Showing posts with label Roberto Alagna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roberto Alagna. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Milan - Turandot - Teatro alla Scala - 1 to 29 April 2026 - Anna Pirozzi - Roberto Alagna

























April unfolds under the radiant and inexorable aura of Giacomo Puccini, whose Turandot stands as both a monumental farewell and an eternal enigma. In this final, unfinished masterpiece, Puccini pushes the human voice to its limits, sculpting a sound world where orchestral brilliance and vocal grandeur collide in a drama of elemental force. It is an opera that demands not only voices of exceptional power, but artists capable of transcending mere virtuosity to reach a realm of pure theatrical truth.

At the center of this vast sonic architecture rises the formidable figure of Turandot, entrusted here to two extraordinary interpreters. Anna Pirozzi embodies the role with commanding authority, her voice gleaming with steely brilliance yet always anchored in a refined and disciplined musical line. Her ascent into the role’s perilous upper register is fearless, but never merely demonstrative; instead, it reveals a singer deeply attuned to the Italian tradition, where power and phrasing coexist in perfect equilibrium. Alongside her, Ewa Płonka offers a strikingly different yet equally compelling vision: a darker, more incisive timbre, cutting through Puccini’s dense orchestration with unrelenting force. Her Turandot is sculpted in shadow and fire, a voice that does not yield, but dominates.

The role of Calaf finds in Roberto Alagna an interpreter of rare charisma and enduring artistry. Fresh from a triumphant run in Miami in this very role, Alagna arrives with renewed authority, bringing with him the imprint of recent success and a deepened understanding of the character. His voice, infused with unmistakable lyric warmth, expands effortlessly into heroic declamation, shaping phrases with elegance and emotional immediacy. In his hands, “Nessun dorma” transcends its iconic status, becoming a moment of intimate revelation as much as vocal triumph.

Sharing the role, Angelo Villari confirms his ascent among today’s most compelling spinto tenors. His Calaf is marked by a generous, vibrant vocalism and a visceral dramatic commitment. Not long ago, he achieved remarkable success in Barcelona in La forza del destino, a performance I witnessed firsthand—an unforgettable series of evenings in which he alternated the demanding role of Don Álvaro with Francesco Pio Galasso, alongside the formidable presence of Anna Pirozzi and Saioa Hernández. Those performances left a lasting impression for their intensity and vocal amplitude, and they now resonate as a significant milestone in Villari’s artistic journey. In Turandot, he brings that same fervor and vocal courage, shaping a prince of ardent resolve and human vulnerability.

Equally essential to the opera’s emotional core is Liù, portrayed with exquisite sensitivity by Mariangela Sicilia. Her voice, luminous and pure, becomes the embodiment of tenderness within Puccini’s vast and often unforgiving soundscape. Through her, the music breathes with a fragile humanity, culminating in moments of profound pathos that stand in stark contrast to the opera’s monumental scale.

Presiding over this extraordinary assembly is the baton of Nicola Luisotti, a conductor whose affinity for Puccini is both instinctive and deeply cultivated. His direction is marked by breadth, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to the primacy of the voice. Under his guidance, the orchestra does not overwhelm but supports, allowing each vocal line to emerge with natural freedom while preserving the dramatic tension that defines the score. Luisotti shapes the performance with a sense of architectural vision, balancing grandeur and intimacy in a reading that feels at once expansive and deeply rooted in the Italian operatic tradition.

In such a convergence of voices, experience, and musical intelligence, Turandot reveals itself anew—not merely as an unfinished work, but as a living testament to Puccini’s genius. Here, the extremes of human expression—cruelty and compassion, ice and fire—are carried not by spectacle, but by the sheer power of the human voice, elevated to its highest, most transcendent form.

Aprile si apre sotto il segno della grandezza pucciniana, con Turandot, testamento artistico di un genio che ha saputo trasformare la voce umana in pura materia drammatica. In quest’opera estrema e abbagliante, tutto converge verso un equilibrio fragile e potentissimo tra orchestra e canto, tra slancio lirico e tensione teatrale.

Al centro di questo universo sonoro si erge la figura implacabile di Turandot, incarnata da due interpreti di statura eccezionale. Anna Pirozzi offre una lettura di straordinaria solidità tecnica e di luminosa proiezione, capace di dominare con naturalezza le impervie vette della scrittura pucciniana, senza mai rinunciare a una linea di canto nobile e scolpita. Accanto a lei, Ewa Płonka impone una presenza vocale di acciaio, con un timbro più scuro e penetrante, che attraversa l’orchestra con impressionante autorità, restituendo una principessa di gelo e fuoco al tempo stesso.

Il ruolo di Calaf trova in Roberto Alagna un interprete carismatico e profondamente musicale. La sua voce,  intrisa di un lirismo appassionato, sa unire eleganza di fraseggio e slancio eroico, rendendo “Nessun dorma” non solo un’aria celeberrima, ma un momento di autentica verità teatrale. Angelo Villari, dal canto suo, rappresenta una presenza di grande interesse: la sua vocalità spinta, generosa e vibrante, si presta con naturalezza al profilo ardente del principe ignoto, offrendo un’alternativa intensa e visceralmente coinvolgente.

Di rara bellezza è anche il contributo di Liù, affidata a Mariangela Sicilia, la cui sensibilità musicale e purezza timbrica danno vita a una figura di struggente umanità. Il suo canto, sospeso tra fragilità e coraggio, diventa il vero cuore emotivo dell’opera, culminando in pagine di commovente intensità.

A guidare questo straordinario affresco sonoro è la bacchetta di Nicola Luisotti, interprete profondamente affine al linguaggio pucciniano. La sua direzione si distingue per ampiezza di respiro, attenzione al dettaglio orchestrale e, soprattutto, per una costante cura nel sostenere e valorizzare le voci, lasciando che il canto si espanda con naturalezza senza mai essere sopraffatto. Ne risulta una lettura vibrante, teatrale e autenticamente italiana, in cui orchestra e palcoscenico respirano all’unisono.

In questo incontro tra grandi voci e una direzione ispirata, Turandot rivela ancora una volta tutta la sua forza: quella di un’opera incompiuta eppure assoluta, capace di parlare direttamente all’anima attraverso il mistero, la potenza e la bellezza del canto.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Miami - Turandot - Aleksandra Kurzak - Roberto Alagna - 10 Mar 2026

 

The Ziff Ballet Opera House

Opera lovers are about to experience one of the most thrilling musical events of the season when Turandot arrives in Miami this March. Puccini’s final masterpiece will be performed at the magnificent Ziff Ballet Opera House, part of the prestigious Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, a venue celebrated not only for its architectural beauty but also for its superb acoustics, which allow every note of Puccini’s sweeping score to resonate with extraordinary clarity.

Composed by the legendary Giacomo Puccini, Turandot premiered in 1926 at the iconic Teatro alla Scala and has since become one of the grandest and most spectacular operas in the repertoire. Set in a mythical imperial China, the opera tells the dramatic story of the icy Princess Turandot, who challenges her suitors with three deadly riddles. Those who fail must die. But when the fearless Prince Calaf solves them, the true battle begins—the conquest of Turandot’s frozen heart.

This new production promises visual splendor and theatrical innovation, combining lavish costumes, monumental sets, and cutting-edge stage technology to transport audiences into a dazzling world of mystery, romance, and imperial grandeur. With a powerful chorus, breathtaking projections, and dramatic lighting, the stage will transform into the legendary China of Turandot—an atmosphere at once majestic, mysterious, and unforgettable.

What makes these performances truly historic, however, is the presence of two of the greatest opera stars of our time. The extraordinary soprano Aleksandra Kurzak will embody the formidable Princess Turandot, while her husband, the world-renowned tenor Roberto Alagna, will take on the heroic role of Prince Calaf. Their performances together on March 7 and March 10 promise to be nothing short of electrifying.

Alagna’s interpretation of Calaf is legendary, culminating in the opera’s most famous moment: the triumphant aria Nessun dorma, a musical explosion of passion and hope that never fails to bring audiences to their feet. Kurzak, with her luminous soprano and commanding stage presence, creates a Turandot both regal and terrifying, a princess of ice whose transformation is one of the most powerful emotional journeys in opera.

For those who have followed Alagna’s remarkable career, there is something deeply moving about hearing him sing today. I still remember traveling to Toulouse to hear him perform Werther early in his career—an unforgettable debut that revealed a voice destined for greatness. Now, he continues to captivate audiences oceans away, triumphing once again as Prince Calaf on the grand stage of Miami.

And what a setting for such a night. The Ziff Ballet Opera House, with its warm acoustics and elegant design, offers the perfect environment to experience Puccini’s music in all its emotional intensity. Every whisper of the orchestra, every soaring vocal line, fills the hall with a richness that makes the audience feel completely immersed in the drama.

