'A mix of futurism à la "Metropolis", fantasy à la "Batman" and quotes from Piranesis "Carceri", juxtaposed in the form of photo montages, enhanced with...robots, a helicopter, a shark and the winged vehicle of a pop star Pope,' was how the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" described this astonishing Salzburg Festival production of Berlioz's "Benvenuto Cellini." The high-calibre cast, headed by Burkhard Fritz as the temperamental Renaissance artist and the 26-year-old Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska as Teresa, the woman with whom he tries to elope, is conducted by Valery Gergiev who pulled out all the stops. He whips the Vienna Philharmonic into a delirium similar to that which possibly took hold of the composer.' (Der Standard) This is French grand opera at its fast-paced and spectacularly-staged best.
BURKHARD FRITZ • MAIJA KOVALEVSKA • LAURENT NAOURI • BRINDLEY SHERRATT • MIKHAIL PETRENKO • KATE ALDRICH
WIENER PHILHARMONIKER
KONZERTVEREINIGUNG WIENER STAATSOPERNCHOR
Conductor VALERY GERGIEV
Stage Director PHILIPP STÖLZL
Naxos Catalog Number: 2.110271
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=2.110271
Maija, sei sempre incantevole.....very good!!!! Michele
michelyout 1 year ago
One of the few YT videos with Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska. It's a pity we didn't have many chances to hear her in Riga prior to her international career.
strauja 1 year ago