Great news mates!

A couple of years ago, a rumour had spread in Greece...Dame Gwyneth Jones would sing Klytemnaestra at the archeological site of the Ancient Mycenae. There was a great expectation but soon enough the rumour was forgotten. It seems that, that was no rumour, that something was going on back then, and that someone was trying to put together a new summer Opera Festival in Greece...

What has actually happened is that this festival seems to be a reality and this year it will have its debut!

"A NEW FESTIVAL OF OPERA IN GREECE

The Nafplion Opera Festival is an International Celebration of Music and Opera created to produce operas on Greek subjects at the sites which inspired them, offering the unique opportunity to enjoy great music in the home of Western Civilization.

Based in the lovely Venetian city of Nafplion (an hour and a half south of Athens), with itsfine hotels and restaurants, shadowed by the massive Frankish/Ottoman fortress of Palamidi, the Festival will use dramatic Argolid archeological sites as settings for operas and concerts. In this first season, Richard Strauss’ Elektra will be performed at Ancient Mycenae, where Strauss conceived it.

The Festival is presented by the Nafplion Opera Company, a Greek not-for-profit Company and the Atlantic Arts Foundation, an American Foundation with IRS 501 c 3 designation.

Performances:

Richard Strauss

Elektra

Lisa Gasteen, Rosalind Plowright, Silvana Dussmann,

Siegfried Jerusalem, Alan Held

The Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra

Emmanuel Villaume, Conductor

Choral Concerts

The Trinity Choir

Owen Burdick, Conductor

Orchestral Concerts

Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel

Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Gustav Mahler: Symphony no.4

Mozart: Piano Concerto

Johannes Brahms: Symphony no.4"

YES, that's right! Elektra, the sequel! (it's gonna be the second Elektra in Athens during 2007) and at the REAL site of the opera... And yes, this is gonna be Rosalind Plowright's debut as Klytemnaestra (not Gwyneth Jones unfortunately) and the cast is stellar!

There also gonna be a GALA WELCOME WEEKEND which will include the following:

22 to 24 June 2007

Friday, 22 June

Welcome Buffet Lunch, Visit to Prizewinning Peloponnesian Folklore Museum, Panel Discussion of Greek Subjects in Opera, Cocktail Reception, Gala Concert at Palea Epidaurus Theatre, After Performance Dinner with Artists at Seaside Taverna

Saturday, 23 June

Morning tour of Mycenae Citadel and Museum, Lunch at Spyro’s Taverna, Mycenae, Panel Discussion of Strauss’ Elektra, Cocktail reception at Mycenae Museum, Elektra Premiere, Gala Dinner with the Artists in Mycenae

Sunday, 24 June

Morning visit to Fortress of Palamidi,“Morning After” discussion of Elektra with artists,Special Patron Concert,Buffet Lunch with artists, Cocktails at Nafplion harbor, Orchestra Concert, Reception with artists

I wouldn't mind drinking a Cosmo with Rosalind Plowright! Not at all actually!

For more info visit official website

Don´t get scared! You ´re still @ Parsifal's!

I suppose we all know (or have heard during our adolescence) this group called Iron Maiden.
They are the authors of songs of love, faith and devotion (such as "Bring your daughter to the slaughter") that used to be great hits during the 80's.


I 'm also quite sure that we all recognize this sweet lady, our most beloved catalana, one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century.

I suppose that STILL, you cannot imagine the relation between these two fotos. But, what if i told you that the sweet lady with the "abanico", has actually sung with the lead singer of this group?

Bruce Dickinson used to be the lead singer of Iron Maiden 'till 1993 when he quit in order to pursue his solo career.

(Ok, i know that this is not Dickinson's current look, but i couldnt resist this cheesy "tribute to the 80's" foto)

According to Wikipedia: Paul Bruce Dickinson is a British singer, airplane pilot, fencer and songwriter, best-known as the lead singer in the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden. According to All Music Guide, Dickinson "was the most acclaimed and instantly recognizable vocalist to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the early-'80s". He is often considered as one of the best lead vocalists in all of heavy metal and hard rock.

Dazzled?

Wait till you listen to this! Montserrat Caballe and Bruce Dickinson singing a duet! And this is not just ANY duet! Back in 1997, they recorded together the famous "Bohemian Rhapsody" originally sung by the Queen (i mean Freddie Mercury and his "crew", don't panic...) for a Caballe cd called "Friends for life". And here it is!

This post is dedicated to Alma, an ex-metal hammer!

A Master has passed away...

