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)

And the Oscar goes to...Elizabeth Futral

Last performance of the second cast of Thaïs and while at the Greek National Opera my spies were trying to watch Rusalka- more incidents there last night- we, at the Athens Megaron, were waving goodbye to a great production and were having the luck to witness Elizabeth Futral's stunning interpretation as the Alexandrian courtesan.


What was missing from Marlis Petersen's performance at the premiere, we found here: Futral was secure, at ease, effortless, not the stage animal that Petersen is, but between the two, I would definitely go for Futral.


Oh! And then, what about the High D at "Dis-moi que je suis belle"? Petersen didn't go for it, as per maestro Plasson's orders. Same "orders" applied for Futral I suppose and I don't have a clue whether she sang the D's at previous performances but last night she did. And even not being a high-notes freak (yeah yeah! right!) I 'll have to testify that Futral's high D's at the final duet were OMG beautiful, remotely strained (and of course, not sung standing on the toes like trying to catch the sky as Petersen did).


People were saying "things" about George Mosley but what I heard was a fine singer, having a round, homogeneous voice, maybe not the biggest one but well projected. His Athanael was certainly not inferior to Anthony Michael-Moore's (maybe scenically) and his approach was not that of a rough, edgy Athanael but of a tender, caring, in-love one (was he under the Futral spell???).


Kudos to the rest of the cast who were singing their 6th performance in a roll (no alternate cast for them) and even so, sounded fresh. 3 kudos to the duet of Crobyle and Myrtale (Irini Kyriakidou and Angelica Cathariou) who sounded even better than in the premiere.


The Orchestra of Colours, this time not under Michel Plasson but under Miltos Logiadis, the Orchestra's resident conductor, gave a good performance, tempi a bit faster than Plasson's, tighter sound and a more energetic approach.


* Jeanette Pilou was responsible for the coaching of the singers.

If you don't mind stupid coughers
(somebody shoot them! pleaaase!)
listen to Jeanette Pilou singing
"Dis-moi que je suis belle"
in Miami, 1976

Jeanette Pilou, during the press-conference of Thaïs

Elizabeth Futral @ the press-conference

Thaïs: an Alexandrian courtesan in Athens

Strange as it may seem, the new production of Thaïs at the Athens Megaron is not the first ever chance for the Greek audience to enjoy Massenet’s masterpiece.
In recent operatic history (1994) the Greek National Opera had staged a today forgotten production that had not received the best of reviews.

That is not the case though for the new production of the Athens Megaron that opened last night in Athens. A triumph it might not have been but it certainly was a stunningly staged, musically sensitive, vocally inspiring premiere.

Marlis Petersen - Athenians’ sweetheart - as Thaïs, was once again a unique stage animal, dominating the difficult part of the Alexandrian courtesan and amazing the audience, even if vocally Marlis didn’t always seem at ease. Nothing to worry about, everything was there, the high D’s at the final duet (no high D at “Dis-moi que je suis belle” as per maestro Plasson’s orders – oh! c’mon! it’s tradition maestro!) the pianissimi etc. but that was a Marlis that looked rather stressed and certainly not the vocal miracle I ‘m used to listen to.


Anthony Michaels-Moore was a convincing Athanaël that seemed to be recovering from a cold- audible especially towards the end of Act II and Act III - however his singing was more than decent and a couple of cracks went unnoticed by the audience.


Antonis Koroneos as Nicias sang with the style of a real nobleman but his singing was lacking glow and squillo at the high notes.

Christophoros Stamboglis was a fine Palémon, however his part was violently massacred by maestro Plasson who cut -among others- the whole Scene II of Act III, leaving the audience wondering about Athanaël’s sudden conversion during Scene III.

Kudos to Irini Kyriakidou (Crobyle) and Angelica Cathariou (Myrtale)
–not Nicias’ servants in this case-
they looked more like Nicias’ groupies
and to Alexandra Papadjakou (Albine)
and Vassiliki Karayanni as a spectacular Charmeuse.

