ENCORE FOUNDED BY STEVE SCHWARTZ For March 15, 2019

This Week’s Program live from Baden-Baden the opera gala with English Subtitles PREDICTIONS ??? NOTES by GENE MARTIN ————- No new predictions about the closing of Runtime: 139 minutes • Filmed at the Encore theater -when and for how long- Festspielhaus in 2007 • DVD released 2008 other than: July for four months…maybe! by Deutsche Grammophon • MPAA not rated ASIN: B000UPSKO8 I do have a prediction: I will play “Lucia di Lammermoor” before that closing. I When Deutsche Grammophon released can’t wait until after we re-open to share their DVD of this July 2007 Concert, they an extraordinary performance with you. billed the performers as “the new faces Even if you feel you had enough Lucia of the opera world.” Of course, the ‘new already, you will want to see this one!!! faces’ were already established artists Katie Mitchell directed it for London’s and we have become even more familiar Royal Opera. She created a Lucia who is with them since then. Now, this delightful strong, wily, and brave, a woman who concert is a welcome encore from the fights her brother’s manipulations. She is time when they first began appearing. not the weak, confused victim we usually The Festival Theater in Baden-Baden, a see. And Ms Mitchell does it without very large and modern concert hall changing the score or the lyrics. How? behind the façade of a 19th century That, you have to see… a TV technique railway station, was filled with plays a big role. And Mitchell rethinks enthusiastic fans for this gala. That some of the issues. Does Lucia kill her elicited a comment from Gramophone’s husband because she’s “mad” or is reviewer of the DVD; “If you enjoy insanity a way to get away with murder? recordings of enthusiastic applause, this Is her “marriage” to Edgardo a verbal is one for you.” He continued; “The pledge or is it consummated? If not from audience at Baden-Baden had obviously a mental breakdown, why would she die? been waiting for the chance to enjoy an old-fashioned evening of popular Interested? Then, what do we drop from favourites with no pretense at high the schedule? Your opinion, please! culture.” NEXT WEEK A week from now, March 22, we’re off to Since he liked the program, his snobbish Beijing to see a a Chinese . contention that if it is popular, it can’t be It’s a spectacle in the best sense. “high culture,” is both defensive and silly. Page 1 of 4 Rolando Villazón had been engaged for He made his debut with Lucerne Opera this gala; he was forced to cancel by a and then joined Opéra National de Lyon congenital cyst on a vocal cord. I am where he sang the title role in Mozart's one of his many fans, still dismayed that Don Giovanni. his career was shortened. But, Villazón’s THE GALA PROGRAM was replaced by Ramón Vargas and, for From Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, Felice some, he “just about stole the show.” Romani ABOUT THE PERFORMERS 1. Sinfonia, Marco Armiliato The Gala’s performers are Anna 2. Duet: “Mira, o Norma” (Act II) Elīna Netrebko, Elina Garanča, Ramón Vargas, Garanča as Adalgisa, as and Ludovic Tezier. Marco Armiliato Norma conducts the South West German Radio From L’elisir d’amore by Gaetano Symphony Orchestra, Baden-Baden and Donizetti, Felice Romani Freiburg. 3. Romanza: “Una furtiva lagrima” (Act Soprano Anna Netrebko was born in II) Ramón Vargas as Nemorino Krasnodar, Russia in September 1971. She worked as a janitor at the Mariinsky From I Puritani by Vincenzo Bellini, Theatre until she was ‘discovered’ by the Carlo Pepoli conductor Gergiev. She made her 4. Recitative and Aria: “Or dove fuggoio operatic stage debut there at age 22, as mai? - Ah! per sempre io ti perdei -Bel Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. sogno beato" (Act I) Ludovic Tézier as Mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča was born Riccardo in Riga, Latvia