One of the great maestri of our era, Mstislav Rostropovich, has passed away. Copying from Wikipedia:

Mstislav Leopol'dovič Rostropo'vič, born March27, 1927, died April 27, 2007, affectionately known as "Slava," was a Russian cellist and conductor considered by many to be one of the greatest cellists ever. He is well known for his interpretations of Dvořak's B minor cello concerto and Haydn's cello concertos in C and D, and for his commissions of new works which have considerably enlarged the cello repertoire.

Together with his wife, Galina Vishnevskaya they worked on the recuperation of russian opera.

Rostropovich was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, then part of the Soviet Union. From 1943 to 1948, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became professor of cello in 1956.

Rostropovich died on April 27, 2007 in Moscow, Russia after having been hospitalized in February of the same year for an undisclosed illness.

May he rest in peace.

Aida, Arena di Verona 1992

AIDA
Radames: Kristjan Johansson
Aida: Maria Chiara
Amneris: Dolora Zajick
Amonasro: Juan Pons
Ir Re: Carlo Strioli
Ramfis: Nicolai Ghiuselev
Messagero: Angelo Casertano
Sacerdotessa: Anna Schiatti

Cond: NELLO SANTI
Orchestra and Chorus of the ARENA di VERONA

July 1992 (no exact date)

Excellent DDD sound!
First cd in 2 parts. Second part only 5MB. To extract both, justextract the first file.

Part1 Part2 Cd2

Change of career...

ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΠρOσληψης ΥπεYθυνου ΚαλλιτεχνικοY ΠρογραμματισμοY

Ο Οργανισμός Μεγάρου Μουσικής Θεσσαλονίκης με απόφαση του Διοικητικού του Συμβουλίου,
προτίθεται να προσλάβει ένα (1) άτομο, Υπεύθυνο Καλλιτεχνικού Προγραμματισμού.
Οι αποδοχές του θα καθοριστούν ανάλογα με τα προσόντα του.
Οι ενδιαφερόμενοι μπορούν να παραλάβουν σχετικά έντυπα με τα απαιτούμενα προσόντα και περιγραφή της θέσης, από τη γραμματεία του Ο.Μ.Μ.Θ, οδός 25ης Μαρτίου & Παραλία, τηλ. 2310895800, τις εργάσιμες ημέρες, από ώρα 10.00 π.μ. έως τις 14.00 μ.μ.

Άντε βρε, αρχίστε τις αιτήσεις!

About comments...

There 's nothing i hate more than rudeness, especially when it comes from omniscient italiani... So, from now on, comments are to be moderated. There's nothing wrong with expressing an opinion but there are many ways of doing it, and rudeness will not be tolerated here.

More Myrto...

Myrto Papatanasiu, Fidelio, Thessaloniki 2002
Capture from the (bootleg, of course) dvd.

AND! Myrto Papatanasiu singing Donna Anna's "Non mi dir" , Don Giovanni, Theater an der Wien, 20 July 2006 DOWNLOAD HERE

Breaking News: Angela pulls out, Myrto gets the best of reviews!

Today at 9.00 a.m. while heading to work i received @ my mobile, straight from la Citta Eterna, the notification on Angela´s You-know-who pull-out from the Rome Opera Traviata! OperaChic has already published a new post about it. Great news! It seems that she is actually at the verge of a nervous breakdown (i know i am mean but she is meaner...). The SMS also read "Check Messaggero". Nothing more. So, back home now i actually found the online version of Il Messaggero di Roma and searched for anything related to La Traviata! Here 's what i found:

Martedì 24 Aprile 2007

di RITA SALA
ERA NELL’ARIA e s’è puntualmente verificato: Violetta è lei, Myrtò Papatanasiu, greca di Larissa, il giovane soprano che l’altra sera al teatro dell’Opera ha scatenato i sentimenti di pubblico e orchestra. Li ha liberati e portati fino all’entusiasmo con una prestazione maiuscola nel ruolo principale della "Traviata" di Verdi, in scena al Costanzi.
Gli spettatori hanno applaudito ogni aria importante della popolare partitura, apprezzando anche il tenore (in questo caso Vittorio Grigolo) e un mito della lirica quale Renato Bruson nella parte di papà Germont. Ma per la Violetta ellenica i consensi si sono spinti oltre: a recita conclusa, nel tripudio generale che non riusciva ad esaurirsi,
i professori d’orchestra si sono alzati dai loro posti battendo le mani, e la gente, invece di lasciare la sala, si è affollata contro la balaustra con «insolito vigore» (per citare il libretto di Traviata ). Anche il direttore d’orchestra Gianluigi Gelmetti, e il regista Franco Zeffirelli, amano la voce, la capacità interpretativa e l’estrema sensibilità scenica di Myrtò. E davvero, al vederla in palcoscenico prima nei panni brillantissimi della cocotte, poi in quelli della donna innamorata, infine dentro la tunica bianca del tragico epilogo, ci si accorge di quanto còntino, nella lirica, certe qualità. Danno a una bella voce ali, respiro, un carisma particolare. Chi ha visto Maria Callas in scena ci racconta di come, lei che oggi chiamiamo la Divina, avesse impiantato la propria vocalità su doti d’attrice capaci non solo di “muovere”, bensì di “commuovere” gli animi e i cuori. Myrtò, in questa Violetta, è riuscita nella stessa impresa. E sabato sera concede il bis.