On March 10, Miami—already one of the world’s most vibrant and fashionable cities—will become the epicenter of the opera world. For lovers of Puccini, there may be no better place on the planet to be. A magical evening awaits in the mythical China of the icy Turandot, where love, courage, and destiny collide beneath the golden lights of the opera stage.

Любителей оперы ждет одно из самых захватывающих музыкальных событий сезона: в марте в Майами состоится показ «Турандот». Последний шедевр Пуччини будет исполнен в великолепном балетном оперном театре Зифф, входящем в престижный Центр исполнительских искусств имени Адриенн Аршт, место, известное не только своей архитектурной красотой, но и превосходной акустикой, благодаря которой каждая нота величественной партитуры Пуччини звучит с необычайной чистотой.

«Турандот», написанная легендарным Джакомо Пуччини, впервые была представлена ​​в 1926 году в культовом театре Ла Скала и с тех пор стала одной из самых грандиозных и зрелищных опер в репертуаре. Действие оперы разворачивается в мифическом императорском Китае и рассказывает драматическую историю ледяной принцессы Турандот, которая бросает вызов своим женихам, загадывая три смертельные загадки. Те, кто не справится, должны умереть. Но когда бесстрашный принц Калаф разгадывает их, начинается настоящая битва — завоевание ледяного сердца Турандот.

Новая постановка обещает визуальное великолепие и театральные инновации, сочетая роскошные костюмы, монументальные декорации и передовые сценические технологии, чтобы перенести зрителей в ослепительный мир тайн, романтики и имперского величия. Мощный хор, захватывающие проекции и драматическое освещение превратят сцену в легендарный Китай из «Турандот» — атмосферу одновременно величественную, таинственную и незабываемую.

Однако поистине историческим эти представления делает участие двух величайших оперных звезд нашего времени. Выдающаяся сопрано Александра Курзак воплотит образ грозной принцессы Турандот, а ее муж, всемирно известный тенор Роберто Аланья, исполнит героическую роль принца Калафа. Их совместные выступления 7 и 10 марта обещают быть поистине захватывающими.

Интерпретация Калафа в исполнении Аланьи легендарна, кульминацией которой является самый знаменитый момент оперы: триумфальная ария Nessun dorma, музыкальный взрыв страсти и надежды, который неизменно заставляет публику вставать с мест. Курзак, с её сияющим сопрано и властным сценическим присутствием, создаёт Турандот одновременно величественную и устрашающую, принцессу льда, чьё преображение — одно из самых сильных эмоциональных путешествий в опере.

Для тех, кто следил за замечательной карьерой Аланьи, есть что-то глубоко трогательное в его сегодняшнем исполнении. Я до сих пор помню, как ездил в Тулузу, чтобы услышать его исполнение «Вертера» в начале его карьеры — незабываемый дебют, который раскрыл голос, предназначенный для величия. Теперь, спустя десятилетия, он продолжает очаровывать публику за океаном, вновь триумфально исполняя роль принца Калафа на грандиозной сцене Майами.

И какое же прекрасное место для такого вечера! Оперный театр Ziff Ballet с его теплой акустикой и элегантным дизайном предлагает идеальную обстановку для того, чтобы ощутить музыку Пуччини во всей ее эмоциональной насыщенности. Каждый шепот оркестра, каждая парящая вокальная линия наполняют зал богатством, которое позволяет зрителям полностью погрузиться в драму.

10 марта Майами — и без того один из самых ярких и модных городов мира — станет эпицентром оперного мира. Для любителей Пуччини, возможно, нет лучшего места на планете. Волшебный вечер ждет вас в мифическом Китае ледяной Турандот, где любовь, мужество и судьба сталкиваются под золотыми огнями оперной сцены.

Gli amanti dell'opera stanno per vivere uno degli eventi musicali più emozionanti della stagione: Turandot arriverà a Miami a marzo. L'ultimo capolavoro di Puccini sarà eseguito nella magnifica Ziff Ballet Opera House, parte del prestigioso Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, un luogo celebrato non solo per la sua bellezza architettonica, ma anche per la sua acustica superba, che permette a ogni nota della travolgente partitura pucciniana di risuonare con straordinaria chiarezza.

Composta dal leggendario Giacomo Puccini, Turandot debuttò nel 1926 all'iconico Teatro alla Scala e da allora è diventata una delle opere più grandiose e spettacolari del repertorio. Ambientata in una mitica Cina imperiale, l'opera racconta la drammatica storia della gelida principessa Turandot, che sfida i suoi costumi con tre enigmi mortali. Chi fallisce deve morire. Ma quando l'impavido principe Calaf li risolve, inizia la vera battaglia: la conquista del cuore di ghiaccio di Turandot.

Questa nuova produzione promette splendore visivo e innovazione teatrale, combinando costumi sontuosi, scenografie monumentali e tecnologie sceniche all'avanguardia per trasportare il pubblico in un mondo abbagliante di mistero, romanticismo e grandezza imperiale. Con un coro potente, proiezioni mozzafiato e un'illuminazione spettacolare, il palcoscenico si trasformerà nella leggendaria Cina di Turandot, un'atmosfera al tempo stesso maestosa, misteriosa e indimenticabile.

Ciò che rende queste esibizioni davvero storiche, tuttavia, è la presenza di due delle più grandi star dell'opera del nostro tempo. Lo straordinario soprano Aleksandra Kurzak incarnerà la formidabile Principessa Turandot, mentre suo marito, il tenore di fama mondiale Roberto Alagna, assumerà l'eroico ruolo del Principe Calaf. Le loro esibizioni insieme del 7 e 10 marzo promettono di essere a dir poco elettrizzanti.

L'interpretazione di Calaf da parte di Alagna è leggendaria, e culmina nel momento più famoso dell'opera: la trionfale aria Nessun dorma, un'esplosione musicale di passione e speranza che non manca mai di far alzare in piedi il pubblico. Kurzak, con il suo soprano luminoso e la sua imponente presenza scenica, crea una Turandot al tempo stesso regale e terrificante, una principessa di ghiaccio la cui trasformazione è uno dei viaggi emozionali più potenti dell'opera.

Per chi ha seguito la straordinaria carriera di Alagna, c'è qualcosa di profondamente commovente nel sentirlo cantare oggi. Ricordo ancora il viaggio a Tolosa per ascoltarlo interpretare Werther all'inizio della sua carriera: un debutto indimenticabile che rivelò una voce destinata alla grandezza. Ora, decenni dopo, continua ad affascinare il pubblico di oltreoceano, trionfando ancora una volta nei panni del Principe Calaf sul grande palcoscenico di Miami.

E che cornice per una serata del genere! Lo Ziff Ballet Opera House, con la sua acustica calda e il suo design elegante, offre l'ambiente perfetto per vivere la musica di Puccini in tutta la sua intensità emotiva. Ogni sussurro dell'orchestra, ogni linea vocale slanciata, riempie la sala di una ricchezza che fa sentire il pubblico completamente immerso nel dramma.

Il 10 marzo, Miami, già una delle città più vivaci e alla moda del mondo, diventerà l'epicentro del mondo dell'opera. Per gli amanti di Puccini, potrebbe non esserci posto migliore al mondo. Una serata magica attende nella mitica Cina della gelida Turandot, dove amore, coraggio e destino si scontrano sotto le luci dorate del palcoscenico dell'opera.

Una notte di grandiosità.
Una notte di passione.
Una notte da ricordare.

E non vedo l'ora.
Les mélomanes s'apprêtent à vivre l'un des événements musicaux les plus palpitants de la saison avec l'arrivée de Turandot à Miami en mars prochain. Le dernier chef-d'œuvre de Puccini sera présenté au magnifique Ziff Ballet Opera House, au sein du prestigieux Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, un lieu réputé non seulement pour sa beauté architecturale, mais aussi pour son acoustique exceptionnelle, qui permet à chaque note de la partition magistrale de Puccini de résonner avec une clarté extraordinaire.

Composé par le légendaire Giacomo Puccini, Turandot a été créé en 1926 à l'emblématique Teatro alla Scala et est depuis devenu l'un des opéras les plus grandioses et les plus spectaculaires du répertoire. Se déroulant dans une Chine impériale mythique, l'opéra raconte l'histoire dramatique de la glaciale princesse Turandot, qui met ses prétendants à l'épreuve avec trois énigmes mortelles. Ceux qui échouent doivent mourir. Mais lorsque l'intrépide prince Calaf les résout, le véritable combat commence : la conquête du cœur de glace de Turandot.

