The Biblical story of Belshazzar's hubristic arrogance, set against the valour of the young warrrior-leader Cyrus, provided the 20-year-old Rossini with a dramatic story enriched by West-Eastern implications which still speak to us today. For the title role of Cyrus, Rossini wrote what would be his longest-ever contralto role, to which the great Rossini singer Ewa Podles´ is both naturally attracted and ideally suited. She is partnered by two young stars of Rossini singing, Jessica Pratt and Michael Spyres, and a conductor-scholar, Will Crutchfield, of great experience and sympathy. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true Surround Sound.
The sets and costumes by Ponnelle are truly reflective of the 'grand style'. Plus the fact that the two lead characters are portrayed by top singers in their absolute prime - both Gruberova and Araiza weren't even 35 years old at the time of this performance, makes this production the most convincing both dramatically and musically.
Visually this is a gripping production which captures the drama of this opera perfectly. It's downright exciting! and I found the singing, acting, and orchestral playing reasonably fine.
There are elements of Eurotrash in this outdoor Aix-en-Provence summer opera production. Nevertheless, the splendid singing and acting transform the story, normally treated as farce, into something considerably more serious.
Joan Sutherland's farewell performance to the operatic stage offsets this story of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre and the magnificence of 16th century France.
A dream came true at Dresden's Semperoper in May 2016 when opera superstars Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko made their Wagner debuts as Lohengrin and Elsa, inspired to take on their new roles by Christian Thielmann, the Dresden Staatskapelle's principal conductor and one of the leading Wagner conductors of our day.
Originally commissioned to celebrate the completion of the Suez Canal and the opening of Cairos new opera house, Verdis Egyptian epic Aida is here seen in a spectacular new staging in the Teatro Regio Torino by the Oscar-winning American film director William Friedkin, creator of such famous movies as The Exorcist and The French Connection.
EWA PODLES: contralto DAVIDE LIVERMORE: director Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival 2012 -------------- Biografia completa / Complete Biography: ENG: ...
Rossini - Ciro in Babilonia | Best Of Classic Opera
Rossini: Ciro in Babilonia Ernesto Palacio: Tenore Caterina Calvi: Contralto Daniela Dessì: Soprano Carlo Rizzi: Direttore Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo ...
Rossini - Ciro in Babilonia
Amazing Jessica Pratt.
Ewa Podleś - Sì vedrai crudel tiranno...E lieto e contento - "Ciro in Babilonia" (Pesaro ROF 2012)
(Grande scena di Ciro 2/2) di atto II - Ciro: Ewa Podleś - Baldassarre: Michael Spyres - Arbace: Robert McPherson - Zambri: Mirco Palazzi - Amira: ...
Rossini: CIRO IN BABILONIA (Rossini Opera Festival Pesaro)
The Biblical story of Belshazzar's hubristic arrogance set against the valour of the young warrrior-leader Cyrus provided the 20-year-old Rossini with a dramatic ...
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Comments
Have you watched Ciro in Babilonia yet? What did you think about it?
