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 World of Opera with host Lisa Simeone brings listeners compelling performances from top American and international opera companies. World of Opera encompasses the seminal operas of centuries past as well as today's masterpieces.
NPR World of Opera is a production of WDAV Classical Public Radio, a service of Davidson College.
NPR World of Opera Site Lisa Simeone's bio
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September 25, 2010
World of Opera
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK: Hansel and Gretel
Royal Albert Hall, London (Proms)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus
Robin Ticciati, conductor
CAST: Alice Coote (Hänsel); Lydia Teuscher (Gretel); Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrkacke (Witch); Imrgard Vilsmaier (Mother); William Dazeley (Father); Tara Erraught (Sandman); Ida Falk Winland (Dew Fairy)
The phrase "for children of all ages" is surely overused. but it's also just right to describe Humperdinck's beautifully tuneful drama based on the familiar fairy tale. The production is this quarter's second show from Royal Albert Hall and the 2010 Proms Concerts.
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September 18, 2010
World of Opera
VINCENO BELLINI: I Puritani
Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Jan Latham-Koenig, conductor
CAST: Désirée Rancatore (Elvira); José Bros (Arturo Talbot); Alexandru Moisiuc (Gualtier Walton); Christof Fischesser (Giorgio); Mariusz Kwiecien (Riccardo Forth); Benedikt Kobel (Bruno Robertson); Roxana Constantinescu (Queen Henrietta Maria)
When Bellini moved to Paris in the 1830s, he declared that French composers and opera lovers had "little understanding of real song." He apparently decided to remedy that with I Puritani -- Bellini's first opera for Paris and the last opera he composed before his death at age 33 -- is blessed by a raft of his finest melodies.
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September 11, 2010
World of Opera
 CHARLES GOUNOD: Faust
Opera Carolina
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Opera Carolina Chorus
James Meena, conductor
CAST: Maureen O'Flynn (Marguerite); James Valenti (Faust); Chester Patton (Mephistopheles); Corey McKern (Valentin); Diane McEwen-Martin (Siébel); Jeremy Collier ( Wagner); Kim Blanchard (Marthe)
This lush drama by Gounod is surely the most popular musical representation of the immortal story of Faust, who confronts the hellish consequences of his own weakness when the devil makes him an offer he can't refuse -- but probably should have. Opera Carolina brings it to us in a production featuring a top-notch cast from the Belk Theatre in Charlotte.
Get a plot synopsis
Watch:
Act I slide show
Act II slide show
Act III slide show
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September 4, 2010
World of Opera
ALBAN BERG: Wozzeck
Bolshoi Theater, Moscow
Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Bolshoi Opera Chorus
Teodore Currentzis, conductor
CAST: Georg Nigl (Wozzeck); Mardi Byers (Marie); Maxim Paster (Captain); Pyotr Migunov (Doctor); Fredrik Akselberg (Andres); Roman Muravitsky (Drum Major); Xenia Vyaznikova (Margret); Valery Gilmanov (First Apprentice); Nikolai Kazansky (Second Apprentice); Leonid Vilensky (The Idiot)
One of the truly great operas of the 20th century, Berg's masterpiece has deep roots in age-old forms and traditions, yet still explores the limits of both musical and emotional expression. The production from the historic Bolshoi in Moscow features a stunning performance by baritone Georg Nigl, in one of opera's most challenging and deeply moving roles.
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August 28, 2010
World of Opera
GAETANO DONIZETTI: Lucrezia Borgia
Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Placido Domingo, conductor
CAST: Renee Fleming (Lucrezia Borgia); Vittorio Grigolo (Gennaro); Kate Aldrich (Maffio Orsini); Ruggero Raimondi (Don Alfonso); Oleksandr Pushniak (Ascanio); Girgory Soloviov (Apostolo); Jose Ortega (Oloferno); Yingxi Zhang (Rustighello); David B. Morris (Astolfo)
This new production features two of the greatest singers of our time -- with soprano Renee Fleming giving a spectacular and highly-emotional performance in the unforgiving title role, and Placido Domingo, the Washington National Opera's General Director, conducting.
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August 21, 2010
World of Opera
GIACOMO PUCCINI: Tosca
Théâtre Antique, Orange (France)
Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra
Mikko Franck, conductor
CAST: Catherine Naglestad (Tosca); Roberto Alagna (Cavaradossi); Falk Struckmann (Scarpia); Wojtek Smilek (Angelotti); Michel Trempont (Sacristan); Jean-Marie Delpas (Sciarrone); Christophe Mortagne (Spoletta)
From the festival Les Chorégies d'Orange, the celebrated tenor Roberto Alagna is featured as Cavaradossi, along with the exciting young American soprano Catherine Naglestad in the title role of Puccini's sometimes lurid, yet always compelling tragedy.