Cette nouvelle production promet un spectacle visuel époustouflant et une innovation théâtrale remarquable, alliant costumes somptueux, décors monumentaux et technologies scéniques de pointe pour transporter les spectateurs dans un univers fascinant de mystère, de romance et de grandeur impériale. Grâce à un chœur puissant, des projections à couper le souffle et des éclairages spectaculaires, la scène se métamorphosera en la Chine légendaire de Turandot – une atmosphère à la fois majestueuse, mystérieuse et inoubliable.

Ce qui rend ces représentations véritablement historiques, cependant, c'est la présence de deux des plus grandes stars de l'opéra de notre époque. L'extraordinaire soprano Aleksandra Kurzak incarnera la redoutable princesse Turandot, tandis que son époux, le ténor de renommée mondiale Roberto Alagna, interprétera le rôle héroïque du prince Calaf. Leurs prestations communes, les 7 et 10 mars, promettent d'être tout simplement électrisantes.

L'interprétation de Calaf par Alagna est légendaire, culminant dans le moment le plus célèbre de l'opéra : l'aria triomphante « Nessun dorma », une explosion musicale de passion et d'espoir qui ne manque jamais de soulever l'enthousiasme du public. Avec son soprano lumineux et sa présence scénique magistrale, Kurzak incarne une Turandot à la fois royale et terrifiante, une princesse de glace dont la transformation constitue l'un des voyages émotionnels les plus intenses de l'opéra.

Pour ceux qui ont suivi la remarquable carrière d'Alagna, l'entendre chanter aujourd'hui est un moment profondément émouvant. Je me souviens encore de mon voyage à Toulouse pour l'entendre interpréter Werther au début de sa carrière – des débuts inoubliables qui révélaient une voix promise à un brillant avenir. Aujourd'hui, des décennies plus tard, il continue de captiver les publics à l'autre bout du monde, triomphant une fois de plus dans le rôle du Prince Calaf sur la prestigieuse scène de Miami.

Et quel cadre pour une telle soirée ! Le Ziff Ballet Opera House, avec son acoustique chaleureuse et son design élégant, offre l'environnement idéal pour vivre la musique de Puccini dans toute son intensité émotionnelle. Chaque murmure de l'orchestre, chaque envolée vocale, emplit la salle d'une richesse qui plonge le public au cœur du drame.

Le 10 mars, Miami, déjà l'une des villes les plus dynamiques et élégantes du monde, deviendra l'épicentre de l'opéra. Pour les amoureux de Puccini, il n'y aura sans doute pas de meilleur endroit au monde. Une soirée magique vous attend dans la Chine mythique de la glaciale Turandot, où amour, courage et destin se mêlent sous les lumières dorées de la scène.

Une nuit de grandeur.

Une nuit de passion.

Une nuit inoubliable.

Et j'ai tellement hâte.

Friday, February 20, 2026

New York - Season 2026 / 2027 - Aida















What an extraordinary season is coming up at the Metropolitan Opera! I'm still struggling to contain my excitement at the announcement of the 2026–2027 season: a perfect blend of great classics, bold new productions, and absolutely dazzling casts. It's one of those seasons that reminds us why we love opera so passionately.

From the very first moment, the curtain will rise powerfully with Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth, chosen to open the season. And what an opening it will be: none other than the magnificent Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth. Her powerful and magnetic voice promises an electrifying evening, full of dramatic intensity and Verdian fire.

Among the titles I'm most excited to see again is Verdi's Aida, with its lavish production that never fails to impress. I'm especially thrilled to know that it will feature the wonderful Anna Pirozzi, one of the great dramatic sopranos of our time. And, of course, discovering new Aidas and Amneris will be part of the pleasure: there's nothing more exciting than hearing new voices take on these imperial roles.

Another of my dream comebacks is Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème, always so moving and timeless. Each performance is an invitation to fall in love with Mimì and Rodolfo all over again.

And speaking of Puccini… Tosca! For me, the most fabulous opera he ever wrote. This season will be a true feast for Tosca lovers, with a variety of performers that makes each performance unique. That's the magic of the Met: different sopranos, each with her own style, her own fire, her own way of tearing at our hearts.

Among my favorites will be Aleksandra Kurzak, Sondra Radvanovsky, Eleonora Buratto, Natalya Romaniw, and the impressive Saioa Hernández, fresh from her triumph as Gioconda, who will be kicking off this series of performances. Drama, passion, and stage presence! These will be absolutely unmissable evenings.

I am also eagerly anticipating Maria Stuarda by Gaetano Donizetti, one of my favorite operas from the celebrated Tudor trilogy. And what a privilege to have the star Lisette Oropesa, who has already triumphed as the Queen of Scots in Madrid. Her bel canto sensitivity and dramatic intensity promise unforgettable moments.

In the French repertoire, Jules Massenet's Manon holds a very special place in my heart. Rediscovering it with the voice that captivates me, the marvelous Nadine Sierra, will undoubtedly be one of the season's highlights.

The season also shines with beloved titles such as Così fan tutte and the festive Christmas presentation of The Magic Flute, both masterpieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is always a gift to return to Mozart, and even more so in a home like the Met.

In the dramatic and monumental repertoire, we find Otello, Richard Wagner's Parsifal, Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, Camille Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila, and Luigi Cherubini's Medea: titles that demand stellar voices and extraordinary interpretive intensity.

And I can't fail to mention the new productions that bring freshness and variety, such as Kevin Puts's Silent Night and Missy Mazzoli's Lincoln in the Bardo. It's wonderful to see how the Met combines tradition and modernity, offering both the great pillars of the repertoire and contemporary works that broaden horizons.

The season also includes gems like Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa and La Fanciulla del West, another new Puccini production that promises to be captivating.

Honestly, I couldn't single out just one title: they all thrill me deeply. But what excites me most is seeing so many of my favorite sopranos together in roles I adore. Yes, the tenors and baritones are absolutely stellar, the cast is dazzling… but my heart beats especially strongly for these titles and for these great divas who will bring immortal characters to life.

The Met’s 2026–2027 season is shaping up to be fabulous, varied, and exciting. For those of us who love opera—and especially for lovers of Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, and Mozart—we are in for a treat.

Now there’s only one thing left to do: wait with bated breath for the curtain to rise. And enjoy, performance after performance, the unique magic of the Met.

There are seasons… and then there are seasons that feel almost providential. The 2026–2027 lineup at the Metropolitan Opera is not merely a calendar of performances—it is a radiant affirmation that opera, in the 21st century, is gloriously alive. For those of us who believe that opera is the supreme synthesis of human imagination—where music, poetry, theater, image, and raw emotion converge into something transcendent—this season feels nothing short of divine.

At the heart of my excitement stand the sopranos. The luminous, fearless, incandescent women who carry forward a lineage that stretches back through the most sacred names in operatic history. These are the voices of our century—artists who take the torch from legends and ensure that the flame burns brighter than ever.

Let us begin with Aida, Verdi’s monumental hymn to love, sacrifice, and destiny. This production, already famed for its splendor, becomes even more thrilling with the presence of the magnificent Anna Pirozzi. Pirozzi possesses a voice of blazing amplitude and bronze-like brilliance, yet she tempers that power with extraordinary sensitivity. Her high notes soar like sunlit banners over the Nile, while her pianissimi shimmer with heartbreaking vulnerability. In her artistry one feels the echo of the great Aidas of the past—Leontyne Price, Shirley Verrett, Grace Bumbry, Martina Arroyo—yet she is unmistakably, thrillingly modern.

And how wonderful to anticipate Angel Blue at the Met, whose voice combines velvety warmth with radiant steel. She sings with a sincerity that pierces the heart; there is an emotional truth in her phrasing that feels almost confessional. Hers is a voice that wraps the audience in velvet and then, in a single phrase, sets it ablaze. I'm so excited to discover Leah Hawkins' voice in Aida.

On September 22, 2026, there will be no place in the world where an opera lover should be but Manhattan. That night, the curtain at the Metropolitan Opera House will rise to open the season with an event already generating fervor in all operatic circles: Lise Davidsen's debut as Lady Macbeth.

The great Norwegian soprano, one of the most imposing, majestic and admired voices of our time, will take on for the first time one of the most feared and fascinating roles ever written by Giuseppe Verdi.

Lady Macbeth is no ordinary role. It is a vocal and dramatic abyss. Verdi, obsessed with expressive intensity, had the soprano from the Florence premiere rehearse more than 150 times. He wasn't looking for conventional beauty: he demanded character, ferocity, darkness, theatrical electricity. New York, as demanding as Verdi himself, expects exactly that.

