31 August 2010
Congratulations to these Askonas Holt artists.
Congratulations to Edward Gardner on a fantastic concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at Prom 42. The “beautifully balanced programme” of Arvo Part's Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Britten's Four Sea Interludes, Huw Watkins's Violin Concerto (new commission) and Shostakovich's Symphony No.5 received great reviews and highlighted his flourishing orchestral conducing career, “a field to which he is capable of bringing fresh insights”. **** Barry Millington, Evening Standard
"On Tuesday night, keys, textures and colours dove-tailed magically under Edward Gardner's measured, spacious beat." Independent, Anna Pickard
"Watkins's concerto was striking on this first encounter, with Edward Gardner conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Its conventional three-movement plan was executed with remarkable assurance and finesse." *** Andrew Clements, Guardian
Many congratulations to Christianne Stotijn and Joseph Breinl, who gave a wonderful recital at the Queen's Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival last weekend:
"In music where the composer's own emotional turmoil is never far away, Stotijn and Breinl brought engaging integrity to these meaningful settings." (Scotsman.com)
***** "Triumph she did. Christianne Stotijn’s was a benchmark Queen’s Hall recital from which Handel was excluded and the morning was devoted to a compelling combination of Strauss and Schoenberg...
Stotijn’s soft-edged but always luminous, deeply-felt singing had sprinkled beauty, and the finest sense of phrasing and colour, on everything she touched, each line shot through with the gleaming responsiveness of Joseph Breinl’s piano playing...Breinl’s accompaniments, particularly the postlude to the 14th song, were models of articulacy. Among the encores, Strauss’s Morgen had surely been hopefully awaited by the audience. It was exquisitely sustained. (heraldscotland)
Bravo to Simon O'Neill who made a fantastic impression in his debut at the Grafenegg Festival in Austria when he stepped in at short notice to sing Florestan in 'Fidelio' last week.
Congratulations to baritone Mark Stone who has come to the end of a tremendously successful run of Verdi’s La forza del destino at Opera Holland Park. This was an important role debut for Mark as Don Carlo, and the reviews were terrific. Mark impressed the critics both vocally and in his characterisation of Leonora’s bad brother, “combining richness with dramatic heft” (The Stage, 30 July 2010). Rupert Christiansen admired Mark’s “sterling Don Carlo" (The Daily Telegraph, 28 July 2010) and writing inThe Guardian George Hall enjoyed “the vigorous malice of Don Carlo… etched in vocal fire by Mark Stone” (30 July 2010). Bravo!
Bravo and very well done to Alexey Dolgov, whose first night of Onegin at the Royal Opera House Coven Garden (on tour with the Bolshoi theatre) was a tremendous success! First critics wrote: "Alexey Dolgov’s lyric tenor is perfectly cast as Lensky." Richard Fairman, Financial Times; "Alexey Dolgov sings Lensky’s aria of lost youth and love quite wonderfully. " Edward Seckerson, Independent; "The lead roles were all beautifully sung [...] Alexey Dolgov (Lensky) and Margarita Mamsirova (Olga) providing excellent support." William Hartston, Daily and Sunday Express; "Alexey Dolgov’s bright-toned Lensky is a match for Monogarova and Kwiecien’s fine interpretations." Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph; "Monogarova’s beautifully sung, persuasively acted Letter Scene is a high point, as is Alexei Dolgov’s delivery of Lensky’s aria." Barry Millington, Evening Standard.
Congratulations to mezzo Elena Manistina who is currently doing wonderfully as Baba the Turk in Stravinsky's 'The Rakes Progress', which opened last Sunday at the Glyndebourne Festival. The Stage calls her performance "...excellent..." and the Financial Times specifically mentions that "...Elena Manistina bring[s] star quality to Baba the Turk..." Elena will next be appearing as Ulrica in Verdi's 'Un Ballo in Maschera' at Washington National Opera next month. Bravo!
