11/27/2013 Rolex Scala

Plácido Domingo will perform the title role of Verdi’s ‘‘Simon Boccanegra,’’ conducted LA SCALA by Daniel Barenboim, La Scala’s musical director. CENTER STAGE 2013-14 RECITALS A SEASON OF THOUGHTFUL DELIGHTS SINGING, PURE AND SIMPLE When the curtain rises at Teatro alla Scala directed by Laurent Pelly with Juan Diego Opera enthusiasts can’t get enough of on Dec. 7, the opening night audience will Flórez in the title role, it will debut in July. their favorite singers. Recitals help meet feel reassured. They will see an elegant An unusual, mixed program is on the the demand for appearances by beloved Parisian salon, what one would expect in a schedule for January and February, with two artists. The singer provides the entire traditional production of one of Verdi’s most ballets — ‘‘Le Spectre de la Rose’’ with cho- show, with aprogram and apiano accom- beloved operas, ‘‘La Traviata.’’ reography by Michail Fokin and ‘‘La Rose panist chosen by him or her. Thus a recital But there are surprises in store. This Malade’’ by Roland Petit —and a one-act ensures an artistic freedom to the per- brand-new production will be not quite what opera, ‘‘Cavalleria Rusticana,’’ conducted by former that an opera appearance cannot the audience expects, and that is exactly as Daniel Harding. provide. Stéphane Lissner, general manager of La French opera will take the spotlight in SCALA Recitals by opera stars began in the early Scala, would have it. ‘‘My idea of apublic April with a major production of grand opera 20th century. Before then, recitals con- ALLA theater is not to see and be seen in nice SCALA and a masterpiece of the French repertory, sisted of a pianist alone (as championed by clothes and sip Champagne between acts, ‘‘Les Troyens,’’ by Berlioz. In the golfo Franz Liszt) or hybrid programs including ALLA TEATRO but to make people think,’’ he says. ‘‘Our mistico,the pit, will be Anthony Pappano, / both singers and musicians —usually a viol- mission should not be primarily to charm one of the leading conductors of our time inist and a pianist. TEATRO and delight an audience but to make the / and the music director of the Royal Opera in La Scala has been presenting singing re- public reflect and think. Thinking can also be London. English-born of Italian parents, he citals for half a century, and will offer seven delightful, no?’’ has conducted concerts at La Scala, but of them in the coming season. One assuredly delightful aspect of the never an opera. All seven artists have sung at La Scala production will be the singing. Diana Damrau Expectations are high for another BRESCIA-AMISANO before, so they are no strangers to the op- has the role of Violetta, and Lissner calls the massive show (a co-production with six dif- era house and the tastes of its demanding German soprano the definitive Violetta of BRESCIA-AMISANO ferent opera houses involved): Richard LEADERSHIP audience. On March 3, 2014, Ferruccio Fur- our time. He booked her for the part four The Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new Strauss’s ‘‘Elektra.’’ It is important in part lanetto will appear. The Italian bass has a years ago, before he had a director or con- production of ‘‘La Traviata’’ opens the season. because 2014 marks the 150th birthday of NEW DIRECTION FOR YEARS AHEAD strong international following and played ductor. Alfredo is played by Polish-born Piotr Strauss. the title role in La Scala’s ‘‘Don Carlo’’ in Beczala, and Zeljko Lucic, aSerbian bari- from Milan. The psychology that drives the There is asecond, more contemporary Change is inevitable, even to as vener- usual. The current managing director of La Pereira, born in Vienna but no stranger to completed. ‘‘My successor will add and ad- ecology, based upon ‘‘An Inconvenient he says. ‘‘That is the maximum, Ithink, that 2008. tone, sings the role of Giorgio. production comes from its Russian director, reason: ‘‘Elektra’’ debuted at Aix-en-Provence able an institution as Teatro alla Scala. Scala, Stéphane Lissner, will leave Milan to Italy: he worked for Olivetti for 12 years. just to it but the basic program is done,’’ Truth,’’ the movie about climate change by someone should be in this position. I will Furlanetto will be followed on April 14 by The link to Verdi’s Italian heritage is as- Dmitri Tcherniakov. He is young (43), seri- this past summer under the direction of Over its 235-year history, La Scala has re- head the Paris Opera on Sept. 1, 2014. The Pereira began his professional music man- says Lissner. Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president. It have worked here nine years by the time I the German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, one of SCALA sured by the conductor, Daniele Gatti, who is ous, daring and introspective. Having begun Patrice Chéreau, who died in October at the structured its interiors, expanded its prop- musical director, Daniel Barenboim, will agement career in 1984 and worked for 20 The 2014-15 season is exceptional be- will debut in May 2015, with Robert Carsen leave, so the timing is perfect.’’ today’s most dazzling opera stars, in an ap- his career as an orchestral violinist, he has a age of 68. The French theatrical and film di- erty holdings, created a school for the per- resign at the end of 2014, after having years as director of the Zurich Opera House. cause the 2015 World’s Fair will be held in as the director and Gianandrea Noseda Emphasizing that he will continue to pearance supported by Rolex. Kaufmann ALLA special understanding of opera music. rector, an Oscar winner in the latter category, forming arts and started a museum. This conducted the opening opera of La Scala’s He will come to Milan from Salzburg, where the city and La Scala will be open in August. conducting. work with La Scala in co-productions, he was the star of La Scala’s ‘‘Carmen’’ in TEATRO According to Lissner, Tcherniakov is ‘‘one of is consistently named among the top direc- year, the ballet school celebrates its 200th 2014-15 season. he was most recently director of the Because the fair’s theme is ‘‘feed the plan- Reflecting on his time in Milan, Lissner re- adds: ‘‘This has been one of the great ad- 2009 and headlined last year’s season / the three greatest directors working in the tors of theater and opera worldwide. Chéreau birthday and the museum marks 100 years Because opera programming happens Salzburg Festival. et, energy for life,’’ Lissner commissioned calls an interview he gave when he first ventures of my life, truly fantastic. You opener, ‘‘Lohengrin.’’ theater today.’’ has often worked to acclaim with Lissner and of operation. years in advance, the new managing direc- Lissner will leave Pereira with 80 percent the composer Giorgio Battistelli to create a came to La Scala in 2005. ‘‘I said that if I must come to work each day with passion May 25 will mark a recital by the Mexican The Russian will have another opportu- Barenboim, notably for the 1992 ‘‘Wozzeck’’ Next year will bring more change than tor has been named. He is Alexander of the following season’s schedule already new opera around the themes of food and were lucky, I would stay at most 10 years,’’ for what you are doing.’’ n tenor Roland Villazón, who has sung infre- nity to stimulate the Scala’s audiences in by Alban Berg at the Staatsoper, Mozart’s quently at La Scala. He will be accompanied the coming season. He worked with Daniel ‘‘Don Giovanni’’ at the Salzburg Festival in by La Scala’s musical director, Daniel Baren- Barenboim, the house’s musical director, 1994 and the ‘‘Tristan und Isolde’’ by Richard boim, at the piano, so the program is prac- BRESCIA-AMISANO on ‘‘The Czar’s Bride,’’ an opera by Rimsky- Wagner that opened at the Scala in 2007. tically a doubleheader. Jonas Kaufmann, who starred ‘‘Lohengrin’’ at La Scala last year, will sing a recital there in April 2014. Korsakov rarely seen outside of Russia. Other offerings are the always-popular Anja Harteros, the German considered The strikingly modern co-production with ‘‘Lucia di Lamermoor,’’ a co-production with one of opera’s top sopranos, follows on including ‘‘Il Trovatore,’’ ‘‘Nabucco’’ and earlier this year as a forceful and comedic the Berlin Staatsoper (where Barenboim the Metropolitan Opera of New York, and ‘‘Il June 22. In November 2014, she will sing the ‘‘Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio,’’ the latter Falstaff applauded by the critics. also serves as musical director), with the Trovatore,’’ both opening in February. role of Amelia in ‘‘Simon Boccanegra,’’ a re- at La Scala. The final recital of 2014 will be that of SCALA secret police in business suits and the use The final opera of the 2013-14 season is prisal of her 2010 performance. Bryn Terfel will take a turn on Sept. 28 in the German baritone Matthias Goerne. of projected graphics, was highly appreci- another Verdian staple, ‘‘Simon Boc- Another soprano, the Italian Maria another appearance supported by Rolex. Goerne specializes in lieder, which was the ALLA ated by the audience at its debut in Berlin. It canegra.’’ For five of its nine performances, Agresta, will be the recital headliner on The Welsh bass baritone debuted at La original repertory of recital singers. His opens at La Scala in March 2014. it will be conducted by Barenboim and star Sept. 8. Her expressive voice has been Scala in ‘‘The Marriage of Figaro’’ in 1997 lieder program in April 2013 at La Scala de- TEATRO n / Barenboim will conduct two other operas Plácido Domingo in the title role.

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