Nudity in Opera? The Full Monty!

And speaking of innovations, nudity in Opera is not something new...Nude Salomés, some nude Carmen, nude Violettas were always in cartellone...Lets peep at some pics.
XXX Explicit Content.

The following are photos from a production of the opera
ERCOLE SU´L TERMODONTE
by Antonio Vivaldi, given in Spoletto in July 2006...



I dont think i should explain anything about what we see in this foto...



Yes, this is Hercules...His name is Zachary Stains, in case you wanna google him (or stalk him), and yes, size does matter...



This is the beloved greek mezzo Mary Ellen Nesi and yes, those are boobs.



Ercole/Hercules and his mighty lion...

And if you wanna actually listen to this performance, here are the links and full cast:

CD1
CD2

ANTONIO VIVALDI
ERCOLE SU´L TERMODONTE

Ercole: Zachary Stains
Ippolita: Marina Bartoli
Antiope: Mary Ellen Nesi
Martesia: Laura Cherici
Teseo: Randall Scotting
Alceste: Luca Dordolo
Telamone: Filippo Mineccia

Il Complesso Barocco
Alan Curtis

Spoleto, 6 July 2006

Let's have fun!

As we all know, the new dictator-excuse me, i wanted to say director- of the Greek National Opera is a big fan of innovative productions of opera. All the performances we have seen up till today were modern or wanna-be modern. Some succesfull, others less... Here are some pics that demonstrate clearly what i would NEEEEVER wanna see on-stage...They re from a performance of Rigoletto somewhere in Germany (where else...!)



Rigoletto Armstrong has finally landed on the Moon! or is it Mars?




NO! Its not Mars, its not the Moon! Its the Planet of the Apes!



Gilda as Princess Leia in Star Wars next to Rigoletto Armstrong! Don't ask me who the other guys are...i suppose Sparafucile and Maddalena?



Piaaaangi fanciuuuuulla...



Yes, Gilda and Rigoletto live in a Space Ship but they also like camping!



The first Opera Set created by Louis Vuitton!

Tell me your opinions! Or new ideas!

Rigoletto on the Moon?

Tosca underwater with scuba divers?

Anything will do!

MAHAGONNY! Athens 1977/78

A friend of mine who calls me crazy 'cause of the amount of recordings i have got in a 4x4 room asked me to upload something crazy, something that i consider a true rarity and that i think that nobody else has. Well, after a lot of thinking i ended up uploading this trully unique performance of this amazing Kurt Weil's opera.

RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY
( BRECHT - WEILL )

The cast is STELLAR! Many great greek singers like Papantoniou, Morfoniou, Kavrakos etc!
The performance is not so stellar though...The language of the performance is a mix of greek and english! But it 's worth it as a piece of the greek operatic history.

AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHAGONNY
RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY
GRANDEUR ET DECADENCE DE LA VILLE DE MAHAGONNY
( BRECHT - WEILL )

First presentation in Greece
Season 1977/78

Mus. Direction: Hans Werner Pindgen

Begbick - Kiki Morfoniou
Fatty - Mihalis Heliotis
Moses - Andreas Kouloumbis
Jenny Hill - Vasso Papantoniou
Jim Mahoney - Zahos Terzakis
Jakob Schmidt - Dimitris Stefanou
Bill - Themis Sermie
Joe - Dimitris Kavrakos (a very young Kavrakos)
Tobby Higgins - Nikos Doufexiadis
Speaker - Yorgos Terzakis

Chorus master: Vyron Fidetzis

http://rapidshare.com/files/6224624/MahagonnyAthens1977.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/6233740/MahagonnyCD2.rar

ps. The truth is that i m not the only owner of this recording...I gave it to Zahos Terzakis last year when he was singing Butterfly in Athens...

Elektra, Athens 26.2.2007

I just got back from the dress rehearsal of Elektra. I m a bit dizzy...i cant really think well and once more i realize that the works of Richard Strauss haunt me when i see them on stage...And yes, this was my first live Elektra! I always say to my friends who don't like Richard Strauss' operas that his operas are not operas to listen to but to watch (tell me sonething i dont know)! My God! His perception of drama is amazing! Every single note, every single "strange sound" is so significant in his work that if you really try to listen to all instruments and what they have to say, you ll end up having a headache. I remember myself coming out of the Athens Megaron on the 11th of October of 2003 after my first Die Frau Ohne Schatten! I was speechless! And a bit ashamed that when i was younger i couldnt appreciate Strauss' work... Anyway, i ll be back with more after the premiere on Thursday...

ps. Inga Nielsen was ill so she actually whispered her role instead of singing it...
ps2. Baltsa was great. period.
ps3. Secunde's voice is getting more and more wobbly...but i 'm sure that a dress rehearsal is not enough to judge a performance...