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August 14, 2010
World of Opera
GIUSEPPE VERDI: Simon Boccanegra
Royal Albert Hall, London (Proms)
Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Antonio Pappano, conductor
CAST: Placido Domingo (Simon Boccanegra); Marina Poplavskaya (Amelia); Joseph Calleja (Gabriele Adorno); Ferrucio Furlanetto (Jacopo Fiesco); Jonathan Summers (Paolo Albiani); Lukas Jakobski (Pietro)
Placido Domingo again displays the depth of his musical and dramatic artistry in this interpretation of one of Verdi's great baritone roles. The production is from the 2010 Proms Concerts, performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
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August 7, 2010
World of Opera
LEOS JANACEK: The Cunning Little Vixen
Teatro Communale, Florence
Maggio Musicale Orchestra and Chorus
Seiji Ozawa, conductor
CAST: Isabel Kayrakdarian (Vixen); Quinn Kelsey (Forrester); Judith Christin (Forrester's Wife/Owl); Lauren Curnow (Fox Golden-Stripe); Dennis Peterson (Schoolmaster/Mosquito); Marie Lenormand (Lapak); Carlotta Favino (Pepik); Sabrina Testa (Chocholka the Hen); Elena Mascii (Frantik); Mayumi Kuroki (Jay/Rooster); Kevin Langan (Badger/Priest); Federico Lepre (Pasek); Gustav Belecek (Harasta); Marcella Polidori (Mrs. Paskova); Tiziana Tramonti (Woodpecker)
Based on an illustrated tale published as a newspaper serial, this fanciful opera is one of Janacek's true masterworks -- at once charming, frightening, tragic and, in the end, life-affirming.
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July 31, 2010
World of Opera
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Genoveva
Gewandhaus, Leipzig
MDR Radio Orchestra and Chorus
Jun Maerkl, conductor
CAST: Anne Schwanewilms (Genoveva); Birgit Remmert (Margaretha); Morten Frank Larsen (Siegfried); Matthias Klink (Golo); Markus Marquardt (Hidulfus / Drago); Jae-Hyong Kim (Balthasar); Gun-Wok Lee (Caspar)
The 200th anniversary of Schumann's death has prompted welcome attention to some of his lesser-known works, including this fascinating and beautiful opera. The score relies on the traditions of German opera and art song but also hints at the style of Schumann's revolutionary contemporary, Richard Wagner. The production comes to us from Leipzig, the same city where the opera premiered in 1850.
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July 24, 2010
World of Opera
FRANCESCO CAVALLI: La Calisto
Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, conductor
CAST: Sophie Karthauser (Calisto); Marie-Claude Chappuis (Diana); Giovanni B. Parodi (Giove); Veronique Gens (Giunone/Il Destino); Lawrence Zazzo (Endimione); Milena Storti (Linfea); Mario Cassi (Mercurio); Sabina Puertolas (Satirino); Graeme Broadbent (Sylvano) Cyril Auvity (La Natura/Pane)
In Cavalli's lyrical, early Baroque drama, the title character is a nymph who violates a vow of chastity. For her trouble, she becomes the object of Jovian conflict, gets turned into a bear, and winds up seeing herself in lights -- literally -- when she's flung into the sky as the constellation Ursa Major.
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July 17, 2010
World of Opera
WILLIAM BOLCOM: A View from the Bridge
Washington National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
John DeMain, conductor
CAST: Kim Josephson (Eddie); Catherine Malfitano (Beatrice); Christine Brandes (Catherine); Gregory Turay (Rodolfo); Richard Bernstein (Marco); John Del Carlo (Alfieri); Kirk Eichelberger (Louie); Greg Warren (Mike)
Based on the play by Arthur Miller, Bolcom's opera is a sometimes bleak, yet always vivid drama set among the immigrant community of Red Hook, Brooklyn, in the 1950s. The production from Washington is highlighted by the moving performances of Catherine Malfitano, Kim Josephson and Christine Brandes, as a close-knit family caught between two rapidly changing worlds.
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July 10, 2010
World of Opera
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Pelleas and Melisande
German Opera on the Rhein (Duisburg)
Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Rainer Muhlbach, conductor
CAST: Marta Marquez (Melisande); Yann Beuron (Pelleas); Francois Le Rouz (Golaud); Renee Morloc (Genevieve); Malcolm Smith (Arkel); Lea Pasquel (Yniold); Daniel Djambazian (Doctor); Andreas Kuelzer (father of Pelleas)
Can an opera be passionate without shrieking mad scenes, rousing marches and crashing cadences? The answer is yes, and this emotional marvel by Debussy proves it. This evocative production from Duisburg is led by conductor Rainer Muhlbach.
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July 3, 2010
World of Opera
VINCENO BELLINI: La Sonnambula
Paris National Opera (Opera Bastille)
Paris National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Evelino Pido, conductor
CAST: Natalie Dessay (Amina); Javier Camarena (Elviro); Marie-Adeline Henry (Lisa); Cornelia Oncioiu (Teresa); Nahuel di Pierro (Alessio); Michele Pertusi (Count Rodolfo); Jian-Hong Zhao (Notary)
Better known for tragic dramas such as Norma and I Puritani, Bellini also had a smash hit with this lighthearted romp, set in a village full of good intentions where even the thorniest problems are simple misunderstandings, easily solved.
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June 26, 2010
World of Opera
BEDRICH SMETANA: The Bartered Bride
Prague National Opera
Prague National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Ondrej Lenárd, conductor
CAST: Pavla Vykopalová (Marenko); Ales Vorácek (Vasek); Pavel Cernoch (Jenik); Ludek Vele (Keca); Ivan Kusnjer (Krusina); Yvona Skvárová (Ludmila); Ales Hendrych (Micha); Lenka Smidová (Háta)
Deeply rooted in Czech culture, Smetana's opera is both a delightful comedy and a shrewdly insightful look at basic, human relationships. This production comes to us from the composer's adopted home town, where the opera was premiered in 1866.
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