening of wonderful singing by four leading operatic stars in a program that could have been titled “Opera’s Greatest Hits.” This performance is captured on this DVD.
After a brief orchestral piece from Bellini’s Norma the singing begins with the duet “Mira, o Norma” featuring soprano Anna Netrebko and mezzo Elina Garanca. From then on, it’s one familiar, well-loved operatic selection after another, all done with wonderful interpretations.
The other singers include Tenor Ramón Vargas, and baritone Ludovic Tézier.
Here’s my brief Spotify playlist titled “Hank’s Opera-Baden” of just a few of the huge number of selections on this DVD:
Composers whose works are performed include: Bellini, Bizet, Delibes, Donizetti, Lehar, Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, and more.
All performed by the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, conducted by Marco Armiliato
Anna Netrebko has a voice whose lyricism is hard to equal these days by any lyrical soprano. Ms. Garanca is also a top-notch coloratura mezzo-soprano.
Here’s a video that gives you the Opera Gala live from Baden-Baden:
http://youtu.be/Wm8QUvBc0mg
And next, here’s Anna Netrebko with her amazing aria by Lehar! It is really entertaining:
Tags: Opera Gala, Baden-Baden, Netrebko, Garanca, Ramón Vargas, Ludovic Tézier, Marco Armiliato