And the winner is...

I already blogged about the Arte-Live-Web coverage of the final weeks of the ARMEL Intl Opera Competition in Szeged (Hungary). Results?

Cristina Baggio won for the role of Renata in what the jury decided was the best production - The Fiery Angel. Congrats to all the winners!  [full list with other distinctions is available on this link]

A scene from The Fiery Angel in Szeged

I saw the winning show [The Fiery Angel] --one of my 20 favorite operas-- and was impressed.

• It is extremely difficult to sing this opera and to see young performers putting their guts and hearts was touchy and thrilling at the same time. A bunch of compliments go to Renata and Ruprecht sung by Cristina Baggio and Zsolt Haja. Cristina should be extra-praised for her courage to attack this ultra-heavy role, in addition to her outstanding scenic performance.
• I was very surprised to see this opera listed for competition because it is so difficult to stage,  rehearse and play -- it would have been much easier to opt for L'Elisir d'Amore or Don Pasquale, and let a soprano simper around the stage to win the crowd over.  Direction and staging look similar to recent Lulu by Stefan Herheim and Heike Scheele in Copenhagen, although the lack of money and the overall level of execution remain well bellow the Copenhagen show. With that being said, a big bravo to Silviu Purcarete (director).

My only objection is that it is performed in French. With no French singers in the cast what's the point in not doing it in Russian?
For more production photos please see here.
Below is embedded the full video of the winning show (available for free viewing until February 2011.)

Ritorna vincitor

Like in 2008 and 2009, this year Szeged (Hungary) hosts an interesting International Opera Competition which has recently been baptized into Armel. The rules are explained well on their website.
In one sentence: After a series of selections, the competing singers who made it to the finals are asked to perform --as cast members-- in one of the 5 specific operas that are being presented these days at Szeged National Theater.

Good thing is that all 5 operas can be seen on the Internet thanks to the world's coolest TV, via its ARTE Live Web portal.

This year's program of the finals with links, looks as follows (all videos are free to see during 3 months following the live broadcast):

• Veslefrikk - opera by Knut Vaage (world creation) [click on the opera title to see the production details and synopsis];  singers competing: Iulia VACARU, Alexander POLKOVNIKOV; live broadcast - November 3, Arte link
• The Servant - opera by Marco Tuttino (also intendant of Teatro Comunale di Bologna); competing: Camille DEREUX, Peter FURLONG, Alexey BOGDANCHIKOV; live broadcast - November 6, Arte link
• La Traviata - competing: Maria PAKHAR, Péter BALCZÓ, Sergio FORESTI; live broadcast - November 9, Arte link
• The Seagull - opera by Thomas Pasatieri; competing: Molly MUSTONEN, Zsolt HAJA, Beverly O’REGAN THIELE; live broadcast - November 12, Arte link
• The Fiery Angel - opera by Sergei Prokofiev; competing: Christina BAGGIO, Antal Cseh; live broadcast - November 15, Arte link

All videos also embedded below...