Jonas Kaufmann Anja Harteros Ludovic Tézier Nadia Krasteva

JONAS KAUFMANN ANJA HARTEROS LUDOVIC TÉZIER NADIA KRASTEVA

STAGED BY MARTIN KUŠEJ BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER Ever since their magnificent and hugely successful performance in Wagner’s “Lohengrin” at the Bavarian State Opera, Anja Harteros and Jonas Kaufmann have come to be regarded as the world of opera’s perfect couple. In Giuseppe Verdi’s “La forza del destino”, the two returned and once again played two lovers desperately trying to be together but kept Orchestra Bayerisches Staatsorchester apart by the forces of destiny. Their performance at the Munich Opera Conductor Asher Fisch Festival met with “explosive outbursts of applause for the new heights Chorus Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper reached in singing” (dpa). Chorus Master Sören Eckhoff Verdi’s opera brings together three themes which have always been central Stage Director Martin Kušej to the history of mankind and which still retain their topicality today: class arrogance, racial prejudice and hysterical warmongering. The noble Leonora, Donna Leonora Anja Harteros daughter of a marquess, is forbidden to be with Alvaro, the man she loves, Don Alvaro Jonas Kaufmann because he is a Mestizo of Incan descent and therefore regarded not equal Don Carlo di Vargas Ludovic Tézier to her in social status. The third element, aggressive military frenzy and the Il Marchese di Calatrava/ horrors of war, quickly reveal themselves not to be the least bit as entertaining Padre Guardiano Vitalij Kowaljow and merry as the gypsy Preziosilla would have everyone believe. In a world Preziosilla Nadia Krasteva as cruel as this, the two despairing and desolate lovers finally conclude, Fra Melitone Renato Girolami not even the church can offer a way out. With “La forza del destino” Verdi Curra Heike Grötzinger created a pioneering masterpiece with regards to both form and content. Un alcade Christian Rieger Mastro Trabuco Francesco Petrozzi Anja Harteros formed, as it were, the radiant centrepiece of the production, Un chirurgo Rafał Pawnuk “the effect of her angel-like ‘piano’ is overwhelming” (Münchner Merkur). By virtue both of her wonderful voice and the sheer power of her magnificent Produced by Gemini Quint performance, she was able to celebrate nothing short of a triumph: “No Video Director Thomas Grimm one else today can die so beautifully, can act with such intensity. And no contemporary singer can hold a candle to her” (SZ). Jonas Kaufmann is Length: 179' the ideal choice for Alvaro: “At the present time, he is deservedly called Shot in HDTV 1080/50i unique because there is no other tenor who sings, acts, and creates so Cat. no. A05050169 consummately” (Die Welt). French baritone Ludovic Tezier’s portrayal of Don Carlo was “a dramatic and dark, fundamental event” (Der Standard). A production of UNITEL CLASSICA Under the insightful, circumspective, and psychological direction of Martin in co-production with BR/Arte in cooperation Kušej, the choir of the Bavarian State Opera sang with “elegance and with Bayerische Staatsoper precision”. The Bayerisches Staatsorchester, conducted by Asher Fisch, played beautifully and with accomplished sonority, “drawing forth superb details” (FAZ). Vitalij Kowaljow as the noble Padre Guardiano/Marquess of Calatrava, Nadia Krasteva as the fiery Preziosilla, und Renato Girolami as the tragi-comical Fra Melitone complete this first-class ensemble, leaving absolutely nothing to be desired for opera lovers.

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