I don't know what you may think, but what I think is that
THIS IS A HELL OF A RAVING REVIEW!!!!!!

So, what is actually going on here is that Myrto gets reviewed twice, and there 's no word about Angela....Strange, huh???

I 'll be back with more ASAP!

Myrto gets revieeeeewed...

As you might already have read @ OperaChic's, the critic of the Corriere della Serra prefered to review the alternative cast of the Roma Traviata. I don't know why, and the fact is that i dont really care...The good thing is that the alternative cast includes my Myrto! It's pretty brief, laconic i would say...Let's see what is said in the review:

Il soprano Myrto Papatanasiu ha timbro piacevolmente asprigno, ampia linea di canto, belle colorature ed equilibrio nell' impiego del «vibrato»

Thanks OperaChic for alerting...

What to see or hear in Athens during summer!

Summertime! And the leaving is easy! (leaving to join the Air Force...)

Here 's a "compilation" of the performances i wouldn't like to miss during the Athens Summer Festival! I 'm only refering to opera and music performances but there are also some very interesting theatre performances, concerts with Elvis Costello, Fairuz and Laurie Anderson but also yet another visit by ms. Sylvie Guillem and mr. Bob Wilson.

Greek National Opera
Georges Bizet, Carmen
[ 1, 2, 3, 5 June ]
Direction: Steven Pimlott
Set and costume design: Alison Chitty
Choreography: Aletta Collins
Lighting: Peter Mumford

Cast
Carmen: Denyce Graves - Victoria Maifatova
Micaela: Eleni Kelessidi - Celia Costea
Frasquita: Maria Mitsopoulou
Mercédès: Irini Karayanni
Don José: Efe Kislali
Escamillo: Dimitris Tiliakos - Kyros Patsalidis
Zuniga: Dimitris Kasioumis
Moralès: Kostas Mavrogenis
Dancairo: Haris Andrianos
Music director Lukas Karytinos



A Tribute to Maria Callas - Gala
[ 1 July ]
Soloists: June Anderson - Beatrice Uria-Monzon singing parts of Bellini's Norma
With the Athens State Orchestra

Tribute Concert to Maria Kalogeropoulou
[ 9 July ]
Greek opera soloists
With the Athens State Orchestra

Les Arts Florissants Joseph Haydn, The Creation
[ 19 July ]
Soloists
Gabriel: Genia Kühmeier
Raphael: Dietrich Henschel
Uriel: Steve Davislim
Eva: Sophie Karthäuser
Adam: Markus Werba
With the chorus and orchestra of Les Arts Florissants
Conducted by William Christie



Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble
[ 24 July ]
Hector Berlioz: Les nuits d' été
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano
Georges Bizet: L'Arlésienne - Incidental Music
Conducted by Marc Minkowski




Camerata Of The Friends Of Music Megaron Resident Orchestra
[ 28 July ]
Soloist: Patrizia Ciofi soprano
Conducted by Christopher Hogwood

All the above will take place at the Odeon Of Herodes Atticus (photo below)




A Tribute to Maria Callas
Luigi Cherubini, Medea
[ 14 July ]



Direction / Set and Costume Design: Yannis Kokkos
Medea: Anna Caterina Antonacci
With the ERT Choir
Orchestra: Cappella Coloniensis, playing period instruments
Choir Master: Antonis Kontogeorgiou
Conducted by Konstantinos Karydis

Yes! The famous Yannis Kokkos production with my beloved Anna Caterina Antonacci! But the greatest thing is that this performance will take place at the Theatre of All Theatres, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, just like the Medea of 1961 with La Divina!

Press HERE to open a 360 photo of the Epidaurus on which you can navigate!

Athens, Summer 2007! You 're all invited!

Nixon in Athens!

A medal for all those who watched ¨Nixon in China¨ tonight and lasted all Three Acts of it! I was one of them! And believe me, more than 50% of the Athens Megaron audience, abandoned the auditorium...

A late SMS from Paris...

