November 3, 1995: Carreras/Caballe in Oslo

1995-11-03 Opera Gala, Oslo Spektrum

Josep Carreras, tenor
Montserrat Caballé, soprano
Norwegian Radio Orchestra
David Giménez, conductor

01. IL BARBIERE IN SIVIGLIA - Ouverture / Kringkastingsorkesteret, David Gimenez
02. TOSTI: Apri / José Carreras
03. Vieni sul mal / José Carreras
04. HERODIADE - Il est doux, il est bon / Montserrat Caballé
05. L'AFRICANA - Mi batte il cor / José Carreras
06. CIRO IN BABILONIA - Vorrei veder lo sposo / Montserrat Caballé
07. LA FORZA DEL DESTINO - Ouverture / Kringkastingsorkesteret, David Gimenez
08. LA TRAVIATA - Brindisi / Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras
09. CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA - Intermezzo / Kringkastingsorkesteret, David Gimenez
10. ADRIANA LECOUVREUR - Io son l'umile ancella / Montserrat Caballé
11. Coren'grato / José Carreras
12. Musica Proibita / José Carreras
13. Me llaman la primarosa / Montserrat Caballé
14. EL ULTIMO ROMANTICO - Bella enamorada / José Carreras
15. LA BODA DE LUIS ALONSO / Kringkastingsorkesteret, David Gimenez
16. EL DUO DE LA AFRICANA / Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras
17. Granada / José Carreras
18. GIANNI SCHICCHI - O mio babbino caro / Montserrat Caballé
19. O sole mio / José Carreras
20. La Paloma / Montserrat Caballé
21. DIE LUSTIGE WITWE - Lippen schweigen / Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras

5 extras

Radio NRK P2
Carreras/Caballe first concert together in Scandinavia.
It was wonderful to see them dancing a bit to Lippen Schweigen.

OD Travel

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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June 16, 2000: Sly in Barcelona

2000-06-16 Sly (E. Wolff-Ferrari), Gran Teatre de Liceu (Barcelona)

Sly = Josep Carreras
Dolly = Isabelle Kabatu
Westmoreland = Sherill Milnes
John Plake = Alessandro Guerzoni
The Hostess = Mireia Pinto

David Gimenez, conductor

What a great performance! Carreras had his son Alberto, daughter Julia, brother Alberto and Patricia in the audience. And his nephew, David Giménez was conducting Sly (as on the 13). And Marion and I chose different doors to wait for our start JOSEP. Some Carreras- fans was already waiting. And I saw them all, son, daughter, brother, Patricia, but not Giménez he went on the front of Liceu, I was on the sideway.

OD Travel

June 13, 2000: Sly in Barcelona

2000-06-13 Sly (E. Wolff-Ferrari), Gran Teatre de Liceu (Barcelona)

Sly = Josep Carreras
Dolly = Isabelle Kabatu
Westmoreland = Sherill Milnes
John Plake = Alessandro Guerzoni
The Hostess = Mireia Pinto

David Gimenez, conductor



It was the first time for me in his operahouse, Gran Teatre del Liceu. It was wonderful. Josep Carreras was great. Isabella Kabatu was a wonderful Dolly. Sherill Milnes was the Count, I liked Juan Pons much better in that role. Guerzoni was a sympathic and good-looking John Plake, good voice, but Carlos Chausson (Zurich) was greater. Mirea Pinto was the hostess, weak voice and that lack of that stage presence that made Stefania Kaluza so memorable in Zurich. I sat close to the stage and took no photos.

On June 13 and 16 I went to the Liceu to see this opera with José Carreras as Sly. Twice for really getting into this opera. Dig deeper... The same production as in Zurich, but another conductor, and the rest of singers except Carreras was the same. David Gimenez, the conductor, gave more beauty to the opera, a more subtle way of conducting. Isabelle Kabatu as Dolly was great, warner than Daniela Dessi. I had seen Kabatu earlier as Dolly in Zurich 2000 (May 17th) and that told me that Barcelona Zurich was worth seeing twice. Josep Carreras was even better, and June 16 was the best performance. Sherrill Milnes was not as great as Juan Pons as Westmoreland. Only David Gimenez, Isabelle Kabatu and Josep Carreras was better than Zurich 1998.

OD Travel

June 7, 2001: Josep Carreras in London

2001-06-07 Jose Carreras Concert, Hampton Court (London)

Josep Carreras, tenor
English Chamber Orchestra
David Gimenez, conductor

My comments on the concert
I never dreamt I would criticize David Gimenez conducting, but I found the overture of Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gipsy Baron) lacking in the description of the Hungarian gipsy liveliness, but better in the Viennese waltz parts.