Juan Diego Florez: Live in Paris / A Documentary

Juan Diego Florez and Desiree Rancatore in the premiere
of La Fille du regiment, alla Scala, an already legendary performance...


I think that are veeeery few those who dont like Juan Diego Florez in the opera world. You cannot dislike this absolutely golden voice! Its like a piece of heaven and as i have not heard him live yet, i hate all my friends that actually have-for example in La fille next to Patrizia Ciofi...grrrr.

What i present here is a documentary about his life and art (the format of the video is avi), his first years in Peru till the trip to international stardom. It's very, very interesting and its absolutely worth downloading...

http://rapidshare.com/files/11364189/FlorezDoc.avi.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/11371904/FlorezDoc.avi.002

And this is a Live of Juan Diego in the Paris Theatre des Champs Elysees.

JUAN DIEGO FLOREZ au Théâtre des Champs-Elysées 20 Oct. 2004
Recital and interviews included

http://rapidshare.com/files/3834672/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/4502374/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.002
http://rapidshare.com/files/4516785/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.003
http://rapidshare.com/files/4528231/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.004
http://rapidshare.com/files/4552938/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.005
http://rapidshare.com/files/4715992/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.006
http://rapidshare.com/files/5235851/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.007
http://rapidshare.com/files/5239525/JUAN_DIEGO_FLOREZ.wmv.008

Elektra, Met 1966 Nilsson, Rysanek, Resnik

Birgit Nilsson and Regina Resnik in Elektra


In sight of the upcoming performances of ELEKTRA in Athens with the divine AGNES BALTSA, let me offer you an ab-fab performance from the Met with an all-star cast...Yes, there are actually people that have seen together on stage Birgit Nilsson, Leonie Rysanek and Regina Resnik. grrrr...i feel so envious...

Metropolitan Opera House
December 10, 1966 Matinee Broadcast

ELEKTRA

Elektra..... ......... ...Birgit Nilsson
Chrysothemis. ......... ..Leonie Rysanek
Klytδmnestra. ......... ..Regina Resnik
Orest....... ......... ...William Dooley
Aegisth..... ......... ...James King
Overseer.... ......... ...Carlotta Ordassy
Serving Woman....... ....Shirley Love
Serving Woman....... ....Joann Grillo
Serving Woman....... ....Nancy Williams
Serving Woman....... ....Lilian Sukis
Serving Woman....... ....Mary Ellen Pracht
Confidant... ......... ...Elinor Harper
Trainbearer. ......... ...Mary Fercana
Young Servant..... ......Charles Anthony
Old Servant..... ........Edward Ghazal
Guardian.... ......... ...Gerhard Pechner [Last performance]

Conductor... ......... ...Thomas Schippers

http://rapidshare.com/files/17833776/Elektra66.mp3

Dimitra Theodossiou Live in Thessaloniki 2002

This is a Gala in the memory of Maria Callas and it was given in the presence of Agnes Baltsa, Nicola Zaccaria (who we dont see a lot and his presence is quite rare), Kiki Morfoniou, Arda Mandikian and others greek singers.

Dimitra in 2002 wasnt that tired as she appears to be now, after all this heavy repertoire she has been singing and she gives marvelous renditions of all arias (well, i will forgive her the lapsus at the finale of Sempre Libera...). And this is a very demanding program indeed! Traviata, Forza, Bolena, Liu, Tosca, Manon Lescaut etc...!!! I have ommited all orchestral parts 'cause the file would be huge...

Dimitra Theodossiou, soprano
Nikos Athinaios conductor
Thessaloniki State Orchestra

1. D'amor sull ali rosee (Trovatore, Verdi)
2. Tu che le vanita (Don Carlo, Verdi)
3. Sola perduta abbandonata (Manon Lescaut, Puccini)
4. Tu, che di gel sei cinta (Turandot, Puccini)
5. Casta Diva (Norma, Bellini)
6. Piangete voi?.....Al dolce guidami (Anna Bolena, Donizetti)
7. E strano....sempre libera (Traviata, Verdi)
Bis
8. Vissi d arte (Tosca)
9. Pace, pace mio Dio (Forza del Destino)

http://rapidshare.com/files/13089140/TheodossiouThess2002.rar

Ps. I just remembered this: The next person who will start coughing so loudly while Dimitra-or anybody else is singing, will receive a minidisc on the head-or whatever i have handy, a book, a mobile...anything (just listen to D'Amor sull ali rosee"...i wished she-the one coughing-would die asfixiated...)

A Greek Carmen!

This is a very strange Carmen! It features two of the most important greek artists of the 20th Century in the roles of Micaela and Escamillo: Jeanette Pilou and Kostas Paskalis singing next to Christa Ludwig's Carmen and James King's Don Jose!