"She was an absolute goddess, extravagant, unique, amazing. Finley too. I waited 45 min. in order to get you an autograph but i got fed up and left"...

This is what the late SMS received from Paris read... I' m now going to hang myself . Ok, bye.

Angela goes POP!

Here is something that i ´m sure most of you are unaware that it even exists! Angela Gheorghiu in a crossover repertoire with (hunky) Stefan Banica Jr. (whom i only know by name)! Its from a maxi single my parents brought me as a present from Bucharest last year ("Mom! I told you i wanted a Renato Bruson CD and not this crap!"). The song is called "Numele Tau" which means "Your name" and in the zip you ll find it sung in both romanian and english!

Ps. Its not the complete maxi single of course for copyright reasons but only the 2/5 of it...

Dedicated to Renato Bruson! (am i mean or what?!)

Download HERE

You can also watch the video HERE

And here are the lyrics (in romanian of course-any translation volunteer?)

Angela Gheorghiu & Stefan Banica jr - Numele tau

I: Stau la geam, privesc si ma gandesc
Vantul imi sopteste sa-ti vorbesc
Despre tot ce simt acum...
N-am idee de unde a inceput
Stiu atat, doar ca te-am vazut
Si-i deajuns...

Refren: Daca tot ce spun are vreun sens
Si daca n-o sa-ti para rau
Scrie-mi sus pe cer numele tau...

II: Sufletul aude vocea ta
Ochii-mi rad si incerc sa fac ceva
Sa gasesc perechea lor...
Inima imi bate in mod firesc
Ma anunta ca ma indragostesc
Si mi-e dor...

Refren:.. Daca tot ce spun are vreun sens
Si daca n-o sa-ti para rau
Scrie-mi sus pe cer numele tau...

III: Nu poate fi doar o intamplare
Cand te intalnesti cu cel pe care
Pe care-l astepti in viata ta...

IV: Luna-mi face semn ca e tarziu
Si as vrea cand ma trezesc sa fiu
Langa tine in zori de zi...

V: Soarele ne tine in palma sa
Si-ti raspund fara a ma intreba
Cine sunt...

Refren:.. Daca tot ce spun are vreun sens
Si daca n-o sa-ti para rau
Scrie-mi sus pe cer numele tau...

III:.. Nu poate fi doar o intamplare
Cand te intalnesti cu cel pe care
Pe care-l astepti in viata ta...

Refren:.. Scrie-mi sus pe cer numele tau...
Scrie-mi sus pe cer numele tau...

The Unknown Teresa Stratas!

Hi all! This is a compilation of rare Teresa Stratas recordings! These selections come from a pirate LP of live performances (NOT a commercial recording). It was issued by Ralph Ferandina, who went by the name of Mr.Tape. He had an enormous collection of tapes of live performances, and sold open reel tapes and LP's. He went out of business many years ago...It was sent to me by an american friend of mine some days ago and after spending many days listening to it while riding my car all over Athens, i thought i should offer it to you too...

THE UNKNOWN TERESA STRATAS
(LIVE RECORDINGS - OPERA, SONG & BROADWAY)

1.Puccini: GIANNI SCHICCHI - O mio babbino caro

2.Puccini: SUOR ANGELICA - Senza mamma

3.Charpentier: LOUISE - Depuis le jour      
4.Charpentier: LOUISE - Depuis le jour

5.Boito: MEFISTOFELE - Lontano, sui flutti du'un ampio oceano
   
6.Massenet: MANON - St. Sulpice Scene    

7.Massenet: MANON - St. Sulpice Scene (with Giuseppe di Stefano)

8.Gounod: FAUST - Le roi de Thule� & Jewel Song

9.Puccini: LA BOHEME - Donde lieta usci

10.Mozart: DON GIOVANNI - Vedrai, carino

11.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - The Letter Song

12.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - The Tipsy Aria  

13.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - My Lords and Ladies I salute you

14.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - How Men Can Be So Silly�

15.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - I Adore You, My Sweet 

16.Offenbach: LA PERICHOLE - I Love You

17.Pestalozza: Ciribiribin (with chorus)

18.Kern: SHOWBOAT - Make Believe

19.Porter: KISS ME KATE - So In Love

Download HERE

Trionfo per Dimitra Theodossiou a Piacenza!

I ve said it a thousand times: Dimitra is one of the most underestimated sopranos of our time. But she also is a very controversial artist...She might have a glorious night and then the next night she might be bad....She might sing a glorious Norma and then have a disastrous night with Bolena. But, whoever has heard/watched her in one of these glorious nights is capable of understanding that this, is one of the greatest lirico spinto in the whole world! Just listen to her 2005 Lombardi from Firenze or her Roberto Devereux from Ancona! Amazing!

