January 30, 2010: Nabucco in Zurich

2010-01-30 Nabucco (Verdi), Opernhaus Zurich

Nabucco = Juan Pons
Ismaele = Boiko Zvetanov
Zaccaria = Carlo Colombara
Abigaille = Maria Guleghina
Fenena = Stefania Kaluza
High Priest of Belo = Cheyne Davidson
Abdallo = Miroslav Christoff
Anna = Liuba Chuchrova

Nello Santi, conductor

NABUCCO by Giuseppe Verdi. Maria Guleghina was a fantastic Abigaille. Juan Pons was suddenly much thinner but still made a great Nabucco. Boiko Zvetanov was looking like a small Dennis O'Neill. But he was great as Ismaele. One could easily forget his heavy and small look and understand why two women were in love with him. Stefania Kaluza was singing Fenena, she was great in the ensembles, duets, etc. but strangely did not make such a great impression in her aria. Chorus was great. Nello Santi conducted.

Obviously Jonathan Miller had been thinking too much about history. Would really the women and men be separated when they were about to be executed.

Inszenierung
Jonathan Miller

Ausstattung
Isabella Bywater

Lichtgestaltung
Hans-Rudolf Kunz

Choreinstudierung
Jürg Hämmerli


Orchester der Oper Zürich

Chor der Oper Zürich

OD Travel + Photos

OD Travel - January: Nabucco and travel from Zurich

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

September 1, 1995: Herodiade in Vienna

1995-09-01 Herodiade (Jules Massenet), Wiener Staatsoper

Jean = Josep Carreras*, tenor
Hérode = Juan Pons
Hérodiade, seine Gattin = Dolora Zajick
Salomé, ihre Tochter = Eliane Coelho
Phanuel = Ferruccio Furlanetto
Vitellius, römischer Feldherr = Istvan Gati*
Oberpriester = David Cale Johnson
Eine Stimme = Ruben Broitman

Marcello Viotti, conductor
Szenische Konzeption und Gestaltung - Richard Bletschacher, Hermann Nitsch
Bühnenbild und Kostüme - Hermann Nitsch
Chorleitung - Dietrich D. Gerpheide


Freitag, 1. September 1995 STAATSOPER
9 Aufführung in dieser Inszenierung

Hérodiade
Oper in dreizehn Bildern von Paul Milliet,
Henri Grémont und Angelo Zanardini
Musik Jules Massenet

Musikalische Leitung Marcello Viotti
Szenische Konzeption
und Gestaltung Richard Bletschacher,
Hermann Nitsch
Bühnenbild und Kostüme Hermann Nitsch
Chorleitung Dietrich D. Gerpheide


Kaufleute, Palastwachen,
jüdische und römische Soldaten,
Priester und Volk
Tempeltänzerinnen und
Schwerttänzer Corps de ballet

Balletteleven der Österreichischen Bundestheater
Bühnenorchester der Österreichischen Bundestheater

Die Handlung spielt im Jahre 27 n. Chr. in Jerusalem

* Rollendebüt an der Wiener Staatsoper


This is a wonderful opera. The music of Massenet is just so beautiful, very musical. And this is a happier Salome opera than Richard Strauss, where Salome is a strange girl. In Massenet's opera is no longer teen-age, she certainly is not mad, she has lost her mother, is looking for her mother in Jerusalem, and Jean is the prophet she loves and that she follows. The other big differences is that Jean is a tenor role, and not baritone as in Strauss (Jochaanan). And Jose Carreras has found another perfect role.

In Strauss Herode(s) is also lusting for Salome, but in Massenet he doesn't know that Salome is Herodias (Herodiade)s daughter. Herodiade is missing her daughter who she left behind when she followed Herode. When Phanuel tells her that Salome is her daughter, her jalousie gets the better of her.

Massenet's Jean (John the Baptist) is a man who first denies the love he feels towards Salome, but in the end when execution awaits him, accepts this love as something God has given him.

The wonderful cast that heads with Jose Carreras as Jean, Juan Pons as Herode, and Ferruccio Furlanetto as Phanuel, and that have Eliane Coelho as Salome, and Dolora Zaijck as Herodiade, makes it really great night at the opera. My Favorite Tenor, My Favorite Baritone and My Favorite Bass is do their parts so well. Eliane Coelho makes Salome very enjoyable, and Dolora Zaijck is a great mezzo.

