INTERNATIONAL OPERA GALA
National Concert Hall, Dublin Friday 29th November 2002
City Hall, Cork Sunday 1st December 2002
A magnificent world cast, all fabulous principal artistes, comes to Ireland especially for the International Opera Gala at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Friday, 29th November and at the City Hall, Cork on Sunday 1st December. This trio of international artists are specialists in the Italian repertoire and, led by the acclaimed soprano, Anda-Louise Bogza they will perform favourite arias and duets from the world’s most popular operas.
Anda-Louise Bogza sang in the Opera Gala series in 1995 and 1996 and her performances were characterised by her vibrant soprano voice, her control and her phrasing. Born in Romania, she made her debut in 1992 with the Prague State Opera and in a very short time she was made Principal Soprano in the company, because of her outstanding performances in operas such as Janacek’s Jenufa, Bizet’s Carmen (as Micaela) and Verdi’s La Traviata, Aida and Il Trovatore. The many Irish opera lovers who have travelled to Prague over the years are sure to have heard her highly acclaimed performances of Il Trovatore, Aida, Don Giovanni or Tosca among many others. In fact, critics in Eastern Europe have on many occasions compared her very favourably to the magnificent Maria Callas. She frequently tours Europe, making Principal Guest Soprano appearances in all the major opera houses.Since her last appearance here her career has really taken off.In 2001 she performed in Japan opposite the legendary tenor José Cura, singing the title role in Aida to tremendous public and critical acclaim. She also made her U.S. debut with the Portland Opera in a production of Il Trovatore. As Leonora, one critic said of her, “…with this huge role dominating much of the opera’s final scene, the Romanian-born diva is going places”. Anda-Louise has performed this role throughout the world as well as recording a CD of Leonora and her obvious ease with the role is noted as another critic said “...she’s as sure-footed in this role as she is beautiful and talented. She sings precisely and expressively, enveloping herself in the role as a woman rather than as a young girl...In ‘D’amor sull’ali roseé’ your heart will break as her voice leaps into the stratosphere. She was the undisputable star among a very good cast, excellent chorus and reined-in production”.This is Anda-Louise’s fourth appearance in the Opera Gala series, where she has become one of the most popular and admired guest sopranos, lauded by audiences wherever she performs.
Making his first visit to Ireland is the marvellous tenor Vicente Ombuena who was born in Valencia, Spain.He won the Vinas Competition in Barcelona and the special prize for best tenor in the “Placido Domingo” competition.He has a extensive repertoire, singing leading roles in Don Pasquale, La Traviata, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohème, Otello, Rigoletto, Falstaff, L’Elisir D’Amore, Nabucco and Simon Boccanegra, which he performs at some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including, La Scala, Milan, Munich Staatsoper, Berlin Staatsoper, Hamburg, the Liceu in Barcelona and at the Salzburg Festival. Vicente Ombuena also has an extensive repertoire of concert works that includes Verdi’s Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and he has performed these works in the company of some of the most eminent conductors in the world, such as Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Chailly, Chung, Colin Davis, Ricardo Muti and Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Baritone Jonathan Summers made his first appearance in the Opera Gala series last year to tremendous praise, and has sung all the major baritone roles in all the leading opera houses of the world, including La Scala, Milan and the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he made his debut as a singer with the Royal Opera in Covent Garden.He has been singing the title role in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at Sydney Opera House to great acclaim. He is a regular guest artist at the English National Opera with roles in Macbeth, Simon Boccanegra, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Forza del Destino, Don Carlos, Rigoletto, Peter Grimes, Eugene Onegin, Pearl Fishers and Tristan and Isolde. Abroad, Jonathan Summers has sung Marcello in La Bohème at La Scala, Florence, Toulouse, Munich, Chicago and the Metropolitan; he has also sung principal roles in Frankfurt, Geneva, Lausanne, Brussels, Paris, Chicago Lyric Opera and Fedora. At the Australian Opera he performed Un Ballo in Maschera, Nabucco, Tales of Hoffmann, Il Trovatore, Il Tabarro, Otello, Macbeth and, most recently, the title role in Falstaff.
The accompanist is Dublin born Brenda Hurley, one of the most talented and accomplished pianists on the concert stage today.Brenda began her career as Repetiteur at Scottish Opera and proceeded to work at Palermo Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, L’Opera National de Paris (Bastille), Opera Zuid (Maastricht) and the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam, where she has been full-time since 1995.She is also closely associated with the Glyndebourne Festival.
Special guests in Cork are the Cork Airport Singers, conducted by Ann Healy-Mayes who make their debut in the Opera Gala series, while, in Dublin, the Guinness Choir with their conductor David Milne return having successfully participated in past Opera Galas. As well as backing the principal artistes in some of their arias, the choirs will also contribute their own individual items.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals are part-sponsors of the Cork performance of the International Opera Gala.Deirdre O’Tuama, and the calibre of the artists she has chosen ensures an outstanding evening in both venues direct the tour.Tickets are available at the Central Box Office in Cork, Tel.021 4543210 and at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Tel. 01 4170000.
The Sunday Independent, The Irish Examiner, RTÉ and Clarion Hotels Ireland also support these Opera Gala presentations. |