Now, to the point: Operaclick published a triumphant review on her Odabella a few days ago! Here it is:

Fulminante il recitativo d'ingresso di Dimitra Theodossiu, in cui la voce balza, con la violenza di un fendente, dal do acuto al si grave, ed estremamente aggressiva l’invettiva, che ipnotizza Attila al punto da indurlo a donare a Odabella la propria spada.

Il momento introspettivo “Liberamente or piangi” è un lungo virtuosismo cantato tutto in pianissimo, con toccanti aperture liriche rese possibili dalla perfetta padronanza dell’emissione.

Brava Dimitra!

OMG! Myrto in the new production of La Traviata in Rome???

We all know that Opera Chic is like the Holy Bible for opera bloggers! And she always "gives food" to me and my friends (especially when the subject is Angela you-know-who!). But today Opera Chic offered me the Apocalypse! In her new post about the Rome Traviata she states that "Gheorghiu will sing only on the nights of the 20 and 24: the other Violettas will be Irina Lungu, Myrto Papatanasiu and Anna Rita Taliento". After recovering from the petit stroke i suffered for a moment, i realised what i had just read: Myrto Papatanasiu! Myrto? Papatanasiu? Holly Molly! My friend Myrto is in Rome rehearsing for the Traviatas???? With Frengo (this is an OC term)?

I instanly sent her a (quite naughty) SMS and the answer came some time later-while i was watching Goya's Ghosts at the movies. Well, it seems that pretty Myrto (SHE IS A BEAUTY!) is indeed in Rome having a great time and working with Franco!

Myrto, apart from a beauty, is a great singer- i know her since she was a student in Thessaloniki and i had met her during a Delores Ziegler Masterclass (back in 1998?). It was then when i first heard her, singing "Come Scoglio" and then in Thessaloniki singing Marzelline next to Cheryl Studer's Leonore in Fidelio! I lost contact for some time untill i found out that she had won a Maria Callas scholarship (or was it the Alexandra Trianti scholarship?) . Next i watched her at a Gala some years ago in Athens singing Elvira's Mad Scene from I Puritani! And then she sang Finta Giardiniera again in Athens...She is stunning on stage.

She has also recorded for NAXOS Rossini's Il Turco in Italia (singing Fiorilla, check it out here ). I would be more than glad to provide you with the recordings of Myrto i own, like the Gala i mention above, or 2 Don Giovannis that have been broadcast the past year (from Amsterdam and Vienna) or the Thessaloniki-Studer Fidelio that i have on a high quality dvd. Anyway, i only have 2 things to declare: BRAVAAAAAAAA MYRTO! and In bocca al lupo!

ps. Here is a review i found @ Operaclick: Il giovane soprano greco Myrto’ Papatanasiu è stata un’ ottima Fiordiligi; palpitante, nobile, tesa. La voce, seppur non grandissima, è bella ed impiegata con intelligenza; le agilità sono sicure come pure gli acuti, corposo il registro medio. Complete review here


A very young Myrto at the Thessaloniki Fidelio


Myrto as Donna Anna in Vienna!


Myrto as Fiordiligi (in Genova i think...)


Another foto from the Vienna Giovanni
with Gerald Finley, Heidi Brunner etc.

Is "Nixon in China" the last opera that poor Parsifal is gonna watch before wearing his khakis uniform?

Weeeell, i guess so, unless i win the lottery and i make a flash-trip to whereva!



I think my m8s at the military camp will enjoy themselves enormously if i analyze on Nixon in China and the music of John Adams.



Here's the real thing!

ps. My uniform is not khakis but blue...I ll send you pics of myself in uniform, fully dressed, semi-dressed, in gown etc etc...hehehe.

It's official: On the 7th of May, Parsifal will be militaire et mari!

NO HIGH C'S FOR ME GUYS! Parsifal is joining the Greek Army (well, the Air Force actually) for 12 months (dammit!), 12 totally wasted months doing nothing... Anyway, just to let you know...

Pour mon âme,Quel destin! J'ai sa flamme,
Et j'ai sa main! Jour prospère! Me voici
Militaire et mari!

ps. If you see a marine at the Premiere of Carmen with Denyce Graves on the 1st of June, it will be me... I ll have deserted the army...hehehe.

S.O.S!!!!!

On Friday, 20th of April, DON'T MISS the tribute that the Greek Television is gonna present to the late greek baritone Kostas Paskalis, one of Parsifal's most adored singers!

