March 18, 2001: Samson et Dalila in Barcelona

2001-03-18 Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns), Gran Teatre de Liceu (Barcelona)

Samson = José Cura
Dalila = Markella Hatziano
El Gran Sacerdote = Simon Estes
Viejo Judío = Stefano Palatchi



Sudden debut of José Cura in Samson et Dalila at Barcelona's Gran Teatre de Liceu
I was in Barcelona just for seeing José Carreras as Samson in "his" Opera House. Then the word came out "Enfermidad", Carreras is sick. Cura replaces Carreras. I thought, it could be interesting to compare, and then I love this opera. (Rumors has it that Cura was not the official replacement for the Liceu Samson). Only Cura or Domingo would be great enough a star to replace Josep Carreras in his hometown.

My parents loved José Cura as Samson, so did most of the Spanish press. "Cura was superior to Carreras".

I disagree to that sentiment. Cura sang Samson in Zurich June 10, 2000, and did a much better show in Zurich than here in Barcelona

Act 1. Cura was playing Samson like the ladies man some say Samson was.
Act 2. the best act in the opera, but it was not a memorable act in Barcelona.
Act 3. The emotional act in this opera. But I didn't feel those sentiments.

The one that deserved applause was Stefano Palatchi, the Old Hebrew. I wish I had recorded this evening. Now I must only use my memory. Was it better than I remember it, or is my criticism justified. Don't know. But I remember standing up in the end, and applauding hard. I remember thinking: Why do I applaud it, I didn't feel that Cura was that good. Hysteria...

OD Travel + Photos

June 23, 1997: Stiffelio in Vienna

1997-06-23 Stiffelio (Verdi), Wiener Staatsoper

Stiffelio = Antonio Lotti
Lina = Mara Zampieri
Stankar = Renato Bruson
Raffaele = Ruben Broitman
Jorg = Peter Köves
Federico von Frengel = Peter Jelosits
Dorotea = Marjorie Vance

Fabio Luisi, conductor



Montag, 23. Juni 1997 STAATSOPER
11. Aufführung in dieser Inszenierung

Stiffelio
Oper in drei Aktenvon Francesco Maria Piave
MusikGiuseppe Verdi

Musikalische Leitung Fabio Luisi
InszenierungE lijah Moshinsky
Bühnenbild Michael Yeargan
Kostüme Peter J. Hall
Lichtregie Paul Pyant
Choreinstudierung Dietrich D. Gerpheide

Freunde und Gefolgsleute Stiffelios
Balletteleven der
Österreich ischen Bundestheater

So here I was in Vienna with my parents most of all to see Stiffelio, my favorite opera, with Josep Carreras, my favorite tenor. And he did not sing. Antonio Lotti, the Brazilian tenor, sang well enough. Mara Zampieri was Lina and Renato Bruson was Stankar. And it is a very good production. BUT no CARRERAS!

OD Travel

May 17, 2000: Sly in Zurich

2000-05-17 Sly (Wolff-Ferrari), Opernhaus Zurich

Sly = Boiko Zvetanov
Graf von Westmoreland = Carlo Guelfi
Dolly = Isabelle Kabatu
John Plake = Oliver Widmer

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor




Französischer Edelmlaun/Musiker MIROSLAV CHRISTOFF
1, Edehmann/Mohr MARTIN ZYSSET
2, Edelmann/Indianer VOLKER VOGEL
3, Edehmann/ Alter Diener PETER KELLER
4, Edelmamn/Chinese RUDOLF A. HARTMANN
5. Edelmann/Doktor PETER KÁLMÁN
Wirtin STEFANIA KAILUZA
Rosalina ANNETTE JOHANSSON°
Snare, PolizeibeamtweRUNI BRATTABERGo
Page EUN-YEE YOUo
Kellner KENNETH ROBERSON°
Landrichter MATTIIIAS AEBERHARDO
Soldat SIMON JAUNIN°
Koch HEIKKI YRTTIAHO
Fuhrmanm ENGELBERT CARL
1. Säufer CARL HIEGER
2. Säufer JÖRG HEPPE
1. Dame JULIA NEUMANN°
2. Dame ANNETTEJOHANNSON°
3. Dame VIOLETTA RADOMIRSKA o
1. Diener RUDOLF A. HARTMANN
2. Diener SIMON JAUNIN°
3. Diemer PETER KÁLMÁN
Mitglied des Internationalen Opernstudios
Dubiose Individluen Julia Cheremeteff, Elisabeth Fues,
und junge Höflinge Katharina Gebauer, Yael Herz, Megan Laehn,
Cornelia Meierbans, Simone Spicak,
Marisa Waldburger, Eva Zmekova
Richard Dozsa, Markus Gehrig, Daniele Gullo, Marc Meier, Bernhard Rubin
CHOR DES OPERNHAUSES ZÜRICH
STATISTENVEREIN AM OPERNHAUS ZÜRICH
ORCHESTER DER OPER ZÜRICH


Inszenierung HANS HOLLMANN
Spielleitung ULRICH SENN
Bühnenbild HANS HOFFER
Kostüme DIRK VON BODISCO
Lichtgestaltung JÜRGEN HOFFMANN
Chor ERNST RAFFELSBERGER

May 17th
(National Day Norway)
SAS from Oslo to Copenhagen 13:30-14:40
From Copenhagen to Zurich 15:20-17:10

Opernhaus Zurich 19.30-22.45
SLY with Boiko Zvetanov
Luckily I had recently looked up JC's schedule at JCarreras.com . So it was no shock to find out that Boiko Zvetanow was singing Sly. Boiko was in great voice, and he is a good actor. Isabelle Kabatu was Dolly. She was a revelation. Touching, marvelous voice. Carlo Guelfi was the Count of Westmoreland. Difficult role. He was good, but Juan Pons was better. Oliver Widmer sang John Plake. He was drowned by the orchestra. (Carlos Chausson was formidable in this role).

OD Travel