OD Travel

June 24, 2005: Aida in Parma

2005-06-24 Aida (Verdi), Teatro Regio Parma

Il re d’Egitto = Enrico Turco
Amneris = Luciana D’Intino
Aida = Daniela Dessí
Radamès = Fabio Armiliato
Ramfis = Mario Lupero
Amonasro = Juan Pons
Una sacerdotessa = Tiziana Tramonti
Un messaggero = Carlo Bosi


Maestro concertatore e direttore
BRUNO BARTOLETTI




Regia
ALBERTO FASSINI

Scene e Costumi
MAURO CAROSI

Coreografia
MICHA VAN HOECKE

Maestro del coro
MARTINO FAGGIANI

ORCHESTRA E CORO DEL TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA

A wonderful Aida!!!!

Luciana D'Intino is a wonderful Amneris, very charismatic and a strong voiced woman, a great actress, you feel that this is a real person. Daniela was a superb Aida. Fabio Armiliato was a great Radames, even though his voice seems a bit rough and not quite the same quality as Daniela Dessi. Juan Pons is a great Amonasro although he is no longer quite in his prime but he acts very efficiently and is still a great baritone master. Ramfis and the King was sung well enough and did their job. I found this production more attractive than the one in Verona, the ballet was good (I might even say that I liked it). So; a great operatic night in Parma!!

Got a bit sick the day after, almost had to stay another night at Hotel Astoria Executive (I liked this opera) but in the end I managed to take the train back to Verona.

OD Travel + Photos

May 23, 1998: Sly in Zurich

1998-05-23 Sly (Wolff Ferrari), Opernhaus Zürich

Sly = Josep Carreras
Westmoreland = Juan Pons
Dolly = Daniela Dessi
John Plake = Carlos Chausson

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor



This was the first time for me, Sly. A copy of a recording of a German recording had been my preparation and reading the libretto, but in German Sly is not an opera easily to be liked. Even in Italian it is not easy the first time. To have Jose Carreras in this role, creates all those positive forces that is needed to get an opera like this to be revived. This is an opera that needs a great ensemble of good singers, Zurich have an excellent ensemble. Like Stefania Kaluza as the hostess. She is an excellent mezzo, a Zurich member. Great! With Juan Pons as Westmoreland and Daniella Dessi as Dolly, and Carlos Chausson as John Plake headed by the great Jose Carreras as Sly, it could only be success.

First act is in a tavern, filled with many different characters. Vivid! Dolly has run off from her gilded life with the Count and come to the tavern to the real life. All reacts to her beauty, Dolly is enjoying herself but too soon the Count find out where he is. John Plake tells of Sly, Sly comes. He is a poet (a drunkard,too), he is making poetry of fantasizing. Snare tried to get Sly to prison (since Sly has debts to pay). Dolly protects Sly via the Count. Sly is so drunk that he fantasize of the perfect woman with Dolly standing so close to him, and he notices her not.
All the Counts sees in Sly is somebody/something that can amuse him, Dolly sees a dream and feels compassion to Sly. The Count decide; we will make Sly think he is the Count, what an amusement it will be.

Second act is in the Castle of Count Westmoreland. Sly wakes up and cannot believe it is true, he is an aristocrat and rich. But what makes him want to go with the dream, is the woman. His wife, who is waiting for him. He is seduced by the richesse. Love is at hand for Sly, the incomparable dream for Sly. Dolly is supposed to take part in a comedy, playing her part. But Dolly starts feeling for Sly, LOVE. Big Love Duet! Then the Count pretends to be Snare, Sly understands. They are murdering Love.

Third act is the dungeon of the Castle. Sly wakes up, desperate. When he decide it has all been a LIE, he decide on DEATH. Dolly comes in, but he is already dying.

THE END.
Carreras is the ultimate SLY!!!!