Copying from the Greek TV site:
"ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΠΑΣΧΑΛΗΣ- Η ΔΥΝΑΜΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΕΠΡΩΜΕΝΟΥ"

Η καριέρα του Κώστα Πασχάλη ξεκίνησε σε ηλικία μόλις 18 ετών, με τον πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο στον «Ριγκολέτο» στην Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή το 1951. Μέχρι το 1958 διέπρεψε σε μια σειρά από σπουδαίους ρόλους και εκείνη τη χρονιά «άνοιξε» τα φτερά του για το εξωτερικό, τραγουδώντας στη Βιέννη υπό τη διεύθυνση του Δημήτρη Μητρόπουλου.

Επί μια τριακονταετία τραγούδησε ως πρωταγωνιστής στις μεγαλύτερες σκηνές του κόσμου: Σκάλα του Μιλάνου, Κόβεν Γκάρντεν, Μετροπόλιταν της Νέας Υόρκης, Όπερα της Βιέννης, Γκλάιντμπορν κ.λ.π. Συνεργάστηκε με διασημότητες, όπως ο Βισκόντι, ο Φον Κάραγιαν, ο Πλάθιντο Ντομίνγκο, ο Ντι Στέφανο και πολλούς ακόμη σε έργα όπως ο «Μακμπέθ», ο «Οθέλος», η «Τόσκα», η «Τραβιάτα», ο «Χορός των μεταμφιεσμένων», η «Καβαλερία Ρουστικάνα», οι «Παλιάτσοι», ο «Ερνάνης» κ.λ.π. Θεωρείται ως ένας από τους σπουδαιότερους βαρύτονους του εικοστού αιώνα.

Το «Παρασκήνιο» ετοίμασε ένα ντοκιμαντέρ-πορτραίτο για τον μεγάλο βαρύτονο, τα γυρίσματα του οποίου ολοκληρώθηκαν μόλις τρεις ημέρες πριν από τον αιφνίδιο θάνατό του, τον περασμένο Φεβρουάριο. Στο ντοκιμαντέρ μιλά μόνο ο ίδιος ο Κώστας Πασχάλης. Παρακολουθούμε την πορεία προς την κορυφή του μεγάλου Έλληνα τραγουδιστή της όπερας, τις απόψεις του για την τέχνη, τις μεγάλες συνεργασίες του αλλά και την Μαρία Κάλλας. Παράλληλα κινηματογραφείται κατά την διάρκεια της διδασκαλίας του στο ωδείο, όπου προσπαθεί να αναδείξει τις νεότερες γενιές τραγουδιστών της όπερας. Η εκπομπή περιλαμβάνει πλούσιο κινηματογραφικό, φωτογραφικό και ηχητικό υλικό, πάνω από όλα όμως την αφήγηση του Κώστα Πασχάλη, που αποτελεί ένα ξεχωριστό ντοκουμέντο.

Σενάριο-Σκηνοθεσία: Ηλίας Γιαννακάκης
Φωτογραφία: Claudio Bolivar, Παναγιώτης Τσάγκας
Μοντάζ: Μυρτώ Λεκατσά

English summary/translation

Kostas Paskalis' career began at the age of 18 with the role of Rigoletto in the Athens National Opera in 1951. Untill 1958 he excelled in many great roles and that same year he left for Vienna where he sang under Dimitri Mitropoulos. For 30 years had been singing at the biggest Opera Houses of the world. La Scala, Covent Garden, The Met, Vienna Staatsoper, Glyndebourne etc. He worked with artists as Visconti, Von Karajan, Domingo, Di Stefano and in operas like Macbeth, Otello, Tosca, Traviata, Ballo in Maschera, Cavalleria, Pagliacci, Ernani etc. He is considered one of the greatest baritones of the 20th Century

Paraskinio (the name of the show hosting the tribute), prepared a documentary-portrait for the great greek baritone that was completed just 3 days before his sudden death in February 2007. In the documentary we watch Paskalis on his own, talking about himself, about his way to the top, his points of view, his collaborations and about Maria Callas. We also watch him as he teaches at the Conservatoire, the younger generation of greek singers. The documentary includes many audio, video and foto testimonies of his artistry but above all, Kostas Paskalis' narration, a unique document.

I suppose i m gonna record it on DVD but in case Alzheimer wins its battle and i forget all about the telecast, please i would need a backup!

ΕΤ1, Friday, 20th of April, 2007, 19.00

Miss Swenson hits the road...