Among all greek opera singers, there is a very special one that we usually forget to mention: the Great Jeannette Pilou! Mrs Pilou had a great career all over the world and has sung with nearly all the legendary tenors of the era (Corelli, Bonisolli etc). Well, as we usually do in Greece, nobody has honoured her the way she deserves to be honoured. And the fact is that Pilou is one of the 4-5 great singers (really great ones) that Greece has given to the World...

My adoration to the late Kostas Paskalis is stated below...i collect everything he has ever sung and i wish i could find more (anybody having an Eugene Onegin?)

Carmen
Vienna State Opera
15 May 1976

Carmen Christa Ludwig
Don Jose James King
Escamillo Kastas Paskalis
Micaela Jeanette Pilou
Frasquita Sona Ghazarian
Mercedes Gertrude Jahn

Conductor Ernst Marzendorfer

part1
part2

ps. DONT UNZIP BEFORE JOINING THE TWO FILES WITH HJSPLIT.
ps2. The second cd is damaged towards the end and its a bit annoying...

The sound is ok but dont expect DDD.

Gina Bachauer, Athens 1967

Enough with opera, bitches! I need a break!
This is a very rare recording ripped off the archives of the Greek Broadcast Network (ERT). Its a recital that the legendary greek pianist Gina Bachauer gave in Athens, at the Hotel Grande Bretagne (!!) in 1967 with Princess Irene (who was her pupil...and who also was a princess . . . Greece was still a kingdom then).


Mozart
Concerto for two pianos and Orchestra in E flat major
EIR Symphony Orchestra
Cond: Alex Sherman
Gina Bachauer, Princess Irene

(Gina Bachauer, Born in Athens 1913. Passed away August 1976 in Athens just some minutes before a concert she would give at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus)

http://rapidshare.com/files/2417900/GinaBachauer1967.rar

Edita Gruberova live in Athens 1997

This is a piece of operatic history...The first appearance ever (and the last) of the miraculous Edita Gruberova in Greece. I ve seen this idol of mine a couple of times on stage (i still can hear her singing the final cabaletta of Beatrice di Tenda when i close my eyes!) but i must say that i was totally blown away by her voice in this, first time i heard this wonder of nature! Unfortunately, the recital is not complete and ends during Adele's aria from Die Fledermaus. BUT! It is by far one of the most historical nights of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Edita was singing a double bill recital next to Barbara Hendricks...Of course Edita was conducted by her hubbie, Friedrich Haider while another maestro did the first part of the concert with Hendricks. And after the "peacefull" performance by Barbara, came the hurricane Edita who absolutely burnt down the house! Standing ovation, people yelling and cheering (i 'm sure that 99% of the audience was there by mere coincidence but they were also amazed by her ringing high notes and her flawless coloratura. Buuuff, i could write a whole book about my adoration towards Edita....

Edita is singing Zerbinetta, Lucia, Linda and Adele / 9th of September of 1997, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House of Covent Garden under Fr. Haider.

Enjoy!

http://rapidshare.com/files/2429776/Edita_Gruberova_9.9.1997_Athens.rar

Eva Marton Live in Budapest, 1988

Here s an amazing concert of the great hungarian singer:
( you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a beautiful pic of Eva Marton....)

Eva Marton

1. Ritorna Vincitor (Aida)
2. Morro ma prima in grazia (Ballo)
3. Ouverture (Barbiere)
4. L'altra notte (Mefistofele)
5. Ebben ne andro lontana (Wally)
6. Intermezzo
7. Intermezzo 2 (Both from "I gioielli della Madonna" by E. Wolf-
Ferrari)
8. In quelle trine morbide
9. Sola perduta abandonata (Manon Lescaut)
10. Intermezzo from Amico Fritz
11. Io son l umille ancella (Adriana Lecouvreur)
12. O don fatale (Don Carlo)
13. Suicidio (Gioconda)
14. Vissi d'arte (Tosca)

Hungarian State Orchestra,
Budapest Convention Center
3 September 1988
Cond: Julius Rudel

http://rapidshare.com/files/2721414/EvaMartonBudapest1988.rar

Uploads up till now...

Juan Diego and Natalie in London's Fille du Regiment! Ain't they quite a couple?