And Davidsen has everything she needs to set the stage ablaze.mporada 


In Maria Stuarda by Gaetano Donizetti—the jewel of the Tudor trilogy—my anticipation is almost unbearable. This opera occupies a sacred place in my heart. I listen endlessly to the Tudor trilogy, especially as immortalized by Beverly Sills, whose queens remain benchmarks of bel canto artistry. And now, the role returns in triumph with Lisette Oropesa, a soprano of crystalline precision and expressive fire. Oropesa’s technique is immaculate, her coloratura like spun silver, yet what moves me most is her dramatic intensity. She does not merely sing Maria—she becomes the doomed queen, regal and fragile, proud and wounded. It feels like the continuation of a grand tradition. And oh—if only the Met would crown this Tudor journey with Anna Bolena in 2028! That would be operatic paradise.

Then there is Manon by Jules Massenet, one of the most intoxicating jewels of the French repertoire. How delicious to rediscover it through the voice of Nadine Sierra. Sierra’s timbre is pure satin, glowing and youthful, yet supported by impeccable technique and dramatic intelligence. She evokes the elegance and charm once embodied by Beverly Sills, yet she brings her own irresistible sparkle. Her Manon promises to be seductive, tender, capricious, and tragic—all in a single, shimmering arc.

And then—Tosca. Tosca by Giacomo Puccini remains, to me, the most theatrically perfect opera ever written. Passion distilled into three acts. And what a constellation of Toscas this season offers.

Sondra Radvanovsky, with her volcanic intensity and fearless dramatic commitment, channels the spirit of Maria Callas—not by imitation, but through a shared willingness to risk everything emotionally. Her voice can blaze like lightning and then break into the most fragile prayer.

Aleksandra Kurzak brings elegance and emotional immediacy, a silken line that can suddenly ignite into flame.

Saioa Hernández—currently triumphing as Gioconda—arrives with a voice of molten gold, expansive and thrilling, capable of filling the house with sumptuous tone while maintaining dramatic precision.

Each Tosca will be different. That is the miracle of the Met: the same score, yet infinite interpretations. We remember the towering legacies of Renata Tebaldi and Montserrat Caballé—voices that defined eras. And yet, these 21st-century sopranos prove that the lineage is unbroken. The torch passes, the fire remains.

The season’s grandeur extends further: Macbeth, Otello, Parsifal, Der Rosenkavalier, Samson et Dalila, and the magic of The Magic Flute—each title a pillar of the repertoire, each demanding voices of heroic scale and refined artistry.

But what moves me most is this: opera endures because of artists like these. Because new generations rise to meet the impossible standards set by the past—and then surpass them in their own way. Opera is, to me, the supreme art form. Cinema and theater are magnificent, of course. But opera is the ultimate human creation: the total artwork, where orchestra, poetry, stagecraft, light, costume, voice, and soul converge into transcendence.

As a French philosopher once suggested, if one can spend a couple of hours at the opera, life is already justified.

And with a season like this at the Metropolitan Opera—divine in its ambition, incandescent in its casting, resplendent in its repertoire—we are not merely attending performances. We are witnessing the continuation of greatness.

I am counting the days. And my heart is already in the opera house. 


Monday, October 27, 2025

Barcelona - Roberto Alagna - 30th October 2025

 

🎶 A Night of Puccini: Roberto Alagna in Barcelona

30 October – A Celebration of Passion, Melody, and the Eternal Voice of Puccini

There are certain artists whose very presence transforms the air around them — who carry within their voice the light and shadow of the human heart. Roberto Alagna is one of those rare stars. Charismatic, deeply expressive, and endowed with a voice that blends golden warmth and Mediterranean fire, he has conquered every great stage of the world — from the Metropolitan Opera to La Scala.

I first saw him many years ago, singing Massenet’s Werther at the Capitole Theatre in Toulouse. His performance was unforgettable — tender, vulnerable, incandescent. Later, in Bizet’s Carmen alongside the remarkable Béatrice Uria-Monzon, his Don José was both tragic and passionate, the portrait of a man consumed by love. Since then, I have followed his journey through the world’s opera houses, always mesmerised by the sincerity and truth he brings to every phrase.

Now, he returns to us in Barcelona, offering a recital entirely devoted to Giacomo Puccini, the composer whose music is the very language of emotion. This evening promises to be an ode to love, longing, and beauty — a celebration of Puccini’s genius, illuminated by the golden voice of one of the greatest tenors of our time.


🌹 Torna ai felici dìLe Villi (1884)

Puccini’s very first opera, Le Villi, already reveals his instinct for melody and drama. “Torna ai felici dì” (“Return to the happy days”) is sung by Roberto, a man tormented by guilt and grief. It demands both lyrical control and dramatic intensity — a perfect opening for Alagna, whose voice can move effortlessly from whispering nostalgia to passionate despair. The aria’s lines rise like sighs, filled with the aching regret of lost love.


🔥 Orgia, chimera dall’occhio vitreoEdgar (1889)

From Puccini’s rarely performed Edgar, this aria captures the restless spirit of its hero, torn between sacred and profane love. The music is turbulent, full of harmonic daring and emotional storms. Its vocal writing challenges even the most seasoned tenors — wide-ranging, explosive, and demanding both power and elegance. Alagna’s dramatic instinct makes this music come alive, revealing the youthful Puccini searching for his mature voice.


🌙 La tregenda — Intermezzo sinfonico (piano solo) — Le Villi

A haunting orchestral dance, La tregenda (“The Witch Dance”) conjures a supernatural atmosphere. On piano, it becomes a shimmering miniature — rhythmic, ghostly, and full of suspense. It is one of Puccini’s earliest experiments with orchestral colour, a glimpse of the master storyteller he would become.


💕 Tra voi belle, brune e biondeManon Lescaut (1893)

In Manon Lescaut, Puccini’s first great success, we meet Des Grieux — young, impassioned, and head over heels in love. His opening serenade “Tra voi belle, brune e bionde” (“Among you lovely ladies, brunettes and blondes”) is flirtatious, charming, and deceptively simple — a musical smile. Yet beneath its playfulness lies the spark of fate. For Alagna, whose voice glows with warmth and natural grace, it is an ideal moment of youthful radiance before passion and tragedy take hold.


💘 Donna non vidi maiManon Lescaut

Few arias in all opera capture the ecstasy of first love as perfectly as “Donna non vidi mai” (“Never have I seen such a woman”). Des Grieux has just met Manon — and in that instant, his life changes forever. The melody unfolds with tenderness, rising toward a climax of pure wonder. Technically, it requires legato perfection, seamless phrasing, and a glowing top register — qualities that define Alagna’s artistry. When he sings it, one truly believes in love at first sight.


🌅 Intermezzo (piano solo) — Manon Lescaut

Between the acts, Puccini paints a world of longing without words. The Intermezzo is one of his most moving instrumental pieces — a symphonic reflection of lost love. Its yearning theme, heard on piano, is like a distant memory of happiness. It reminds us of the lyric beauty that runs through all of Puccini’s music.


No!... Pazzo son!... Guardate!Manon Lescaut

A moment of anguish and madness. Des Grieux, now desperate and heartbroken, cries out in pain as he watches Manon suffer. The aria begins almost declamatory, then bursts into soaring agony. It tests the tenor’s strength, stamina, and emotional truth. It is the cry of a man torn between passion and despair — a challenge that Alagna meets with his unique blend of fire and lyricism


❄️ Che gelida maninaLa Bohème (1896)

One of Puccini’s most beloved arias, “Che gelida manina” (“What a cold little hand”) introduces us to Rodolfo, the poet who falls in love with Mimì on a winter’s night in Paris. This aria is a jewel of lyric phrasing — soft, tender, intimate — leading to a radiant high C that must sound like the very soul opening in song. Alagna, whose Rodolfo has long been celebrated, brings both poetry and sincerity to this music. His delivery captures every shade — from shy wonder to soaring love.


🌌 E lucevan le stelleTosca (1900)

The tragic Cavaradossi sings this aria before his execution: “And the stars were shining…” It is perhaps Puccini’s most heartbreaking page — a memory of love, sung on the edge of death. The aria demands immense emotional depth and breath control: long, arching phrases that must remain warm and vibrant even in despair. Alagna’s rich, expressive tone and natural Italianate phrasing give this music its full emotional weight — tender, noble, utterly human.


🌸 Duetto dei fiori e coro a bocca chiusa (piano solo) — Madama Butterfly (1904)

The “Humming Chorus,” as it is known, is one of Puccini’s most ethereal inspirations — a moment of stillness and moonlight. Heard on piano, it becomes a meditation on hope and silence. The music floats like a dream, full of suspended beauty, where time seems to stop.


💔 Addio, fiorito asilMadama Butterfly

Pinkerton’s aria of remorse — “Farewell, flowery refuge” — is brief but devastating. It requires immense control and honesty: the voice must carry guilt, tenderness, and regret all at once. Few singers can make this moment truly believable; Alagna’s sincerity and warmth give it a truth that pierces the heart.


