Violeta Urmana Movies
- 2010
This musical release from the Vienna State Opera compiles over 40 of the best and most memorable performances recorded at the stage, during the reign of artistic director Ioan Holender, who oversaw the facility from 1991 to 2010. Some of the performers featured in the program include Franz Welser-Most, Antonio Pappano, and others. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Piotr Beczala, Stefania Bonfadelli, (more)
- 2009
A word of explanation for the uninitiated: the "European Concert" is an event mounted and performed annually, by the Berliner Philharmoniker, to celebrate its 1882 establishment. The locale, however, shifts from year to year. The 2009 event, which appears in this release, took place at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy. Selections include: La Forza del destino: Overture by Giuseppe Verdi, La canzone dei ricordi by Giuseppe Martucci and Symphony in C Major, D944 "Great" by Franz Schubert. Violeta Urmana performs as the resident soloist, while the Berliner Philharmoniker, under the direction of Riccardo Muti, lends added symphonic accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Violeta Urmana
- 2009
Giuseppe Verdi's 1871 opera Aida receives an interpretation by the Metropolitan Opera in this production from 2009. As directed for the stage by Gary Halvorson, and executive produced by Peter Gelb, it stars Roberto Scandiuzzi as Famfis, Johan Botha as Radamès, Dolora Zajick as Amneris and Violeta Urmana in the title role. The Metropolitan Opera, Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet lend accompaniment, with Donald Palumbo serving as chorus master and Daniele Gatti conducting. Gianni Quaranta designed the sets, Dada Saligeri created the costumes, and Alexei Ratmansky choreographed. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Renée Fleming, Roberto Scandiuzzi, (more)
- 2009
This musical release captures a live performance of Giuseppe Verdi's four-act opera Macbeth, recorded at the Opera Bastille in April of 2009, and featuring such vocalists as Dimitris Tiliakos, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Violeta Urmana, and Letitia Singleton in the leading roles. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dimitris Tiliakos, Ferruccio Furlanetto, (more)
- 2008
Giuseppi Verdi's 1859 opera Un ballo in maschera weaves the thematic threads of political conspiracy, loyalty and passion around a narrative set in 19th Century Boston. Therein lies a tale: though the work's original narrative dealt with the assassination of King Gustav of Sweden, government officials asked Verdi to transpose the setting to Massachusetts for political reasons. As mounted by the Teatro Real Madrid in 2008, this particular version stars Marcelo Álvarez as Riccardo, Violeta Urmana as Amelia, and Marco Vratogna as Renato. The Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - which serves as the resident orchestra and chorus of the Teatro Real - here provide musical accompaniment, with Jesús Lopez Cobos serving as musical director, and Mario Martone directing for the stage. Sergio Tramonti designed the sets on display here, Bruno Schwengl designed the costumes and Duncan Macfarland choreographed. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Marcelo Alvarez, Violeta Urmana, (more)
- 2007
This stage opus by Giancarlo del Monaco combines two separate and ostensibly unrelated operas - Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci - into a single production, by virtue of their shared verismo style. Jesús López Cobos directs for the stage; Violeta Urmana, Dragana Jugovic and Marco di Felice co-star in the Cavalleria portion, while Vladimir Galouzine, María Bayo and Carlo Guelfi co-star in the Pagliacci segments. The Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, under the leadership of musical director Jésus López Cobos, provides musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Violeta Urmana, Vincenzo La Scola, (more)
- 2007
Nicolas Joël directed for the stage this 2007 production of Giuseppe Verdi's 1862 opera La Forza del Destino. The work tells of the South American nobleman Don Alvaro and his tragic love for the socialite Donna Leonora, which ends with Alvaro entering monastic life. This version stars Duccio dal Monte as Il Marchese di Calatrava, Violeta Urmana as Donna Leonora, Carlo Guelfi as Don Carlo di Vargas and Marcello Giordani as Don Alvaro. The Teatro Comunale in Firenze houses the production, while the renowned Zubin Mehta conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2007
The legendary director Franco Zeffirelli is arguably as well known for his operatic stage work as for his filmmaking; he helms this production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, staged at Teatro la Scala in Milan. Roberto Alagna and Violeta Urmana co-star as the leads. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Marco Spotti, Ildiko Komlosi, (more)
Richard Wagner's operatic retelling of the story of the search for the Holy Grail receives a lavish production in this video, which records performances held in Bayreuth, St. Petersburg, and Ravello, Italy. Internationally renowned tenor Placido Domingo leads the distinguished cast; Tony Palmer directs. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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