Bravo to meastro Alexander Anissimov who recently led the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona in rousing performances of Prokofiev's 'The Gambler' (concert version) at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. "The musical direction was in the hands of the Russian conductor Alexander Anissimov, who gave an outstanding performance, showing complete knowledge of the score. He is not a conductor who uses extravagant gestures, but he is extremely secure...Under Anissimov's baton the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona were also better than their colleagues from the Liceu..." (Seen and Heard International Opera Review, José M Irurzun)
Congratulations to Anna Samuil! The 2007 live recording of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin from the Salzburg Festival (with Anna Samuil as Tatiana) has been singled out as one of five opera recordings to be featured on the compilation CD celebrating 50 years of Grosses Festspielhaus Salzburg. This CD has been reviewed as "CD of the week" in the major Austrian newspaper Der Kurier, which states that this production was probably the most memorable opera production of the Jurgen Flimm era. See link: http://kurier.at/kultur/2022294.php
Another Askonas Artist among the "...glorious voices..." (Chicago Tribune) who triumphed at the Ravinia Festival was baritone Rodion Pogossov who sang the role of Guglielmo in Mozart's 'Così fan tutte' alongside Ailyn Perez, Frederica von Stade and Richard Stilwell among others. The Chicago Tribune speaks of how "..the robust Russian baritone Rodion Pogossov, as Guglielmo, made a terrific debut as well...". Bravo!
Many congratulations to Ailyn Pérez who jumped in at short notice to sing the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro in her debut at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago last week: "Also new to Ravinia was soprano Ailyn Perez. She was elegant as the unhappy Countess Almaviva, bringing a bright, ringing tone to the opera's soulful arias."
Chicago Sun-Times. "And the Ravinia debuts of American sopranos Ailyn Perez as the Countess Almaviva and Lisette Oropesa as Susanna helped to bolster a vocal ensemble plagued by cancellations...a showstopping "Dove sono," all floating pianissimos and diminuendos and delicate pathos, that roused the sold-out crowd to a long, well-deserved ovation."
Chicago Tribune
Congratulations to Ji-Min Park, who made a star appearance at annual summer concert of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme on the main stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Ji-Min, who finishes his contract as Principal Jette Parker Young Artist this season, stole the show when he sang 'Freunde, das Leben is lebenswert’ from Lehár’s Giuditta.
Many congratulations to David Soar, who recently triumphed as Sparafucile in Rigoletto and left a lasting impression as Nightwatchman in Die Meistersinger, both for Welsh National Opera.
"Bass David Soar was suitably thuggish and menacing as the assassin-for-hire Sparafucile"
San Francisco Chronicle, June 2010
"David Soar’s baleful Sparafucile is the pick of the rest"
The Times, June 2010
"David Soar and Leah-Marian Jones were a killer-team as Sparafucile and Maddalena"
The Guardian, June 2010
Many congratulations to Paata Burchuladze who stepped in at short notice to triumph in the role of Fiesco in Elijah Moshinsky’s classic production of 'Simon Boccanegra' at Covent Garden. Paata joined a starry cast, which included Plácido Domingo in the title role, Marina Pavlovskaya as Amelia and Joseph Calleja as Gabriele Adorno. The performance was conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Bravo to the Belcea Quartet who today perform their final concert of the season. The concert, in St Andrews, draws to a close their tour which saw them perform throughout the UK and at the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg. Bravo and happy holidays!
Congratulations to Joseph Breinl who has been appointed a Professor of Song Interpretation at the Kunstuniversität Graz from October 2010. Joseph will combine this prestigious position in Graz with his current concert work, highlights of which include a recent recital with Waltraud Meier at La Scala and a forthcoming tour of the United States with Christianne Stotijn.
Huge congratulations to Simon Keenlyside on his triumphant debut in the title role of ‘Rigoletto’ at Welsh National Opera. Simon’s performance has been hailed by The Guardian as “a must-see” and The Times highlights that “there’s one excellent reason for seeing this revival and that is Simon Keenlyside, singing the title-role for the first time.” Bravo!
Wayne Marshall has had a week of great success in Liege where he has performed three separate concerts showcasing his wonderful musicianship:
Wednesday 16 June he performed a stunning organ recital featuring Franck and Widor; Friday 18th he wowed the audience in a piano recital of Ravel, Gershwin and his celebrated improvisation; and to finish on Saturday 19th, he conducted the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liege in an exciting all-Gershwin programme which including him play/directing the Gershwin Piano Concerto.
A man of many talents - Bravo!