in September 1976 to a From Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, Felice musical family. Garanča's international Romani breakthrough came in 2003 at the 5 Cavatina: Casta Diva-“Ah bello a me Salzburger Festspiele when she sang ritorna” (Act I) Anna Netrebko as Norma Annio in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, From La Cenerentola by Gioacchino conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Rossini, Jacopo Ferretti Tenor Ramón Vargas was born in 6. Rondo finale: “Nacqui all’affanno e al Mexico City in September 1960, the pianto” Elīna Garanča as Cenerentola seventh of nine children. He began singing at the age of 9. His international From Don Carlo by Giuseppi Verdi, debut took place in 1992, when the New Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle York asked him to 7. Duet: “E Lui!… Desso!… L’infanti-Dio, sing Edgardo opposite June Anderson, che nell’alma infondere” (Act II, Scene I) substituting for Luciano Pavarotti. Ludovic Tézier as Rodrigo, Ramón Vargas Baritone Ludovic Tézier was born as Don Carlo October 1968 in Marseille, France. He From Samson et Dalila by Camille trained at the Paris Opéra’s École d’Art Saint-Saëns lyrique and at the Centre National 8. Ballet: Bacchanale (Act III). Marco d’Artistes Lyriques. Armiliato conducting Page 2 of 4 From Lakmé by Léo Delibes, Edmond From Rigoleto by Giuseppi Verdi, Gondinet and Phillipe Gille Francesco Maria Piave 9. Flower Duet: “Viens, Mallika - Dôme 15. Quartet: “Un di, se ben rammento épais, le jasmin” Anna Netrebko as Lakmé, mi - Bella figlia dell’amore” Ramón Elīna Garanča as Malika Vargas as Duca, Anna Netrebko as Gilda, Elīna Garanča as Maddalena, Ludovic From Les Pêcheurs de perles by Tézier as Georges Bizet, Eugene Cormon, Michel Carre From Giuditta by Franz Lehar, Paul. 10. Duet: “Au fond du temple saint” (Act Knepler, Fritz Lōhner II) Ramón Vargas as Nadir, Ludovic 16. ”Meine Lippen, sie küso heiß” (Act Tézier as Zurga IV) Anna Netrebko as Giuditta From Samson et Dalila by Camille From La danza by Gioacchino Rossini, Saint-Saëns Carlo Pepoli 11. Aria: “Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta 17. Ramón Varga voix” (Act II). Elīna Garanča as Dalila From Las hijas del Zebedeo by Roberto From Luisa Miller by Giuseppi Verdi. Chapi, José Estremera Salvatore Cammarano 18. Carceleras: “Al penser en el dueño 12. Scene and Aria: Oh! fede negar de mis amores” Elīna Garanča as Luisa potessi - Quando le sere al placido (Act II From by Georges Bizet Henri Scene III). Ramón Vargas as Rodolfo Meilhac, Ludovic Halévy From Don Carlo by Giuseppi Verdi, 19. (Toreador’s Song): “Votre toast, je Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle peux vous rendre- Toréador, en 13. Morte di Rodrigo: Felice ancor io son garde!” (Act II) Ludovic Tézier as - Per me giunto e il di supremo - lo Escamillo morro, ma lieto in core (Act IV, Scene II). Ludovic Tézier as Rodrigo From by Giuseppi Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave From La Boheme by , 20. Brindisi: “Libiamo, ne' lieti calici” Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica Ramón Vargas, Anna Netrebko, Elīna 14. Duet: “O soave fanciulla” (Act I) Garanča, Ludovic Tézier Ramón Vargas as Rodolfo, Anna Netrebko as Mimi Encore Opera is published weekly to inform the Riderwood Opera Theater community. It is edited and printed by Gene Martin and distributed by Paula Cook to the cubbies of residents without email.•For a free subscription send name and (cubby) address to Paula Cook, KC 211 or email [email protected]. Riderwood Opera Theater concerts (Encore Opera, Bella Vocci, and Live Opera Highlights) are produced by David Abraham, Mike Beard, Paula Cook, Sally Koenig, Joan Kugler, Gene Martin, Al Morey, Steve Schwartz, and Millie Trimble who invite you to join us. Page 3 of 4 OPERA NOTES FOR : Friday at 1:00 PM at Encore Theater

Page 4 of 4