Till today, 21th of February, you can find on this blog the following performances (from older to newer post)

1.Requiem - Mozart - Karajan - TomowaSintow, Baltsa, Krenn, Van Dam

2. SALOME BEHRENS/BALTSA/VAN DAM KARAJAN LIVE SALZBURG 1978
and

3.Il Trovatore Baltsa/Studer

4.Italiana in Algeri Baltsa-Lopardo-Raimondi Claudio AbbadoVienna 28 September 1987 (live)

5.Don Carlo, Baltsa, Ramey, Ricciarelli, O Neil, London, 3 April 1989

6. Un Ballo In Maschera with Gruber, Vargas, Guelfi, Pentcheva, Bologna 2003

7. Samson&Dalila, Domingo/Baltsa/Fondary,1990

8.Parsifal Domingo/Baltsa/Grundheber/Salminen Madrid 2001

9.Jose Carreras&Sumi Jo Live in Athens 2005

10.I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Firenze 1982, Baltsa/Gasdia

11. Dimitra Theodossiou Live in Nafplion

12.Die Frau Ohne Schatten - Athens 11.10.2002

13.Otello - Dedicated to the memory of Kostas Paskalis with Domingo/Paskalis/Price, Paris78

14.Salome, R.Strauss, Athens 11 February 2007

15. Il Trovatore, Dimitra Theodossiou, a superb Leonora

16. Medea, Luigi Cherubini, Anna-Caterina Antonacci, Chatelet, 30 June 2005

17. Two Mariella Devia Recitals - Athens 1996, Thessaloniki 2005

18. Wagner Gala in Athens, Odeon of Herodes Atticus 1981 with Gwyneth Jones

A lot of Baltsa, (in case you havent noticed, i 'm a Baltsa maniac), some Theodossiou, and many many rarities (ain't they all of them quite rare?). Send me requests, i will try to upload whatever you desire...(well, dont ask me for Callas in Fedora, Callas in Don Carlo, Callas in Die Walkuere...Nor ask me for the Baltsa 1984 Carmen at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. But if someone has all these, they would be welcome (yeahh right...).

Wagner Gala in Athens, Odeon of Herodes Atticus 1981

hi all!
per special request and for the Dame Gwyneth Jones lovers, here's the legendary performance of the Dame in Act I of Die Walkuere from the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in 1981.

Wagner Gala

1.Wahn!Wahn!uberall wahn! (Meistersinger, K. Ridderbusch)

Act 1 from Die Walkuere

Sieglinde: Gwyneth Jones
Siegmund: James King
Hunding: Karl Riddersbusch

Wolfgang Sawallisch, Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper
Athens Festival, September 1981
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
(open air recording, good sound-as good as a recording of that time can be)

Download here

Medea, Luigi Cherubini, Anna-Caterina Antonacci, Chatelet, 30 June 2005

MEDEA

Version by Franz Lachner, translated into Italian by Carlo Zangarini

Medea, moglie di Giasone - Anna Caterina Antonacci
Nιris, la sa serva - Sara Mingardo
Giasone, capo degli Argonauti - Giuseppe Gipali
Creonte, re di Corinth - Giorgio Giuseppini
Glauce, la sua figlia - Annamaria Dell'Oste
1a Ancella di Glauce - Elena Poesina
2a Ancella di Glauce - Blandine Staskiewiecz
Capo delle guardie - Frederic Caton

Chorus and National Orchestra of the Theatre du Capitole de Toulouse
Evelino Pido, conductor

Broadcast live from Paris (Chatelet), June 30, 2005

http://rapidshare.de/files/13282783/medea_2005_paris_act1.mp3

http://rapidshare.de/files/13280642/medea_2005_paris_act2.mp3

http://rapidshare.de/files/13281650/medea_2005_paris_act3.mp3

Il Trovatore, Dimitra Theodossiou, a superb Leonora

Today my dearest Dimitra is singing her first Abigaille at the Teatro delle Muse di Ancona. I would kill to be there but unfortunately i couldnt! I'm sending her my best wishes (In bocca lupo carina!) and i m posting this really good performance of Il Trovatore from the Athens Lyric.

Il Trovatore- G. Verdi

Leonora: Dimitra Theodossiou
Manrico: Emil Ivanov
Azzucena: Victoria Maifatova
Di Luna: Andreas Kouloumbis
Ferrando: Dimitri Kavrakos

Lukas Karytinos/ National Opera of Greece
Athens 28.12.2003

http://rapidshare.com/files/15316725/TrovTheodossiouAth-1.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/15321913/TrovTheodossiouAth-2.rar

Otello - Dedicated to the memory of Kostas Paskalis - Στη μνήμη του Κώστα Πασχάλη

Otello - G. Verdi

Otello: Placido Domingo
Iago: Kostas Paskalis
Desdemona: Margaret Price
Emilia: Jane Berbie
Cassio: Hosrt Laubenthal
ROdrigo: Robert Dume

Opera de Paris - Nello Santi
Paris, 13 July 1978

http://rapidshare.com/files/16087791/OtelloParis78-1.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/16095315/OtelloParis78-2.rar