🌄 Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontanoLa fanciulla del West (1910)

Here, Dick Johnson faces his death with dignity, asking that his beloved Minnie believe him safe and free. The melody is simple yet noble, flowing with American openness and Italian passion. The aria is technically challenging — sustained phrasing, perfect breath support, and emotional restraint. Alagna’s heroic lyricism is perfectly suited to it: brave, tender, and luminous.


💃 Nella dolce carezza della danza — piano solo (La rondine, 1917)

From Puccini’s most elegant and bittersweet opera, La rondine, this waltz-like intermezzo captures the grace of Parisian society tinged with melancholy. On piano, it shimmers with refinement — the sound of Puccini’s gentler world, full of longing and delicate sophistication.


🌙 Nessun dormaTurandot (1926)

And finally — the aria that crowns the night. “Nessun dorma” (“None shall sleep”) from Turandot is Puccini’s ultimate hymn to triumph through love. It demands everything: vocal power, radiant tone, and absolute emotional command. Few tenors can make the climactic “Vincerò!” both heroic and human. Alagna, with his combination of strength, warmth, and golden timbre, turns it into pure exultation — a cry of victory that resounds far beyond the theatre.


🌟 A Night to Remember

This Puccini evening in Barcelona will be more than a recital — it will be a journey through the soul of Italian opera, guided by a voice that has illuminated the world’s greatest stages. Each aria reveals a different face of love: youthful, passionate, despairing, or transcendent.

Roberto Alagna’s artistry brings them all together in one radiant evening — a celebration of Puccini, of song, and of the eternal beauty of the human voice. On 30 October, Barcelona will shine with music, and the audience will leave the theatre carrying a single thought in their hearts: what a gift it is to feel so deeply, and to hear such beauty.


Ночь Пуччини: Роберто Аланья в Барселоне


30 октября – Торжество страсти, мелодии и вечного голоса Пуччини


Есть артисты, чьё присутствие преображает воздух вокруг них – чей голос несёт в себе свет и тень человеческого сердца. Роберто Аланья – одна из таких редких звёзд. Харизматичный, глубоко выразительный, наделённый голосом, сочетающим в себе золотистое тепло и средиземноморский огонь, он покорил все величайшие сцены мира – от Метрополитен-оперы до Ла Скала.


Я впервые увидел его много лет назад, когда он исполнял «Вертера» Массне в театре «Капитоль» в Тулузе. Его исполнение было незабываемым – нежным, уязвимым, пламенным. Позже, в «Кармен» Бизе вместе с замечательной Беатрис Урия-Монсон, его Дон Хозе был одновременно трагичным и страстным, портретом человека, охваченного любовью. С тех пор я следил за его путешествием по оперным театрам мира, неизменно заворожённый искренностью и правдой, которые он вкладывает в каждую фразу.


Теперь он возвращается к нам в Барселону с сольным концертом, полностью посвящённым Джакомо Пуччини, композитору, чья музыка — сам язык эмоций. Этот вечер обещает стать одой любви, тоске и красоте — чествованием гения Пуччини, освещённым золотым голосом одного из величайших теноров нашего времени.


🌹 Torna ai felici dì — «Виллисы» (1884)


Уже в первой опере Пуччини, «Виллисы», проявляется его чутьё на мелодию и драму. «Torna ai felici dì» («Возврат к счастливым дням») поёт Роберто, человек, терзаемый чувством вины и горя. Она требует как лирического контроля, так и драматической интенсивности — идеальное начало для Аланьи, чей голос легко переходит от шёпота ностальгии к страстному отчаянию. Строки арии поднимаются, словно вздохи, наполненные щемящей печалью об утраченной любви.


🔥 Orgia, chimera dall’occhio vitreo — Эдгар (1889)


Эта ария, написанная редко исполняемым Эдгаром Пуччини, передает беспокойный дух своего героя, разрывающегося между священной и мирской любовью. Музыка бурная, полная гармонических дерзаний и эмоциональных бурь. Её вокальное мастерство бросает вызов даже самым опытным тенорам — широкий диапазон, взрывной голос, требующий одновременно силы и элегантности. Драматическое чутьё Аланьи оживляет эту музыку, раскрывая юного Пуччини, ищущего свой зрелый голос.


🌙 La tregenda — Симфоническое интермеццо (фортепиано соло) — Le Villi


Завораживающий оркестровый танец, La tregenda («Танец ведьмы»), создаёт атмосферу сверхъестественного. На фортепиано он превращается в мерцающую миниатюру — ритмичную, призрачную и полную напряжения. Это один из самых ранних экспериментов Пуччини с оркестровым колоритом, проблеск того, каким мастером-рассказчиком он станет.


💕 Tra voi belle, brune e bionde — Манон Леско (1893)


В «Манон Леско», первом большом успехе Пуччини, мы встречаем Де Грие — молодого, страстного и по уши влюблённого. Его вступительная серенада «Tra voi belle, brune e bionde» («Среди вас, милые дамы, брюнетки и блондинки») кокетлива, очаровательна и обманчиво проста — музыкальная улыбка. Но за этой игривостью кроется искра судьбы. Для Аланьи, чей голос излучает тепло и природную грацию, это идеальный момент юношеского сияния перед тем, как страсть и трагедия овладеют ею.


💘 Donna non vidi mai — Манон Леско


Немногие арии в опере так точно передают экстаз первой любви, как «Donna non vidi mai» («Никогда я не видел такой женщины»). Де Грие только что встретил Манон — и в этот миг его жизнь изменилась навсегда. Мелодия раскрывается с нежностью, достигая кульминации чистого чуда. Технически она требует безупречного легато, безупречной фразировки и яркого верхнего регистра — качеств, которые определяют мастерство Аланьи. Когда он исполняет эту арию, по-настоящему веришь в любовь с первого взгляда.


🌅 Интермеццо (фортепиано соло) — Манон Леско


Между актами Пуччини рисует мир тоски без слов. Интермеццо — одно из самых трогательных его инструментальных произведений — симфоническое отражение утраченной любви. Его тоскливая тема, звучащая на фортепиано, подобна далёкому воспоминанию о счастье. Она напоминает нам о лирической красоте, пронизывающей всю музыку Пуччини.


⚡ Нет!... Pazzo son!... Guardate! — Манон Леско


Момент тоски и безумия. Де Грие, отчаявшийся и убитый горем, кричит от боли, наблюдая за страданиями Манон. Ария начинается почти декламационной, затем перерастает в неистовое страдание. Она испытывает силу, выносливость и эмоциональную правдивость тенора. Это крик человека, разрывающегося между страстью и отчаянием, — вызов, который Аланья встречает с уникальным сочетанием огня и лирики.


❄️ Che gelida manina — «Богема» (1896)


Одна из самых любимых арий Пуччини, «Che gelida manina» («Какая холодная ручка»), знакомит нас с Рудольфом, поэтом, который влюбляется в Мими зимней ночью в Париже. Эта ария — жемчужина лирической фразировки — мягкая, нежная, интимная — ведущая к лучезарному высокому до, которое, должно быть, звучит как сама душа, раскрывающаяся в песне. Аланья, чей Рудольфо давно прославлен, привносит в эту музыку поэзию и искренность. Его исполнение передает все оттенки — от робкого удивления до парящей любви.


🌌 E lucevan le stelle — Тоска (1900)


Трагический Каварадосси поёт эту арию перед казнью: «И звёзды сияли…» Это, пожалуй, самая душераздирающая страница Пуччини — воспоминание о любви, спетое на грани смерти. Ария требует невероятной эмоциональной глубины и контроля дыхания: длинные, арочные фразы должны оставаться тёплыми и яркими даже в отчаянии. Богатый, выразительный тон Аланьи и естественная итальянская фразировка придают этой музыке полную эмоциональную нагрузку — нежную, благородную, совершенно человечную.


🌸 Duetto dei fiori e coro a bocca chiusa (соло для фортепиано) — Мадам Баттерфляй (1904)


«Жужжащий хор», как его называют, — одно из самых возвышенных вдохновений Пуччини — мгновение тишины и лунного света. В исполнении фортепиано он превращается в размышление о надежде и тишине. Музыка парит, словно сон, полный застывшей красоты, где время, кажется, остановилось.


💔 Addio, fiorito asil — Мадам Баттерфляй


Ария раскаяния Пинкертона — «Прощай, цветущее убежище» — короткая, но сокрушительная. Она требует невероятного контроля и честности: голос должен нести в себе одновременно чувство вины, нежности и сожаления. Немногие певцы способны сделать этот момент по-настоящему правдоподобным; искренность и теплота Аланьи придают ему правдивость, пронзающую сердце.