Congratulations to Anna Samuil, who sang 'Tatiana' in Eugene Onegin at the last performance of the Berlin State Opera of this season. The production, conducted by Daniel Barenboim was broadcast live on huge TV screens in the Bebelplatz outside the opera house to an audience of 20,000 people. The opera house is now moving into the Schillertheater for 3 years
Congratulations to Soprano Maria Luigia Borsi and baritone Markus Werba who were recently both at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice for Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', in the roles of Donna Elvira and Don Giovanni respectively. Both artists gave absolutely stunning performances, reflected by an almost always sold out house. These young singers continue to go from strength to strength; Markus Werba will be appearing at the Verbier Festival this summer, and he also has various engagements at Vienna Saatsoper including his role debut as Eisenstein in 'Die Fledermaus' and the male leads in a complete Mozart 'Daponte' cycle in Lyon. Maria Luigia Borsi also has some major career bench marks on the horizon, with her role debut as Cio Cio San in 'Madama Butterfly' with Royal Danish Opera and her US debut as Desdemona in 'Otello' at Cincinnati Opera both next season. To see Cinicinnati Opera's 2010 season brochure online please click here.
Bravo to Dale Duesing, Sir Simon Rattle, Magdalena Kozena and Jean-Paul Fouchécourt upon their joint successes in the Berlin Staatsoper's performances of L'Etoile. This was Dale Duesing's directorial debut in the house and is also the last premiere at the venue before it closes for renovation. The Berliner Morgenpost says "Ein dahingelächelter Abschied - die gefeierte letzte Premiere vor dem Umzug, musikalisch geistreich, unternehmungslustig, versonnen, in jeder Beziehung doppel- und sogar tripelbödig". What a wonderful high note to depart upon! Congratulations to everyone involved!
Bravo to Natalie Clein and her recent success with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Stéphane Denève. In the season finale concert at Usher Hall on Friday evening, Natalie Clein played the Elgar cello concerto and was greatly praised for her "beautiful fluid style, which is well-suited to the lyrical qualities of the music" (The Scotsman). In Seen & Heard, Simon Thompson wrote "Clein is one of the breed of soloists who seems to become one with her instrument when she plays it: it seems more like an extension of her body from which the music flows lovingly. Lost in rapt concentration throughout, she tapped into the music's lyrical heart in a way I have seldom heard. Even the intense opening flourish was articulated with restraint and tenderness, as if to emphasise the work's bittersweet melancholy even in the most strident drama. The first movement’s main theme was full of loss and yearning, and even the acrobatics of the scherzo or the finale’s march seemed to hold an air of restrained regret. In fact the cello’s meditative musings at the end of the finale seemed to verge on the existential, time standing still in a way I have seldom experienced. The Adagio, the heart of the work and of her performance, seemed to be exhaled in one endless breath, achieving the impossible feat of combining weight with a sense of lightness and space.
You can hear this performance on Radio 3 on 27 May 2010.
Welcome home to Christopher Maltman and Graham Johnson who this week return from a recital tour that took in Montreal, Washington, Vienna, and Madrid. Their programme "Goethe: A Life in Song", devised by Graham Johnson and first performed by the pair at the illustrious Schwarzenberg Schubertiade in 2008, included lieder by Beethoven, Schubert, Loewe, Schumann, Wolf and Brahms. The recital duo received high praise in Washington: "Some songs exploited the guileless and simple side of Maltman's voice, one step above dramatic recitation, as in Schubert's setting of the folk ballad "Heidenröslein." Others displayed his ability to differentiate many voices, as in the same composer's "Szene aus Faust," incarnating a malicious spirit, the terrified Gretchen, and a choir intoning the Latin sequence of the Requiem Mass." (Washington Post). In the DC Examiner, Marsha Dubrow wrote that "Christopher Maltman sang magnificent homage to the great German writer Goethe at the Austrian Embassy...his rich voice and stunning acting gave vibrant life to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s writing." Bravo!
Welcome back to the Belcea Quartet who have recently completed their US tour which saw them undertake 8 concerts in 7 different venues over the course of 10 days. The volcanic ash could not deter them from their course so congratulations and welcome home!
Many congratulations to Christianne Stotijn, who has won the BBC Music Magazine Vocal Award for her Tchaikovsky Romances CD. This success comes in the same week that Christianne makes her Covent Garden debut in the title role of Tamerlano. For more details, or to order a copy of her winning solo CD please click here.