OD Travel + Photos

Musilkalische Leitung RAFAEL FRÜHBECK DE BURGOS
Inszenierung HANS HOFMANN
ßühnenbild HANS HOFFER
Kostüme DIRK VON BODISCO
Lichtgestaltung JÜRGEN HOFFMANN
Chor ERNST RAFFElSBERGER


Französiss('her Edelmann/Musiker PIOTR BECZALA
1. Edelnann/mohr MARTIN ZYSSET
2. Edelnann/Indiauer VOLKER VOGEL
3. Edelmann/ Alter Diener PETER KELLER
4. Edelmam1/Chinese RUDOLF A. HARTMANN
5. Edehnann/Doktor JEE-I-IYUN KIM0
Wirtin STEFANIA KALUZA
Rosalina CAPUCINE CHIAUDANl0
Snare, Polizeibeamter RORY BAIN°
Page GABRIELA PALIKRUSCHEVAo
Kellner MIROSLAV CHRISTOFF
Landrichter RICARDO BERNAL0
Soldat JUUSO HEIVIMINKi 0
KoehI-IEIKKI YRTTIAHO
Fuhrmann ENGELBERT CARL
1. Säufer CARL HIEGER
2. Säufer PETER KÁLMÁN°
1. Dame MILENAJOTOwVAO
2. Dame ALEXANDRA WEISS0
3. Dame CAPUCINE CHIAUDANi 0
1. Diener RUDOLF A. I-IARTIVIANN
2. Diener RORY BAIN°
3. Diener JEE-I-IYUN KIIVi 0
Dubiose Individuen JULlE BRÄUNING+, SILJA CLEMENS+,
und junge Höflinge SUSANNE LlCHTENßERGER+, ANTJE MAlRlCH+,
B,ARB,ARA MAURER+, ALEX,ANDRA RÖHRER+, KEERSTlN RULLlK+ PHILIPPE GRAßER+, INGO I-IElSE+, MARCEL METTEN+, EMAANUEL RUHOFF +, HENRlK ZIMMIERMANN+
0 Mitgiie,d des lnternationaien Opernstudios,
unterstützt vou der Herbert von Karajan M"sic, Legacy
und von Geert. Bianke,n, Sursee
+ Student/in der Schauspiel Aikademie Zürich
CHOR DES OPERNIHIAUSES ZÜRICI-I
STATISTENVEREIN AM OPERNI-IAUS züRIcI-I
ORCI-IESTER DER OPER ZÜRICI-I

May 9, 2004: La Fanciulla del West, Zurich

2004-05-09 La Fanciulla del West (Giacomo Puccini), Opernhaus Zurich

Dick Johnson (Ramirez) = José Cura
Minnie = Sylvie Valayre
Jack Rance = Juan Pons
Nick = Volker Vogel
Ashby = Giuseppe Scorsin
Sonora = Cheyne Davidson
Trin = Martin Zysset
Harry = Miroslav Christoff
Joe = Peter Keller
Bello = Gabriel Bermúdez
Sid = Günter Groissböck
Happy = Reinhard Mayr
Larkens = Pavel Baransky
Billy Jackrabbit = Boris Petronje
Wowkle = Kismara Pessatti
Jake Wallace = Peter Kálmán
José Castro = Valeriy Murga
Un Postilione = Boguslaw Bidzinski

Patrick Fournillier, conductor



Matinee at the opera, same Fanciulla del West, the same singers. Cura, they said was sick, but he would still try to sing. I did not hear that in his voice, but then orchestra did not try to kill the singers this time. I met a lot of friends from JCx and we ate dinner together it took ages to get served, my stomach did not quite agree with the food, something that I really got to know when I came back to my hotel room. Suddenly it was 2130.

La Fanciulla del West, matinee, Opernhaus Zurich 2004-05-09
José Cura, Sylvia Valayre & Juan Pons

I guess we were all a bit nervous when the opera did not start at 1400 and certainly we were very nervous when the lady came out. "Oh God!" Even cowboys can get cold, she said, but as he did not want to disappoint the audience or make trouble for the operahouse he will still sing, please be merciful. "He" probably meant Cura (But it was Martin Zysset??). Well, Cura sang well and the orchestra played like angels (I think the announcement did make the orchestra understand that the hard & dense playing of Friday was not the thing to do).

Cura sang very well, and one might have thought that he had just pretended to be sick in order to get the orchestra to play a more humane Puccini music. BUT, many prominent singers have said that they have done their best performance when sick, WHY, when you are sick your technique must be perfect and you must concentrate even more than when in top form, THAT's the TRUTH. And there where evidence of Cura not being in top form, not during the acts, of course, but when taking applause he was not so smiling all the time, or little thing's like hand towards his head. And although he did meet his fans after the opera at the stage door, one could see his face lapse to the more tired face but then he would see one of his usual fans and his face would lit up with a smile and tiredness wiped away from his face as if it was never there.