Jose Carreras looked very well when he sang the two songs of Costa, but I did find either his interpretation or the composition lacking in something that could draw me into the magic. The zarzuela aria from Alma de Dios was a great pleasure. But I found Mr Gimenez conducting a little bit disturbing. This aria if given more pace would be even more intriguing.

The overture of I Vespri Siciliani is a showstopper, but I have heard greater performances of this overture. My harsh critic of David Gimenez, is derived of my high regard of this young conductor, and therefore any lack is taken more seriously than had it been any other conductor. The best aspect of DG's conducting is as always the clarity he brings to it. Sometimes it work the other way araound, one hears better any "fault".

The 3 Romanze of Giuseppe Verdi; Il Poveretto, Brindisi and L'Esule was the absolute highlight. The opera singer makes every mood in these 3 romances very well. Here is acting and singing in perfect togetherness. Poveretto: the old soldier reduced to beggary, but still proud. Brindisi, getting drunk, giving a toast. L'Esule, the grandest interpretation.

2. half.

What can say, just wonderful the whole part. Especially was the Adagio from Spartacus a treat. And Jose Carreras sang like a god all the songs. + 3 wonderful extras.

7.6.2001
Hampton Court Palace Festival
Josep Carreras, tenor
English Chamber Orchestra
David Gimenez, conductor.


Johann Strauss II
Overture, Der Zigeunerbaron

Mario Paquale Costa
'Luna nova'
'Era de maggio'

Jose Serrano
'Canción hungara' from Alma de Dios

Giuseppe Verdi
Overture, I vespri siciliani
'Il poveretto'
'Brindisi'
'L'Esule'

interval

Paolo Tosti
'Marechiare'

Furio Rendine
'Vurria'

Johann Strauss II
'Unter Donner und Blitz'

Enrico Toselli
'Serenata'

Nicola Valente
'Passione'

Aram Khachaturian
'Adagio' from Spartacus

Rodolfo Falvo
'Guapparia'

Salvatore Cardillo
'Core'ngrato'

3 extra numbers:
1. Musica proibita
2. (Neapolitan Song)
3. All the things you are

OD Travel + Photos

May 2, 2014: El Juez in Bilbao

2014-05-02 El Juez (Christian Kolonovits), Teatro Arriaga (Bilbao)

Federico = Josep Carreras
Paula = Sabina Puértolas
Alberto = José Luis Sola
María/1ª monja = Mª José Suárez
2ª monja = Itziar de Unda
Paco (cameraman) = Manel Esteve
Abadesa = Ana Ibarra
Morales = Carlo Colombara
Hombre 1 = Alberto Núñez
Hombre 2 = Giorgi Meladze
Hombre 3 =José Manuel Díaz
Hombre 4 = Mikel Zabala
Mujer mayor = Milagros Martín
Figuración (niña) = Laia de la Fuente

David Gimenez, conductor
Coro niños perdidos: Kantika Korala
Director: Basilio Astúlez
:
Coro: Coro Rossini 
Director coro: Gerardo Carbajo
:
Orquesta: BIOS

Dirección escénica: Emilio Sagi
Escenografía: Daniel Bianco 
Figurinista: Pepa Ojanguren
Iluminación: Eduardo Bravo
Ayudante de dirección escénica: Javier Ulacia
Maestra repetidora: Husan Park
Realización de escenografía: Neo Producciones

Realización de vestuario: Pepispoo

A new opera in Bilbao, an old one in Barcelona. Josep Carreras in a new role as the Judge Federico Ribas. The tragedy happens when people agree to dubious thing for a supposed higher reason. It was another villain role for Carlo Colombara. The Italian bass was Morales. Morales is a role cast from the same mold as Baron Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca. Even worse than Scarpia and more towards Mefisto. Pure evil but suppossedly in the service of the Church. Probably just after power and lust for violence. 

Alberto is a man in search of his brother. The brother is one of The Lost Children. Children taken by the Church and given other parents without knowledge of the truth. Alberto with journalist Laura is on the task to find out more of the lost children. This threatens the Church and Morales. So Morales talks to Alberto and promises him to know who his brother is. The catch is that the judge that Alberto will threaten is Alberto's brother. And Morales knows this, so he will crush two in one crash. Before any happy end can happen Morales kills Alberto. As Alberton lies dying, brother meets brother. SAD END!!!

Real tears rolled down at the end of this opera. I seldom react like that so for me this means El Juez is a triumph for the composer and the singers and whole theatre. BRAVI, tutti!!!

OD Travel & Photos

Original blog post

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com If you want to see more photos from my OperaDuets Travels, go to www.operaduetsphotos.com