PUCCINI – MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Alexia Voulgaridou (Cio Cio San); Teodor Ilincai (Pinkerton); Lauri Vasar (Sharpless);
The Orchestra of the State Opera Hamburg; Vincent Boussard
In 2012, the Hamburg State Opera presented a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece “Madama Butterfly”. The internationally renowned director Vincent Boussard stages the opera, collaborating with star fashion designer Christian Lacroix and set designer Vincent Lemaire. Together they succeed in bringing to life the moving tragedy of the young Japanese geisha Cio-Cio San in a stylish and sophisticated production that focuses on the title role, impressively portrayed by Greek soprano Alexia Voulgaridou. Subtly conducted by Alexander Joel, the dynamic cast includes Romanian Tenor Teodor Ilincai as Cio-Cio San’s love interest, B.F. Pinkerton and Estonian baritone Lauri Vasar as Consul Sharpless. “Madama Butterfly” contains an enormous wealth of psychological poetry. Through his music, Giacomo Puccini lends his characters extremely rich and complex profiles and created an extraordinary explosive force.
AN EVENINGHEME WITH THE ROYAL OPERA
Showcasing outstanding productions from the stage of the Royal Opera House, An Evening with the Royal Opera brings together a collection of arias and choruses from some of the world's favorite operas. Enjoy performances including The Barber of Seville Carmen, Rigoletto, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflöte and Falstaff sung by artists including Renee Fleming, Joseph Calleja, Jonas Kaufmann, Erwin Schrott, Teodor Illincai, Hibla Gerzmava, Miah Persson, Jose Cura, Ailish Tynan, and Bryn Terfel.
Available on DVD, on ArkivMusic.com
PUCCINI – LA BOHEME
Hibla Gerzmava (Mimi); Teodor Ilincai (Rodolfo); Gabriele Viviani (Marcello); Donald Maxwell (Alcindoro);
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Andris Nelsons
Stage Director(s): John Copley
John Copleys enduring production of one of the most famously melodious and popular of all operas is a classic of the Royal Opera repertory. With historically accurate designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman and an excellent cast headed by Hibla Gerzmava and Teodor Ilincai, this 2009 revival, in which conductor Andris Nelsons makes a distinguished Royal Opera House debut, does full justice to Puccinis masterpiece. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true surround sound.
BERLIN OPERA NIGHT
The Gala presented by the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2011 in support of Aids-related charities brought together the cream of Europe's opera singers, in a program me of well-lover operatic excerpts, from Rossini, through Verdi to Wagner. Conducting was the Deutsche Oper's General Music Director, the charismatic Scot, Donald Runnicles. Heading the star-studded line-up were established artists of the calibre of Adrianne Pieczonka, Vivica Genaux and Simone Kermes, while the younger generation was represented by tenors Francesco Demuro, Antonio Poli and Teodor Ilincai, as well as the exciting soprano Kristin Lewis and mezzo-soprano Anna Smirnova. The result was truly an evening to remember.
Available on DVD
