focus on culture Prepared by AmCham member A rendez-vous in operatic heaven of this culture, join us in our The Kapos agency promotes the biggest operatic voices, and concerts and invite friends or business partners. You can also bring the international stars of the to Slovakia. How become our partner and show successfully they do this was shown by their recent visit to the your dedication to a higher level of culture. in New York. Last year, when I looked at the Milnes – were remembered of the opera stars are the top Everybody is welcome because program of the Metropolitan and compared in the reviews. social events, attended by high music is a universal language Opera (MET) season, I saw The same for La Cenerentola, society. Through the high level which brings people together my beloved opera one of the emblematic roles of of concerts, we are trying to and makes the world better. (The Puritans) from Vincenzo Joyce DiDonato. Unfortunately create the same social scene in Bellini scheduled for April to Juan Diego Flórez was replaced Bratislava. It isn’t easy, because Ján Korecký, May 2014, and in the main roles by Javier Camarena but there forty years of communism has Promoter, were three of our outstanding was still Luca Pisaroni, a great killed the traditional social life, Kapos agency young singers: Olga Peretyatko, Alidoro. And we have already and the new higher social class and presented all of these voices to often has trouble to rediscover Mariusz Kwiecien. The day the Slovak audience. values such as the opera, and upcoming concerts before featured La Cenerentola rather tends to enjoy cheaper 25.6.2014 (Cinderella) from G. Rossini, A backstage visit at their and valueless entertainment. Simona Houda-Šaturová with Joyce DiDonato, Juan invitation was obligatory. We Diego Flórez and Luca Pisaroni, enjoyed it very much and we met We believe that the attendance 5.11.2014 another three of our best singers. many new people from the top of many members of AmCham Pavel Breslik I didn’t even need to think about echelons of the opera world. We confirms the notion that it, I simply booked. Six great were especially surprised and successful people need a higher 3.12.2014 singers in two days on the stage touched however, to discover level of culture, and that they Miroslav Dvorský of the most important opera in that Slovakia and Bratislava are looking for it. Become a part (Christmas concert) the world. What a chance! And weren’t unheard of in this society. what proof of our success. They still remember the big voices of Peter Dvorský, Gabriela It’s not necessary to stress that Beňačková, Sergej Kopčák and we have witnessed the best Edita Gruberová, and recently voices, a parade of coloraturas, they have enjoyed Pavel Breslik high Cs, high Ds and even one and admired the strong bass of devilishly high F (Brownlee). Štefan Kocán, who sings in some For many years the MET didn’t roles every season. have the opportunity to stage a performance with singers of We felt at home in this operatic such a high level. The names temple, proud of the fact that, from the greatest cast of I in a way, Bratislava contributes Puritani ever – Joan Sutherland, to it. In the Western World, Lawrence Brownlee and Jan Korecky after I Puritani performance Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill the opera and the concerts

Promoter Jan Korecky with the soprano star Olga Peretyatko From left: Mariuzs Kwiecien, Larry Brownlee and Lydia Korecka of KAPOS

36 may/june 2014 amcham connection