🌄 Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano — Девушка с Запада (1910)


Здесь Дик Джонсон достойно встречает свою смерть, моля свою возлюбленную Минни поверить ему в безопасность и свободу. Мелодия проста, но благородна, она струится американской открытостью и итальянской страстью. Ария технически сложна — выдержанная фразировка, идеальная опора на дыхание и эмоциональная сдержанность. Героическая лирика Аланьи идеально подходит к ней: смелая, нежная и лучезарная.


💃 Nella dolce carezza della danza — фортепиано соло («Ласточка», 1917)


Это вальсоподобное интермеццо из самой элегантной и горько-сладкой оперы Пуччини «Ласточка» передает изящество парижского общества, окрашенное меланхолией. В исполнении фортепиано оно мерцает изысканностью — звучанием более нежного мира Пуччини, полного томления и утонченной изысканности.


🌙 Nessun dorma — «Турандот» (1926)


И наконец — ария, венчающая ночь. «Nessun dorma» («Никто не должен спать») из «Турандот» — это высший гимн Пуччини торжеству любви. Он требует всего: вокальной силы, лучезарного тона и абсолютного владения эмоциями. Немногие теноры способны сделать кульминационное «Vincerò!» одновременно героическим и человечным. Аланья, с его сочетанием силы, теплоты и золотого тембра, превращает его в чистый восторг — клич победы, разносящийся далеко за пределы театра.


🌟 Незабываемая ночь


Этот вечер Пуччини в Барселоне станет не просто сольным концертом, а путешествием по душе итальянской оперы под руководством голоса, озарявшего лучшие сцены мира. Каждая ария раскрывает разные грани любви: юную, страстную, отчаянную или возвышенную.


Искусство Роберто Аланьи объединяет их всех в один лучезарный вечер — праздник Пуччини, песни и вечной красоты человеческого голоса. 30 октября Барселона засияет музыкой, и зрители покинут театр с одной мыслью: какой это дар — чувствовать так глубоко и слышать такую ​​красоту.


🎶 Une Nuit Puccini : Roberto Alagna à Barcelone


30 octobre – Célébration de la Passion, de la Mélodie et de la Voix Éternelle de Puccini


Il est des artistes dont la seule présence transforme l'atmosphère, qui portent en eux la lumière et l'ombre du cœur humain. Roberto Alagna est l'une de ces rares stars. Charismatique, profondément expressif, doté d'une voix mêlant chaleur dorée et feu méditerranéen, il a conquis toutes les grandes scènes du monde, du Metropolitan Opera à la Scala.


Je l'ai vu pour la première fois il y a de nombreuses années, chantant Werther de Massenet au Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse. Son interprétation était inoubliable : tendre, vulnérable, incandescente. Plus tard, dans Carmen de Bizet, aux côtés de la remarquable Béatrice Uria-Monzon, son Don José était à la fois tragique et passionné, le portrait d'un homme dévoré par l'amour. Depuis, j'ai suivi son parcours à travers les opéras du monde, toujours fasciné par la sincérité et la vérité qu'il insuffle à chaque phrase.


Il nous revient aujourd'hui à Barcelone pour un récital entièrement consacré à Giacomo Puccini, le compositeur dont la musique est le langage même de l'émotion. Cette soirée promet d'être une ode à l'amour, au désir et à la beauté, une célébration du génie de Puccini, illuminée par la voix d'or de l'un des plus grands ténors de notre temps.


🌹 Torna ai felici dì — Le Villi (1884)


Le tout premier opéra de Puccini, Le Villi, révèle déjà son instinct pour la mélodie et le drame. « Torna ai felici dì » (« Retour aux jours heureux ») est chanté par Roberto, un homme tourmenté par la culpabilité et le chagrin. L'air exige à la fois maîtrise lyrique et intensité dramatique, une ouverture parfaite pour Alagna, dont la voix passe sans effort de la nostalgie murmurée au désespoir passionné. Les vers de l'air s'élèvent tels des soupirs, emplis du regret douloureux d'un amour perdu.


🔥 Orgia, chimère dall’occhio vitreo — Edgar (1889)


Tirée de l'Edgar de Puccini, rarement interprété, cette aria capture l'esprit agité de son héros, tiraillé entre l'amour sacré et l'amour profane. La musique est turbulente, pleine d'audace harmonique et de tempêtes émotionnelles. Son écriture vocale défie même les ténors les plus chevronnés : ample, explosive, exigeant à la fois puissance et élégance. L'instinct dramatique d'Alagna donne vie à cette musique, révélant le jeune Puccini en quête de sa voix mature.


🌙 La tregenda — Intermezzo sinfonico (piano solo) — Le Villi


Danse orchestrale envoûtante, La tregenda (« La Danse de la Sorcière ») évoque une atmosphère surnaturelle. Au piano, elle devient une miniature chatoyante, rythmée, fantomatique et pleine de suspense. C'est l'une des premières expériences de Puccini avec la couleur orchestrale, un aperçu du maître conteur qu'il deviendra.


💕 Tra voi belle, brune e bionde — Manon Lescaut (1893)


Dans Manon Lescaut, premier grand succès de Puccini, nous rencontrons Des Grieux, jeune, passionné et éperdument amoureux. Sa sérénade d'ouverture, « Tra voi belle, brune e bionde » (« Parmi vous, belles dames, brunes et blondes »), est enjôleuse, charmante et d'une simplicité trompeuse – un sourire musical. Pourtant, sous son côté espiègle se cache l'étincelle du destin. Pour Alagna, dont la voix rayonne de chaleur et de grâce naturelle, c'est un moment idéal d'éclat juvénile avant que la passion et la tragédie ne s'emparent d'elle.


💘 Donna non vidi mai — Manon Lescaut


Rares sont les airs d'opéra qui capturent l'extase du premier amour aussi parfaitement que « Donna non vidi mai » (« Jamais je n'ai vu une telle femme »). Des Grieux vient de rencontrer Manon – et à cet instant, sa vie bascule à jamais. La mélodie se déploie avec tendresse, s'élevant vers un apogée de pure merveille. Techniquement, elle exige une perfection legato, un phrasé fluide et un registre aigu rayonnant – des qualités qui définissent le talent artistique d'Alagna. Lorsqu'il la chante, on croirait véritablement au coup de foudre.


🌅 Intermezzo (piano solo) — Manon Lescaut


Entre les actes, Puccini peint un monde de désir sans paroles. L'Intermezzo est l'une de ses pièces instrumentales les plus émouvantes – une réflexion symphonique sur l'amour perdu. Son thème nostalgique, entendu au piano, est comme un lointain souvenir de bonheur. Il nous rappelle la beauté lyrique qui imprègne toute la musique de Puccini.


⚡ Non !... Pazzo son !... Guardate ! — Manon Lescaut


Un moment d'angoisse et de folie. Des Grieux, désespéré et le cœur brisé, crie sa douleur en regardant Manon souffrir. L'aria débute presque déclamatoirement, puis explose en une agonie vertigineuse. Elle met à l'épreuve la force, l'endurance et la vérité émotionnelle du ténor. C'est le cri d'un homme déchiré entre passion et désespoir – un défi qu'Alagna relève avec son mélange unique de fougue et de lyrisme.

❄️ Che gelida manina — La Bohème (1896)


L'un des airs les plus appréciés de Puccini, « Che gelida manina » (« Quelle petite main froide ») nous présente Rodolfo, le poète qui tombe amoureux de Mimì par une nuit d'hiver à Paris. Cet air est un joyau de phrasé lyrique – doux, tendre, intime – menant à un do aigu radieux qui doit sonner comme l'âme même qui s'ouvre au chant. Alagna, dont Rodolfo est depuis longtemps célébré, apporte à cette musique poésie et sincérité. Son interprétation en capture toutes les nuances – de l'émerveillement timide à l'amour exalté.


🌌 E lucevan le stelle — Tosca (1900)


Le tragique Cavaradossi chante cet air avant son exécution : « Et les étoiles brillaient… » C'est peut-être la page la plus déchirante de Puccini – un souvenir d'amour, chanté à l'orée de la mort. L'air exige une profondeur émotionnelle immense et une grande maîtrise du souffle : de longues phrases arquées qui doivent rester chaleureuses et vibrantes même dans le désespoir. Le timbre riche et expressif d'Alagna et son phrasé italien naturel confèrent à cette musique toute sa force émotionnelle : tendre, noble, profondément humaine.


🌸 Duetto dei fiori e coro a bocca chiusa (piano solo) — Madama Butterfly (1904)


Le « Chœur bourdonnant », comme on le surnomme, est l'une des inspirations les plus éthérées de Puccini : un moment de calme et de clair de lune. Au piano, il devient une méditation sur l'espoir et le silence. La musique flotte comme un rêve, emplie d'une beauté suspendue, où le temps semble s'arrêter.