Wow, its been a long time since i last read a bitter interview given by a Diva (long, long time, since the romanian bitch's interview a couple of days ago!) but this one is worse: It's a reality-Jerry Springer like-bitter interview! I give you some parts of it but if you wanna read the whole thing click here

..."Ms. Swenson, known for her creamy sound and superb technique, has no more engagements there {the MET} beyond a string of “Traviata” performances next season. Further, the Met has given one of the “Giulio Cesare” performances to her understudy, Danielle de Niese, described on the Met Web site as “the young star of the recent celebrated Glyndebourne production.” The site makes no reference to Ms. Swenson’s merits. And next year four of her nine “Traviata” dates have been handed to another star, Renée Fleming.

“It’s hurtful,” Ms. Swenson said. “I’m a New Yorker. I’ve sung here for many, many years. I’ve had great success. I’ve never let them down.” She added: “It’s so stressful to get up onstage and realize that the top guy doesn’t like you, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Nothing.”

The top guy is Peter Gelb, the Met’s first-year general manager, who has moved forcefully to put his stamp on the company by emphasizing the dramatic content of opera and working hard to push it before the public eye. Ms. Swenson, a coloratura soprano who has taken on heavier roles and is much liked in the profession, was hired by his predecessor, Joseph Volpe.

Mr. Gelb acknowledged some dissatisfaction with her past performances. But he disputed that her career at the Met was over.

Ms. Swenson and her husband and vocal coach, David Burnakus, have other ideas about why Mr. Gelb seems to have lost interest.

“I think I’m not skinny enough for him,” the full-figured Ms. Swenson said. “Excuse me, I’m not some giant person.”...

And the beat goes on.....

I dont particularly like Swenson. I think she is a good technician, has a beautiful voice but she is freezing cold as an artist/actress...I watched her twice in the Traviatas she sang in Athens and everytime at the end i would feel as if i had been to the dentist...No emotion, no drama. And i watched her again in a double bill recital with Charles Castronovo. She sang magnificently but again same thing happened... So sterile, so indifferent so BORING!
*One can find all mentioned performances at my library...

ps. It's such a pitty...She 's one of the most simple, kind and happy divas i ve ever met! ...

The Easter Bunny has a gift for you: Anna Bolena, Mariella Devia Verona 2007

No, this is not the infamous performance of Elena Mosuc mentioned below. It's one of the performances given in Verona during the last days of March featuring the debut of the amazing
Mariella Devia as Anna Bolena (the sopranos seem to suffer a severe bolenitis...i hope the romanian b*i*t*c*h gets infected too, 'cause it will be fun fun fun to listen to a voiceless Bolena!)

ANNA BOLENA

Anna Bolena: Mariella Devia
Enrico VIII : Michele Pertusi
Giovanna Seymour : Laura Polverelli
Lord Riccardo Percy : Francesco Meli
Smeton : Elena Belfiore
Lord Rocheford : Marco Spotti
Sir Hervey : Cristiano Olivieri
Orchestra, Coro dell'Arena di Verona
Dir: Lό Jia

Cd1
Cd2
Cd3

Enjoy!!! Devia is brilliant! Just listen to the act 1 finale or the Coppia iniqua cabaletta!

ps. This is an in-house private recording. I dont think there will be any radio broadcast...

ps2. Devia rules!

ps3. Just listen to the hysteria after the final cabaletta!

Scandal at the Wien Konzerthaus!

Elena Mosuc made her role debut as Anna Bolena some days ago in Vienna (30/3/2007)! Next to her was Roberto Sacca who sang a very bad Riccardo Percy (cracking all 3 high C's of his cabaletta) and Ruxandra Donose, a great mezzo as Giovanna Seymour. Where's the scandal? Well, it seems that Donose and Maestro De Billy had agreed that she wouldn't add the high C at the finale of the duet with Bolena-Mosuc. But surprise-surprise, Ruxandra sang -without warning- the high C (and it was a spectacular one!) against the will of De Billy! As you can immagine he was furious and he demanded a retake on the next day with Donose singing "down" - as the performance will be broadcast on the 14th of April and therefore the broadcast might omit Donose's high C. So what we re gonna listen to, will be an improved edition with re-takes and corrections for a future CD release (and with the technology hocus-pocus there will be no cracked notes by mediocre tenors nor inobedient mezzos).

Ps. An original recording of the night is available but unfortunately without Sacca's humiliation.

An Easter Chronicle...

Here is the short story of The mighty 10 that once again

gathered aaaaaall together at the nice country house on the
mounts of Pilio! Lots of food and wine, lots of Trivial Pursuit

-80's Edition ("ok, we ve said that a thousand times, it was
Tom Cruise starring "Risky Business"!!!), and of course some
hiking and some laying on the beach...

Special Guest appearance: Milly the Mighty Dog! Our beloved
Intefix-like westy that we always carry with us!


