Excellence in simplicity
Rigoletto is one of those works that you can enjoy a thousand times without getting tired. It is one of the most prominent operas of Verdi, with well-known and beautiful passages and an argument that attracts the public. The story of a gibose trying to protect his daughter from a presumed desperate curse is still in force today, despite the excessive drama and complexity of some parts of history.
The version we were able to see and hear in the Kursaal was simple, represented, but with the limitations typical of a not very large scenario and also shared with the orchestra behind it. Actually, mise en scène were a few scenographic elements to support the action. But all the weight of the show was taken by the vocal performances and expressiveness of the singers, who from the theatrical point of view could do little in such a small space.
However, it cannot be deduced from the above that the spectacle was worthless or poor. Quite the opposite. The public got caught up in history, without looking at the distorting elements, which were not really there, and also was fascinated by the excellent voices that we could hear.
The Portuguese tenor settled in London, Luis Gomes, in the role of Duca di Mantova, showed his clear and safe needles, and although at some times the nasal voice was revealing a phrasing of great beauty and firmness. Questa or quella arian spoke with great expression and simplicity, and the famous La donna é mobile came with freshness.
The Hungarian baritone Gyula Nagy, in the role of Rigoletto, demonstrated his ability to speak and interpret the character convincingly. He was a great actor.
But the star that stood out most in the show was undoubtedly the Romanian soprano Letitia Vitelaru. He offered a wonderful interpretation of Gilda's character, full of naivety and sweetness. And he captivated the audience in the realm of the voice, with its ease in all records and, above all, with its crystal acutes.
Both Excelentia Vocal Ensemble and the Classical Orchestra of Santa Cecilia were always at the point, under the direction of Gregorz Nowak.
In Durango's Hitz bookstore, it occurred to me that the Saturraran opera deserved criticism. On the one hand, the response of Jose Julián Bakedano, the illusion of the words of Gaizka Olabarri from the bookstore, the illusion of Nekane Bereziartua, who for so many years has been... [+]
Chamber opera based on the work of Orgia
Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Music: Hector Parra.
Libretto: Calixto Bieito. Ensemble Intercontemporain.
Director: Pierre Bleuse. Scenography: Calixto Bieito. Soloists: Ausrine Stundyte (soprano), Leigh Melrose (baritone), Jone Martínez... [+]
Opera Anna Bolena de Donizetti organized by ABAO. Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa. Directed by Jordi Bernacer. Bilbao Opera Choir. Directed by Boris Dujin. Soloists: Joyce El-Khoury (soprano), Silvia Tro Santafé (mezzo), Marko Mimica (bajo), Celso Albelo (tenor), Anna Tobella... [+]
Opera I Puritani de Bellini organized by ABAO. Basque Orchestra. Director: Giacomo Sagripanti. Bilbao Opera Choir. Director: Boris Dujin. Scene address: Emilio Sagi. Scenography: Daniel Bianco. Soloists: Jessica Pratt (soprano), Xabier Anduaga (tenor), Andrzej Filonczyk... [+]
Recital of Verdi organized by the ABAO
Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa. Director: Daniel Oren. Bilbao Opera Choir. Director: Boris Dujin. Soloists: Angela Meade (soprano), Daniela Barcellone (mezzo), Sergio Escobar (tenor), Giovanni Meoni (baritone), David Lagares (low).Place: ... [+]
The history of the opera Madama Butterfly based on a work by the writer Pierre Loti, madly in love with Euskal Herria is not well known. This is Madame Chrysanthème. It has a similar argument, although Loti's original has a happy ending and in the case of Puccini the story takes... [+]
One of the most interesting ABAO projects in recent years has been called Tutto Verdi. In this cycle all the operas of the composer Verdi have been represented, without exception. And the last of these operas is the one we mentioned below. Alzira.
For many reasons it was worth... [+]
It is a pleasure to be able to enjoy two works of the twentieth century that deepen the soul of women in the Euskalduna Palace. Rarely will we be able to listen to these short, live and arguably hard operas, because they're actually rarely programmed. And the truth is, we can't... [+]
It's always a pleasure to enjoy a Mozart opera. In the broad repertoire of the Salzburg composer there are genuine gemstones and not only from a musical point of view. This is the case of La clemenza di Tito, a singular work, of an introspective nature from the psychological... [+]
Operazaleok pozez itxaroten dugu OLBE-ren denboraldiaren hasiera. Eta aurten poza bikoitza izan dugu. Alde batetik, titulu eder-ederra, publikoaren kuttuna izan dugulako, eta, bestetik, interpretazio mundialak disfrutatu ditugulako. Behin baino gehiagotan entzun dugu Bilbon... [+]