💔 Addio, fiorito asil — Madama Butterfly


L'air de remords de Pinkerton — « Adieu, refuge fleuri » — est bref mais bouleversant. Cela exige une maîtrise et une honnêteté immenses : la voix doit exprimer à la fois culpabilité, tendresse et regret. Peu de chanteurs parviennent à rendre ce moment véritablement crédible ; la sincérité et la chaleur d’Alagna lui confèrent une vérité qui transperce le cœur.


🌄 Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano — La fanciulla del West (1910)


Ici, Dick Johnson affronte sa mort avec dignité, demandant à sa bien-aimée Minnie de le croire sain et sauf. La mélodie est simple mais noble, imprégnée d’ouverture américaine et de passion italienne. L’air est techniquement exigeant : phrasé soutenu, soutien respiratoire parfait et retenue émotionnelle. Le lyrisme héroïque d’Alagna lui convient parfaitement : courageux, tendre et lumineux.


💃 Nella dolce carezza della danza — piano solo (La Rondine, 1917)


Tiré de La Rondine, l'opéra le plus élégant et doux-amer de Puccini, cet intermezzo aux allures de valse capture la grâce de la société parisienne teintée de mélancolie. Au piano, il scintille de raffinement — la sonorité du monde plus doux de Puccini, empreint de nostalgie et de sophistication délicate.


🌙 Nessun dorma — Turandot (1926)


Et enfin — l'air qui couronne la nuit. « Nessun dorma » (« Nul ne dormira ») de Turandot est l'hymne ultime de Puccini au triomphe de l'amour. Il exige tout : puissance vocale, timbre radieux et maîtrise émotionnelle absolue. Rares sont les ténors capables de rendre le « Vincerò ! » culminant à la fois héroïque et humain. Alagna, avec sa force, sa chaleur et son timbre doré, transforme cette musique en une pure exultation – un cri de victoire qui résonne bien au-delà du théâtre.


🌟 Une Nuit Inoubliable


Cette soirée Puccini à Barcelone sera plus qu'un récital : ce sera un voyage au cœur de l'âme de l'opéra italien, guidé par une voix qui a illuminé les plus grandes scènes du monde. Chaque air révèle une facette différente de l'amour : juvénile, passionné, désespéré ou transcendant.


L'art de Roberto Alagna les réunit tous en une soirée radieuse – une célébration de Puccini, du chant et de la beauté éternelle de la voix humaine. Le 30 octobre, Barcelone resplendira de musique, et le public quittera le théâtre avec une seule pensée : quel cadeau de ressentir si profondément et d'entendre une telle beauté.



Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Barcelona La forza del destino 9 / 19 Nov 2024 / 2025

The 2024/2025 season has already been revealed, we are delighted with the proposals, in my case, I couldn't be happier since I love everything that has been scheduled. Let's not forget that the theater has on its program these next few days and weeks, the operas la cenerentola by rossini, fidelio by beethoven, Adriana Lecouvreur by Cilèa, Roberto Alagna, Alesandra Kurzak return to liceu, what a thrill to see an opera with these two stars, I won't miss it. We also have Sonya Yoncheva , I won't miss it, and many more fabulous singers in a divine production not to be missed. And none other than the Valkyrie concert with Lise Davidsen, I think there are no more tickets left, You would have to consult with the theater, but it is logical that they have sold out, because it is going to be memorable, I would say that June 27 will be the day on which one should be there, Lise Davidsen, the best Wagnerian voice. The season will begin with Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, it was already given at the liceu years ago, I myself enjoyed this opera a lot, because I really like Sostakovich, although I prefer his ballet suites, in any case, this opera will be quite a show. Next comes Verdi's famous opera, La Forza del Destino, a production that premiered in Paris, and then came to Barcelona in 2012, it was a great success, many performances were scheduled, and I attended all the performances, and it was a great success, I remember that the choir was reinforced with the Girona choir, this time the beautiful Parisian production is repeated, so we will be there, none other than the fabulous Saioa Hernandez will sing, a wonderful soprano, an extraordinary voice, who I think, I'm not sure, that she has also sung the role of Leonora, I would say yes, in any case I have heard her in many Verdi roles, and it is a sensation, the great success obtained recently in a ballo in maschera demonstrates, or hers great success years ago at La Scala when she sang at the opening of the season at the Attila, caused a sensation. Her Gioconda is wonderful ,what a great Gioconda, in short, we are facing one of the best voices of the 21st century, so a wonderful force of destiny awaits us. Anna Pirozzi will sing the première of La forza del destino next 9th November and three more performances ,she got a great triumph in Paris Bastille in this role and she is going to be a wonderful Leonora in Barcelona , we can wait to listen her divine voice singing la vergine degli angeli and pace pace mio Dio ,the two most beautiful arias of the opera .Don Alvaro will be sung by the fabulous Italian tenor Francesco Pio Galasso who precisely sang Don Alvaro in the successful performances last February and March in Palma de Mallorca, so a sensational Don Alvaro awaits us, and  his wife sings as Leonora ,at the same performance !!! 😊👍I remember the same happened when the remembered Daniela Dessi and her husband were together at the same time in Montecarlo in la forza del destino ,it was magic , so these future performances will be a performance not to be missed, plus added emotion with real life husband and wife .


The North American Brian Jadge will come from New York, the city of his birth, to offer us his Don Alvaro. This tenor has already sung this role in London and New York, and he is an expert tenor and specially in laforzadeldestino that he knows so well ,Furthermore, his voice is very beautiful as his interpretation of the unhappy Don Alvaro ,so it will be wonderful to attend his performances with the Italian super star Anna Pirozzi . The truth is that these performances of the force of destiny attract me for two reasons: the opera itself, which is wonderful, and listening to these fabulous singers live in these roles. We will also have Don Carlo di Vargas in Artur Rucinski 👍✨💯who has obtained a great success in London in Lucia di Lammermoor and he will be a sensational Don Carlo di vargas in his duets that Verdi wrote with so much care and inspiration to be sung with the tenor, he will make those fabulous duets, which Curiously, there are several in this opera, for the two of them, Brian Jagde.They will sing together as Don Alvaro and Don Carlo . I would almost say that the baritone sings more with the tenor than with the soprano 😉. Only Verdi could create such an opera, only him ,such a masterpiece . Amartuvshin Enkhbat will sing the duets with Francesco Pio Galasso, the singers will leave the Liceu hall astonished, since Galasso's beautiful and expressive tenor voice plus that of this baritone who I have been told is magnificent, can give a memorable night of baryton tenor duets , I really think it is going to be a good verdian opera evenings kind of a verdian voices festival ,can't wait to see them all ,I have tickets for both castings . The Guardian father will be John Relyea and Giacomo Prestia. Preziosilla Szilvia Vörös and Vasilisa Berzhanskaya. The conductor of the orchestra will be the prestigious Italian Nicola Luisotti that got a great success in Madrid with Adriana Lecouvreur. Madama Butterfly will be given in December, also a unique performance of Die Fledermaus. La traviata returns to the liceu in January, the international super star Nadine Sierra will be Violetta. She will sing La Sonnambula by Bellini in April and May. So we're very lucky to have this unique and so beautiful voice twice in one season . Rusalka will be given in June and July. I think West Side Story will make its debut in this theater and it will be with Nadine Sierra and Juan Diego Flórez, Isabel Leonard will also come, which I think is her debut at the liceu, performances that should not be missed. 