Congratulations to Thomas Zehetmair, who made a great impression with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra this weekend, play-directing Beethoven's Violin Concerto and conducting Krenek, Webern and Schubert.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote "with Zehetmair as soloist and conductor, basic tempos a bit faster than the norm and chamber-like playing by the orchestra, the piece [Beethoven Concerto] gained a welcome keenness and urgency. Zehetmair conjured an implausible spectrum of colours...and in the Larghetto, the magical passage in which the soloist whispers over pizzicato strings was more ravishing than I've ever heard it". The Pioneer Press wrote "Zehetmair quickly showed why he's one of Europe's most sought-after soloists...and demonstrated his clear tone, eye-popping precision, and fleet, fluid fingering".
Thomas Zehetmair will become Artistic Partner of the SPCO in the 10/11 season.
Congratulations to all Askonas Holt artists who have recently or are currently appearing in Berlin! This includes Sir Simon Rattle and Magdalena Kozena who have given sensational concerts of Die Matthäus Passion with the Berliner Philharmoniker; Angela Denoke and James Rutherford who are currently shining as Salome and Jokanaan at the Staatsoper Berlin; Anna Prohaska, Angela Denoke and Jan Martinik who have all appeared at the Lange Theaternacht and best wishes to Dale Duesing who is directing the new production of L'Etoile at the Staatsoper Berlin with Magdalena Kozena in the title role and conducted Sir Simon Rattle with performances in May 2010.
Congratulations to bass Nikolay Didenko who recently gave his role debut as Filippo in Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Köln Opera. Also alternately appearing as the Grand Inquisitor, Nikolay impressed many critics with his effortless performance and committed portrayal of the characters. His final performance as Filippo will be on April 23rd, after which he will travel to Spain for Pistola in 'Falstaff' with Bilbao Opera. Bravo!
Congratulations to Sarah Connolly, Rosemary Joshua, and Harry Bicket on their triumphant success in recital at the Wigmore Hall on 1 April, which launched their new disc of Handel duets on the Chandos label. The two renowned Handelian singers joined Bicket and the English Concert in an exquisite programme of arias and duets, which garnered terrific reviews from the assembled press. The critics were unanimous in their praise of the three artists, with Tim Ashley in The Guardian describing the evening as "bliss from start to finish". He wrote: "They are all fabulous Handel interpreters. Joshua's blazing tone contrasts with Connolly's altogether darker sound, yet their two voices blend together stunningly. Each has a remarkable if restrained way with words – more important in this music than you might think. Directed from the harpsichord with precision by Bicket, the English Concert have a marvellously acute understanding of Handelian sensuousness." Keith McDonnell of Music OMH was equally won over, writing that "few concerts in recent memory have given such unalloyed pleasure as this." Bravo to all!
Congratulations to Patricia Racette who made a fantastic debut at English National Opera last week singing the title role in Katya Kabanova. Writing in the Sunday Times Hugh Canning described this American soprano as "one of the most compelling singers her country has produced". A 10 minute solo bow on opening night was just one indication of the success that Patricia had! We look forward to welcoming Patricia back to London next year for performances of Madama Butterfly at Covent Garden. Please click here for further reviews.
Congratulations to Soprano Evelina Dobraceva who recently gave a stirring performance in Verdi's Requiem with the Bach Choir and Chetham's Symphony Orchestra earlier this month. The concerts at Chester Cathedral and the Royal Festival were extremely well received, with Evelina gaining high praise from all concerned. This fantastic performance precedes Evelina's upcoming role debut as Violetta in 'La Traviata' with the Cologne Opera this April and May.
Bravo to Maria Luigia Borsi who is currently enthralling audiences at the Teatro Bellini Catania, with her interpretation of Fiordiligi in Mozart's 'Cosi fan Tutte'. Dario Ascoli from Italian magazine 'Oltrecultura' writes that"...Maria Luigia Borsi displayed her talent, and above all her volume and colour in 'Per pietá, ben mio perdona'; sung with intense elegance and a full-bodied vocal quality. This was a fine performance by the soprano from Livorno..." [translation]. Performances continue in Catania until March 25th, after which Maria Luigia will travel to Madrid for Verdi's Reqiem with the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Radiotelevision Espanola in May. For Maria Luigia's full schedule please click here.