Fabulous physique, will power and a great vocal technique was what made it possible for José Cura to give a wonderful performance as Dick Johnson / Ramirez. Just tiny details showed that he was not entirely well. But then no two performance are the same, are they? Tired, he seemed helpless and exhausted at the end of the opera when the rope was still hanging 'round this neck and he was waiting for somebody to untie him. If I had not seem Fanciulla on Friday I would have thought it brilliant acting only but I think he was really at the end of his rope there and then.

Sadly, I do not love this opera. And it is enough to hear Cura sing two arias from this opera in the Puccini arias album. Was it because of the playing of the orchestra that had ruined my first live Fanciulla and so in a way kept ruining my feeling even if they played much better this time. Was it the movie setting that disturbed me so much that I nearly "missed" the opera? Sylvie Valayre has a really beautiful voice, and she acted great. But my vision of Minnie is based on the video with Placido Domingo and Neblett as Minnie. A blond Minnie, but this young, black-haired Minnie. Juan Pons was great as Jack Rance. But still, I do not love this opera. That's SAD.

OD Travel + Photos

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

May 7, 2004: La Fanciulla del West, Zurich

2004-05-07 La Fanciulla del West (G. Puccini), Opernhaus Zurich

Dick Johnson (Ramirez) = José Cura
Minnie = Sylvie Valayre
Jack Rance = Juan Pons
Nick = Volker Vogel
Ashby = Giuseppe Scorsin
Sonora = Cheyne Davidson
Trin = Martin Zysset
Harry = Miroslav Christoff
Joe = Peter Keller
Bello = Gabriel Bermúdez
Sid = Günter Groissböck
Happy = Reinhard Mayr
Larkens = Pavel Baransky
Billy Jackrabbit = Boris Petronje
Wowkle = Kismara Pessatti
Jake Wallace = Peter Kálmán
José Castro = Valeriy Murga
Un Postilione = Boguslaw Bidzinski

Patrick Fournillier, conductor




1900-2230
Intermission after act 1 and act 2.

I went to the opera house at 1730, and when I was there I collected my ticket for I Vespri Siciliani. I did not love this production, José Cura was good, Sylvie Valayre was good and Juan Pons was good in the main roles. But the production was bit gimmicky for me, using movies as backdrop sometimes. Many times it just prevented me from observing the action on stage, during one of the duets Minnie/Ramirez was it particularly disturbing.

La Fanciulla del West, Opernhaus Zurich 2004-05-07
with Sylvie Valayre (Minnie), José Cura (Dick Johnson/Ramirez) & Juan Pons (Sheriff Jack Rance)

I think Puccini would have like this opera made into a film, a spaghetti-western. The production made the movie-screen into the opera. It was nice as a opening of the opera, the notice "Intermission" on screen at the end of act 1 and 2, and as "running text" at the end of the opera. It was also implemented as a part of the drama in the opera, that was not so successful. Then it was often more disturbing, for instance I nearly missed what was going on between Minnie and Johnson/Ramirez in one of their duets. The movie backdrop made my eyes look at the movie which was not giving me anything in the drama from the real action that was between the opera singers / the characters. So clearly the movie idea as part of the scenography had not been thoroughly thought through. It is also, I think, an evidence of not believing in the audience willingness or ability to use their imagination to "get the action". The audience is not stupid, nor are we so easily duped as the production team might have thought. A more clever use of the movie media would have enhanced the opera in a much better way.

Another critical point of this performance was the orchestra and it conductor. I have read of the dense orchestration of Puccini opera, this was the first time I realized how dense it was. The music from the orchestra played as the elegance of town orchestra of a little Spanish town. It was band music. Making it very hard for the singers to come through the density of the orchestra. On Sunday luckily the Swiss orchestra played as I used to hear them, with all the elegance a professional opera orchestra can do, Puccini sounded like Puccini should be.

Otherwise, all the singers, chorus sang and acted well

I was at my hotel room 2330. I met Yvonne and other JCx members also at the opera house during and after the opera. Waited at the stage door for José, and I did get some great photos of him.

OD Travel + Photos

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