Milly is a natural! Look at the way she moves
towards the camera!


Milly dressed by J.P.Gaultier (or was it
Rainer-Werner Fassbinder?)


Arrival at the house! Lets check the view! Great!



And the petit garden!


Day One: Even if we 're on the mountains,
we still yearn for the sea...


Thats the way to get to one of my favourite beaches...


And the view from above...


Day Two: Visiting a very old village on the mountain...


And of course we wouldnt miss this traditional taverna at the central square

(they get frightened every time they see us all
as we order whatever there is on the menu X4)

Sunday, day four: Taking the path to another
wonderful beach!


Yeaaaap, this is it!


Last but not least: Its not really typical
greek to eat the traditional Easter Lamb
at a restaurant with this view! But we did it!

Here is a very very young Marina Krilovici!

I suppose that Alma has gone tonight to the Marina Krilovici Recital. I would have been there but i didn't remember it in time and "de toute facon" i have to make my suitcases...
What i have here is a very rare opera in a rare performance! Mortari's opera after a play by Moliere!

La Scuola delle Mogli - Virgilio Mortari

Arnolfo: Mario Basiola jr.
Valerio: Franco Bonisolli
Crisaldo: Giorgio Tadeo
Isabella: Marina Krilovici
Gertrude: Gabriella Novielli
Marinetta: Stefania Malagu
Gervasio: Carlo Franzini
Il banditore del coprifuoco: Augusto Pedroni
Orchestra sinfonica e Coro di Roma della RAI
Aldo Ceccato

RAI, 27 July 1969!!!

Part1
Part2

Here are the links that i had forgotten previously. Download and the join with HJsplit!

Tosca, Athens 1st of April

Personal foto of ms Opolais from her
Tosca at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin.

TOSCA
Floria Tosca: Kristine Opolais
Mario Cavaradossi: Misha Didyk
Scarpia: Stephen Kechulius
Il Sagrestano: Dimitris Kasioumis
Sciarrone: Pavlos Sampsakis
Un Pastore: Penny Rizou
Carceriere: Christos Amvrazis
Spoletta: Konstandinos Stavridis

Lukas Karytinos
Athens Lyric - 1st of April

Act1 Act2 Act3

Sound very good, ripped at 128kbps

Happy Easter! A te, la buona Pasqua!

Parsifal is gonna spend his Easter Holidays on the mounts of Pilio, home of the Centaurus, at his favourite country house with his friends - playing Trivial Pursuit, eating and drinking wine by the fireplace-i suppose. Unfortunately, no opera is on the menu as my friends ordered me that the soundtrack -of which i am responsable- will include only Nelly Furtado, Robbie Williams feat. Pet Shop Boys, Gotan Project and my favourite greek group, Marsheaux. No Hojotojos, no Immolation Scenes, no latin guys singing ringing high C's. Sniff...One way or another, my i-pod will be filled with Devia singing Bolena in Verona (2 performances!) and the Florez/Dessay/Caballe Fille du Regiment (also 2 performances!) from Vienna which i hope i will be able to listen sitting on this beach at about 500 metres from the house. Fotos are from last year when the same "crew", revisited the mounts of Pilio for Easter...

Nice, huh?

Alcina, Athens 2005

This group of very young and talented greek singers who the last few years have been singing early operas and made the first ever studio recordings of Oreste and Arianna In Creta need special attention. I saw them in many performances (Tamerlano, Arianna in Creta at Corinth, Serse etc) and i think that they have the dynamic to become worldwide renowned singers.
Their recording of Arianna in Creta has been reviewed in November's 2006 Opera News magazine and the review is quite good.

Regarding this Alcina, the french magazine Opera International wrote for Mata Katsouli:
" Son "Ah!mio cor" hypnotique au centre de l'acte II de même que son "Ombre pallide" aussi déchirant qu'inflexible, feraient à coup sûr blémir de jalousie bon nombre de chanteuses célèbres titulaires du rôle."
(Opéra International - mars/avril 2005)

ALCINA

Alcina: Mata Katsouli
Ruggiero: Mary Helen Nezi
Morgana: Elpiniki Zervou
Bradamante: Irini Karayanni
Oronte: Nikos Stephanou
Melisso: Petros Magoulas
Oberto: Mina Polihronou

Maestro Miltos Logiadis
Athens Lyric, 4 February 2005
Very good sound, only the radiowaves from
a mobile phone next to me create some noise
during Tornami a vagghegiar...Dammit...
Tracked and ripped at 192 kbps

CD1 CD2

And as always, download, enjoy and say Thanks!