Myrtó hits Cardiff

Our Myrtó Papatanasiu is making her UK debut tonight as Violetta, in a co-production of the Welsh National Opera with the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Scottish Opera, directed by David McVicar (who's good because he cares too much).

Next to her, crossover star-tenor Alfie Boe as Alfredo and Dario Solari as Giorgio Germont.

Hair Man was present at the dress-rehearsal and 's got the full story.

Alfie Boe is every mom's dream

Alfie Boe, Britain's favorite tenor, according to his website,
is definitely not the popera, crossover, kinda tenor
we are all used to and most of us despise
(you know, Safina, Frangoulis, Il Divo, Groban etc)
coz this man can actually ***sing opera without being miked***.

OK, he's no Gigli, but who is, nowadays?

His voice is medium sized and many times quite inaudible especially at the low register,
but nobody can deny that he's a good lirico.


His program included arias from Faust ("Salut demeure"), Gianni Schicchi ("Firenze é come un albero fiorito"), L' Elisir d'amore (Quanto é bella and Una furtiva), even Lensky's "Kuda, kuda"!


Most of Part II was dedicated to the neapolitan song and some Oldies but Goodies like my dad's favorite "Parlami d'amore Mariú" (a 1932 italian song by Cesare Andrea Bixio that was first sung by Vittorio de Sica in the film "Gli uomini, che mascalzoni!"). And it seems that this song is not only my dad's favourite, as Alfie repeated it as an encore and invited the audience to singalong!
You would be amazed if you heard how many people actually remember this song's lyrics...

Alfie at the post-performance reception signing autographs

Reminder: Alfie Boe, in Athens, April the 7th

Alfie Boe is gonna appear at the Athens Megaron this very Tuesday, 7th of April.

If you thought that Boe would only sing canzonette and crossover stuff, give it a second thought...

Here is the full concert list (exclusively):

G. Rossini: Overture from Guillaume Tell

G. Donizetti, L'elisir d'amore - Quanto e bella
G. Donizetti, L'elisir d'amore - Una furtiva lagrima
Fr. von Flotow, Martha - M’appari

J. Strauss: Fledermaus -Overture

C. Gounod, Faust - "Salut, demeure chaste et pure" (!!!!)
P. I. Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin - "Kuda kuda"
G. Puccini, Manon Lescaut "Tra voi belle, brune e bionde"

Intermission

J. Strauss - Frühlingsstimmen

G. Puccini, Gianni Schicchi - "Avete torto"
A. Lara, "Granada"
Cesare Andrea Bixio, "Parlami d'amore"

P. I. Tchaikovsky: Cappricio Italien

Alberto Barberis, "Munasterio e Santa Chiara"
Eldo Di Lazzaro, "Chitarra Romana"
Ernesto De Curtis, "Torna a Surriento "


It seems that in April and May, the Athens Megaron and the Greek National Opera will provide what the Athens Festival has denied to music lovers:

Alfie Boe,
The Camerata Salzburg with Leonidas Kavakos,
Karita Mattila with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Belohlavek,
I Puritani with Hymel/Gutierrez/Caoduro,
Lang Lang with the Concertgebouw Orchestra under Daniel Harding
Aida with Dimitra Theodossiou debuting the part at the Odeon Of Herodes Atticus.

Alfie Boe in Athens

Crossover tenor Alfie Boe will give a unique recital at the Athens Megaron
on April the 7th.

Alfie Boe will sing a selection of arias and canzonette
by von Flotow, Puccini, Gounod, Lara, De Curtis etc.
accompanied by the ERT Symphony Orchestra.

We read about Alfie:

When Alfie began his studies at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer he was encouraged to explore this beautiful classical folk music. As he immersed himself in the history of these arias he was immediately hooked on the tradition it was steeped in & his love affair had begun! "When I'm performing these songs it's the music and the words that are telling the story and that's where the passion comes from. I really connect with the people and their love and emotion for their homeland," explains Alfie.

Alfie's trajectory was set when he left home to join the D'Oyly Carte Touring Opera Company. It was a fine experience but it wasn't enough for the young Boe. He wanted to learn his art thoroughly and left for London enrolling at the Royal College of Music. After graduating he joined the The National Opera Studio and then went on to the Villar Young Artists Programme at The Royal Opera House.

It has been well documented that Alfie's first break came when Baz Luhrmann, after spending two years looking for one of the main leads for his controversial production of Puccini's 'La Boheme' approached Alfie for the role. His performance on Broadway led to him winning a Tony Award which sits comfortably next to his John McCormack Young Voice Award and Lyric Tenor of the World Audience Award.

There have been many highlights in his career but the last 12 months have been exceptional. Alfie has enjoyed two chart topping classical albums and now finds himself on the eve of releasing his third studio album; he was nominated for a Classical Brit Award for 'Best Album' sharing the category with Sir Paul McCartney and Sting; he's toured the length and breadth of the country; performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Lesley Garratt and Sir Willard White; performed in a sell-out run of the English National Opera's production of Kismet alongside Michael Ball and performed at Clarence House where he graciously accepted the role as Ambassador for HRH's Arts & Kids Foundation.

Watch Alfie as Rodolfo in La Bohéme
at the English National Opera
(and therefore in English)



Che gelida manina (This hand of yours is freezing)



O soave fanciulla (with Melody Moore)