La stagione 2024/2025 è già stata svelata, siamo contentissimi delle proposte, nel mio caso non potrei essere più felice perché amo tutto ciò che è stato programmato. Non dimentichiamo che il teatro ha in cartellone in questi giorni e settimane, le opere la cenerentola di rossini, fidelio di beethoven, Adriana Lecouvreur di Cilèa,Roberto Alagna, Alesandra Kurzak tornano al liceo, che emozione vedere un'opera con queste due star, non me la perdo. Abbiamo anche Sonya Yoncheva , non me la perderò, e tanti altri cantanti favolosi in una produzione divina da non perdere.e niente meno che il concerto delle Valchirie con Lise Davidsen, credo non ce ne siano altri biglietti rimasti, bisognerebbe consultare il teatro, ma è logico che siano esauriti, perché sarà memorabile, direi che il 27 giugno sarà il giorno in cui dovrebbe esserci una, Lise Davidsen, la migliore voce wagneriana. La stagione inizierà con Lady Macbeth di Mcensk, rappresentata anni fa al Liceu. A me quest'opera è piaciuta molto, perché mi piace molto Sostakovich, anche se preferisco le sue suite per balletto. In ogni caso, quest'opera sarà uno spettacolo . Poi arriva la famosa opera di Verdi, La Forza del Destino, una produzione che ha debuttato a Parigi, poi è arrivata a Barcellona nel 2012, è stato un grande successo, erano previste molte rappresentazioni e io ho assistito a tutte le rappresentazioni, ed è stato un grande successo , Ricordo che il coro si è rinforzato con il coro di Girona, questa volta si ripete la bellissima produzione parigina, quindi noi ci saremo, canterà niente meno che la favolosa Saioa Hernandez, un soprano meraviglioso, una voce straordinaria, che secondo me, Non sono sicuro che abbia cantato anche il ruolo di Leonora, direi di sì, comunque l'ho sentita in tanti ruoli verdiani, ed è una sensazione, lo dimostra il grande successo ottenuto recentemente in un ballo in maschera , o il suo grande successo anni fa alla Scala quando cantò in apertura di stagione all'Attila, fece scalpore. La sua Monna Lisa è meravigliosa, insomma siamo di fronte ad una delle migliori voci del 21° secolo, quindi ci aspetta una meravigliosa forza del destino. Anna Pirozzi aprirà questa serie di otto rappresentazioni offrendo la sua meravigliosa Leonora ,la prima sera sarà il nove novembre alle 19:30. Don Alvaro sarà cantato dal favoloso tenore italiano Francesco Pio Galasso che proprio ha cantato Don Alvaro nelle fortunate rappresentazioni dello scorso febbraio e marzo a Palma di Maiorca, quindi ci aspetta un Don Alvaro sensazionale, e se canta anche sua moglie, sarà un spettacolo da non perdere, con in più un'emozione in più. Il nordamericano Brian Jadge arriverà da New York, sua città natale, per proporci il suo Don Alvaro. Questo tenore ha già cantato questo ruolo a Londra e New York, ed è un esperto, inoltre la sua voce è molto bella, quindi sarà meraviglioso assistere alle sue esibizioni con Maria Agresta. La verità è che queste rappresentazioni della forza del destino mi attraggono per due motivi: l'opera in sé, che è meravigliosa, e ascoltare questi favolosi cantanti dal vivo in questi ruoli. Avremo anche il Don Carlo di Vargas in Artur Rucinski che sta avendo grande successo a Londra nella Lucia di Lammermoor e sarà un Don Carlo strepitoso nei suoi duetti che Verdi scrisse con tanto amore per essere cantati col tenore, farà quei duetti favolosi, che curiosamente ce ne sono diversi in quest'opera, per loro due, Brian Jagde. Direi quasi che il baritono canta più con il tenore che con il soprano. Solo Verdi poteva creare un'opera del genere. Amartuvshin Enkhbat canterà i duetti con Francesco Pio Galasso, i cantanti lasceranno stupiti la sala del Liceu, poiché la bella voce tenorile di Galasso più quella di questo baritono che mi dicono sia magnifica, possono regalare una serata memorabile. Il padre del Guardian sarà John Relyea e Giacomo Prestia. Preziosilla Szilvia Vörös e Vasilisa Berzhanskaya. Il direttore d'orchestra sarà il prestigioso italiano Nicola Luisotti. A dicembre ci sarà Madama Butterfly, anche un'esecuzione unica di Die Fledermaus, la traviata tornerà al liceo a gennaio, la super star internazionale Nadine Sierra canterà la Sonnambula ad aprile e maggio. Rusalka sarà data a giugno e luglio. Penso che West Side Story farà il suo debutto in questo teatro e sarà con Nadine Sierra e Juan Diego Flórez, verrà anche Isabel Leonard, che credo sia il suo debutto al liceu, spettacoli da non perdere.  

La saison 2024/2025 a déjà été dévoilée, nous sommes ravis des propositions, dans mon cas, je ne pourrais pas être plus heureux puisque j'adore tout ce qui est programmé. N'oublions pas que le théâtre a au programme ces prochains jours et semaines, les opéras la cenerentola de Rossini, fidelio de Beethoven, Adriana Lecouvreur de Cilèa Roberto Alagna et Alesandra Kurzak retournent au liceu, quel plaisir de voir un opéra avec ces deux stars, je ne le manquerai pas. Nous avons également Sonya Yoncheva et bien d'autres chanteurs et chanteuses fabuleuses dans une production divine à ne pas manquer., et nul autre que le concert Valkyrie avec Lise Davidsen, je pense qu'il n'y en a plus il reste des billets, il faudrait consulter le théâtre, mais c'est logique qu'ils soient complets, parce que ça va être mémorable, je dirais que le 27 juin sera le jour où il faut y être, Lise Davidsen, la meilleure voix wagnérienne. La saison débutera avec Lady Macbeth de Mtsensk, qui a été jouée au Liceu il y a des années. J'ai moi-même beaucoup apprécié cet opéra, car j'aime beaucoup Sostakovitch, même si je préfère ses suites de ballet. En tout cas, cet opéra sera tout un spectacle. . Vient ensuite le célèbre opéra de Verdi, La Forza del Destino, une production qui a été créée à Paris, puis à Barcelone en 2012, ce fut un grand succès, de nombreuses représentations étaient programmées, et j'ai assisté à toutes les représentations, et ce fut un grand succès. , je me souviens que la chorale a été renforcée par la chorale de Gérone, cette fois la belle production parisienne est répétée, donc nous serons là, nul autre que la fabuleuse Saioa Hernández chantera, une merveilleuse soprano, une voix extraordinaire, qui je pense, Je ne suis pas sûr qu'elle ait aussi chanté le rôle de Leonora, je dirais oui, en tout cas je l'ai entendue dans de nombreux rôles de Verdi, et c'est une sensation, le grand succès obtenu récemment dans un ballo in maschera le démontre , ou son grand succès il y a des années à La Scala lorsqu'il chantait à l'ouverture de la saison à l'Attila, ont fait sensation. Sa Joconde est merveilleuse, bref, nous sommes face à l'une des meilleures voix du 21ème siècle, donc une merveilleuse force du destin nous attend. Anna Pirozzi ouvre la série de huit représentations le neuf novembre le jour de la première la fabuleuse chanteuse va nous donner une représentation de luxe avec sa leonore merveilleuse ,la voix de cette soprano est très belle et fabuleuse ,j'adore . Don Alvaro sera chanté par le fabuleux ténor italien Francesco Pio Galasso qui a précisément chanté Don Alvaro lors des représentations à succès de février et mars derniers à Palma de Majorque, donc un Don Alvaro sensationnel nous attend, et si sa femme chante aussi, ce sera un une performance à ne pas manquer, avec en prime de l'émotion. Le Nord-Américain Brian Jadge viendra de New York, sa ville natale, nous offrir son Don Alvaro. Ce ténor a déjà chanté ce rôle à Londres et à New York, et c'est un expert. De plus, sa voix est très belle, ce sera donc merveilleux d'assister à ses performances avec Maria Agresta. La vérité est que ces représentations de la force du destin m'attirent pour deux raisons : l'opéra lui-même, qui est merveilleux, et l'écoute en direct de ces fabuleux chanteurs dans ces rôles. Nous aurons également Don Carlo di Vargas dans Artur Rucinski qui connaît un grand succès à Londres dans Lucia di Lammermoor et il sera un Don Carlo sensationnel dans ses duos que Verdi a écrit avec tant d'amour pour être chanté avec le ténor, il fera ces duos fabuleux, dont Curieusement il y en a plusieurs dans cet opéra, pour eux deux, Brian Jagde. Je dirais presque que le baryton chante plus avec le ténor qu'avec la soprano. Seul Verdi pouvait créer un tel opéra. Amartuvshin Enkhbat chantera les duos avec Francesco Pio Galasso, les chanteurs quitteront la salle du Liceu étonnés, car la belle voix de ténor de Galasso et celle de ce baryton qu'on m'a dit magnifique, peuvent donner une soirée mémorable. Le père Guardian sera John Relyea et Giacomo Prestia. Preziosilla Szilvia Vörös et Vasilisa Berjanskaya. Le chef d'orchestre sera le prestigieux italien Nicola Luisotti. Madama Butterfly sera donnée en décembre, également une représentation unique de Die Fledermaus, la traviata revient au lycée en janvier  la célèbre star internationale et une des meilleures sopranos au monde Nadine Sierra chantera aussi la Sonnambula en avril et mai. nous sommes fortunés de la pouvoir écouter dans ces deux chefs-d'œuvre .Rusalka sera donnée en juin et juillet. Je pense que West Side Story fera ses débuts dans ce théâtre et ce sera avec Nadine Sierra et Juan Diego Flórez, Isabel Leonard viendra aussi, ce qui, je pense, est ses débuts au Liceu, des performances à ne pas manquer. le Lac des Cygnes du ballet de Rome arrive bientôt 😉👍


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