Le Nozze di Figaro - Les Noces Liegoises

After their really bad production of Otello, I stopped mentioning the webcast projects by Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège. However, since Anne-Catherine Gillet --a wonderful Belgian soprano-- sings the role of Susanna in their new production of Le Nozze di Figaro, I cannot but encourage you to give it a try and watch the video of the show that was live webcast less than 2 weeks ago.

ACG is a true Mozartian gem and although she sounds 5 times better in auditorium than on any video or CD, it is a treat anyway. If you get a chance to listen to her singing live, do not miss it!

From Le Nozze di Figaro at ORW in Liège: Cinzia Forte, Anne Catherine Gillet, and Jennifer Rivera

Another good reason to see this show is that Jennifer Rivera --a superb American mezzo-- is quite obviously enjoying herself in the role of Cherubino. Other cast members are good too: Mario Cassi, Cinzia Forte, Wiard Withold...   

Le Nozze are always fun to see, especially when the cast is this cool.

Directed by Philippe Sireuil and conducted by Christian Zacharias, the video of the full performance can be found on this link (embedded below is only a trailer)
Enjoy!

Tea at Five with Wotan and friends

Season opener at La Scala season will be the first Ring opera Die Walküre (Rheingold is only a prologue).
This joint new production of La Scala and Staatsoper in Berlin will be directed by Guy Cassiers and conducted by Daniel Barenboim, and it will be premiered on Tuesday, December 7 starting at 5 p.m. (cet). The show will be live broadcast to many cinemas around the world, but also via ever more cool Mezzo-TV.

Nina Stemme (Brünnhilde) and Vitalij Kowaljow (Wotan)

While waiting to see this fantastic cast* in action (in an interesting production too!) you can follow the rehearsal vlog this link.


*Siegmund - Simon O’Neill, Hunding - John Tomlinson, Wotan - Vitalij Kowaljow, Sieglinde - Waltraud Meier, Brünnhilde - Nina Stemme, Fricka - Ekaterina Gubanova


UPDATES: 

(Dec 3) 

Simon O'Neill is apparently ill. Frank van Aken is covering for him. Alas,  during the stage rehearsal last Wednesday Frank fainted.  Wishing the best to Frank and to the whole production team!

(Dec 4)

1. Photos of the show taken during dress rehearsals added below [all photos ©AP]

2. Live radio broadcast will be provided by Rai-3 on this link, France Musique on this link...

Good news: Das Rheingold from La Scala on TV-Mezzo

Guy Cassiers's magnificent-looking production of Das Rheingold --which is to be premiered tomorrow at  La Scala in Milan-- will be live broadcast by Mezzo-TV on Wednesday, May 26 at 8 pm (cet). This is extra-good news as our fave Kwangchul Youn will be singing Fasolt (he shares the role with Tigran Martirossian)

Anna Samuil and René Pape

Check out the package of TV-channels you received together with your Internet connection. Mezzo might be somewhere on the list. The above and the pics you can find below are all taken during the final dress rehearsal and are © Koen Broos.