Pros

* The wonderful sets by Nikos Petropoulos, costumes by Carla Ricotti, lighting by Vinicio Cheli

* Arnaud Bernard’s idea to set Thaïs in the 30’s and present her as a famous actress of silent films

* Maestro Plasson and the Orchestra of Colours’ round, elegant sound

Cons

* The cuts of the score (not only Scene II of Act III)

* Michel Plasson’s tempi

* The Médiation: a teenage girl dancing in tutu and points was the least inspiring thing one could get for the wonderful intermezzo...

Photoalbum:

Thais Entrance



Curtain calls:



Next performances:

10, 13, 15 March with Marlis Petersen (Thaïs)/Anthony Michaels-Moore (Athanaël)

8, 11, 14 March with Elizabeth Futral (Thaïs) / George Mosley (Athanaël)

X-tasy

Beim Schlafengehen, Karita Mattila
Tsunami Gala at the ROH 27th March 2005

Karita Mattila will be singing the Four Last Songs
at the Athens Megaron
on April the 24th
together with the BBC-Symphony Orchestra
under Jiri Belohlavek.

Marlis Petersen, Stella Doufexis, Werner Güra and Konrad Jarnot ask us: Aimez-vous Brahms?

A night of great singing at the Athens Megaron. 4 internationally renowned singers offered the (not really numerous) audience of the Athens Megaron a liederabend to remember: Brahms' Liebeslieder-Walzer with Marlis Petersen, Stella Doufexis, Werner Güra and Konrad Jarnot. An exquisitely paired quartet of voices that have also recorded the Liebeslieder-Walzer for Harmonia Mundi, a recording that was praised by the critics.

Brahms' Liebeslieder-Walzer are true singers' pieces--and as such they've proven perennially attractive both to the most ardent amateurs and polished professionals. And now we can add this new Harmonia Mundi release to the list of first-rate vocal quartet performances--and I must add, it's one of the more dynamic, exuberantly expressive versions you'll hear, with all four singers very engaged with text and filled with dramatic verve. To me, this emphatic style works perfectly most of the time, and definitely would play well to a concert audience where you could see and share in the physical excitement of the performers; but for a recording--and especially here, where the sound is fairly close and (appropriately) intimate--I found myself at times wishing for a bit more subtlety to balance the overall ebullience. Happily, the pianists also aren't afraid to exploit (tastefully) Brahms' colorful--and often underplayed--effects, whether it be the crashing torrent of "Am Gesteine rauscht die Flut", the fluttering bird of "Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft", or the gently shimmering waves in "Sieh, wie ist die Welle klar". Importantly, the four voices are very well matched, and their ensemble skills and beautiful duets and solos keep us pleasantly involved from beginning to end. This generously programmed disc also includes fine renditions of the Drei Lieder Op. 64 and the complete Neue Liebeslieder Op. 65, the less-popular and darker-themed but equally well crafted and fun-to-sing follow-up to the Op. 52 set. A pleasure!
David Vernier


There's a strong sense of emotional give-and-take between all six, and the two works are finely contrasted, with Liebeslieder-Walzer wittily observing the vagaries and rituals of desire, and Neue Liebeslieder very much about the sometimes regretful aftermaths of consummation. The two sets are separated by the reflective Drei Lieder, Op 64, exquisitely done, though their positioning fractures the mood. A classy, sophisticated disc, it works best if you reprogramme it so the Drei Lieder come at the end.
Tim Ashley


Werner Güra has received international acclaim as a lied singer and no wonder why. A wonderful lyric voice, that was even throughout all it’s tessitura, excellent articulation, perfect style.

Stella Doufexis, the german-greek mezzo displays an enormous voice and sings in a way that rivets you and leaves you speechless and stunned. I hope we have the luck of watching mrs. Doufexis in Athens again and again in the future.

Marlis Petersen is the “sweetheart” of the Greeks. After her stunning Lulu in Athens (2005), Marlis sang again in Zemlinsky’s “Die Zwerg” a year ago (you can download both performances of you follow the links) and gave a personal recital in Nafplion. In a couple of months we ‘ll have the honor to witness her debut as Thaïs, at the Athens Megaron.

Well, no need to say that Marlis amazed us once again. With her indisputable star quality, wonderful lyric voice, style and expression but also with a communication charisma that makes her irresistible.

Konrad Jarnot’s rich baritone, sounded uneven and looked un-focused at times but nevertheless his interpretation was an excellent one.


Do you find lieder boring? You should try these guys… Not a moment of boredom. Exciting singing but also this emotional give-and-take that Tim Ashley describes in his review. Not only between the 4 and the excellent pianists Christoph Berner and Camillo Radicke but also with the audience that left the Athens Concert Hall dazzled.



Aimez-vous Brahms?
Hell, we do!

Get set...ready....GO!

The Athens Megaron is ready to receive Rolando and Nino.

If you 're not there tomorrow, you have absolutely no excuse.

Rolando is in top form -I heard him with my own ears- and very excited!

So is Nino Machaidze! (Who by the way, is the most beautiful woman in the opera world today, I saw it with my own eyes too).

Rolando, the sketcher

Rolando singing greek opera

80 hours before the concert.

Listen to Rolando singing Lysia's aria "Marinar" from Spiro Samara's opera "RHEA".

2 Weeks left...

...to Rolando's Recital in Athens (29 of October).
Those of you who haven't bought tickets yet have no excuse.

Rolando will arrive on the 26th of October and -just in case you wanna stalk him- will stay at the Athens Hilton (which is also among the Recital's sponsors), at the King Acropolis Suite (how suited to King Roli) of 135 m². Nino Machaidze will not stay at the same hotel according to my sources...

Megaron 2008-2009 update

The Villazon-Kaufmann fan club

Here's the cast for the THAIS at the Athens Megaron:

Thais: Marlis Petersen/Elizabeth Futral (me, likey Futral!)

Athanael: Anthony Michaels-Moore/George Mosley

Nicias: Antonis Koroneos

Palemon: Christoforos Stamboglis

and maestro Michel Plasson.

Final dates: 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 March 2009
(7 performances? Are they nuts?)

Listen to Elizabeth Futral singing THAIS' "Dis-moi que je suis belle"
Live @ the Barbican, 26 September 2003

-

Wiener Symphoniker & Fabio Luisi & Helene Grimaud, 6&7 December 2008

Stuttagart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Roger Norrington & Leonidas Kavakos, 20 March 2009

BBC Symphony Orchestra & Jiri Belohlavek, 25 April 2009

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Daniel Harding & Lang Lang, 13&14 May 2009

UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra & Joshua Bell, 8 October 2008

Alain Lefevre, 15 November 2008

András Schiff, 26&27 January

John Williams, 12 March 2009

Marlis Petersen, Stella Doufexis, Werner Güra, Konrad Jarnot
J. Brahms, "Liebeslieder und Walzer", 13 December 2008

-

Jonas Kaufmann (officially!), 15 January 2009

-

Karita Mattila, singing Strauss' Four Last Songs, 24 April 2009

-

Anna Tomowa-Sintow singing X-mas songs (!!!), 28 & 30 December 2008

Freiburger Barockorchester & Chrstophe Dumaux, 11 February 2009

-

That's pretty much what you need to know on the Athens Megaron 2008-9 schedule.

R-O-L-A-N-D-O V-I-L-L-A-Z-Ó-N__IN__ATHENS!!!

GO HERE AND READ IT BY YOURSELVES.

IT CLEARLY STATES THAT

OUR ROLANDO

WILL SING AT THE ATHENS MEGARON

ON OCTOBER THE 29TH.

(and you read it here first, as always...)

Jonas & Karita in Athens?! The Athens Concert Hall announces New Season !

The Schedule for the
2008-2009 Season of the Athens Megaron
has been announced earlier today...

Just some name-dropping:

Jonas Kaufmann

Karita Mattila


Jules Massenet's "Thais" with Marlis Petersen


Lang Lang

Daniel Harding

Fabio Luisi

Hélène Grimaud

Joshua Bell