Roberto Alagna

Roberto Alagna

CARMEN - BIZET - ARENA DI VERONA

 

Opera

Opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet. 

The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. 
The opera was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875, 
where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences.

Performances

Arena di Verona Festival

Thursday 21th of July 2022

Sunday 31th of July 2022

 

 

Casting

Carmen - J'Nai Bridges

Micaela - Maria Teresa Leva

 

Don José - Roberto Alagna

Escamillo - Claudio Sgura

 

Producer - Franco Zefirelli

Conductor - Marco Armiliato 

 

 

 

Press Review

Operaclick - Martino Pinali - 21/02/2022

 
❝An AWAITED and CELEBRATED return … FIRM CONTROL of his voice … BRIGHT, INTACT and even YOUTHFUL timbre … specially ENTHUSIASTIC applauses for Roberto Alagna ❞ 
 
READ MORE (EXCERPTS, translated from Italian ): « The return of Roberto Alagna to the Arena was particularly awaited and celebrated, as he reintroduces his proven Don José, also evidenced by a disc recording and several video recordings. The French-Sicilian tenor maintains firm control of his voice, his timbre is still intact and bright, even youthful, and he builds a character with it that is at first naive and then immensely passionate. (…)
The audience survived the heat and the lenghty set preparation, warmly applauding all the pieces and all the performers, with a special enthusiasm for Alagna, who was asked for (but didn’t grant) an encore of "La Fleur". »
 
 

Musica in Opera - Loredana Atzei - 21/07/2022

❝ An intact YOUTHFUL IMPETUS and the charm of a UNIQUE TIMBRE that combines VOCAL POWER, SOFTNESS and a wide range of COLOURS … the GREATEST POSSIBLE THEATRICAL effectiveness. His acting skills, stage experience and GREAT TALENT make him stand out above the rest and make an otherwise routine performance of Carmen an UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. … The audience explodes into THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE, aware that they have witnessed ONE OF THE GREATEST INTERPRETATIONS OF DON JOSE EVER PERFORMED under the magical Verona sky ❞
 
READ MORE (EXCERPTS, translated from Italian ): « Roberto Alagna's debut at the Arena in Carmen as a dragoon who falls madly in love with a beautiful cigar-makeress, has been long awaited. A debut only in a way, because Don José seems to know every fibre, every impulse, every tragic gesture and shows it to us on stage from his entrance to the thrilling finale. From the naive duet with Micaela, when he still hopes to save himself, to the rage that consumes him when Carmen gets bored with him. Vocally, he retains his youthful impetus and the charm of a unique timbre that combines vocal power, softness and a wide range of colours, which he shows off in a passionate and simply extraordinary interpretation of "La fleur..." (at the end of which an encore is requested, but not granted) and in the final act, which is modified by his interpretative choices that amplify the emotional tension to the maximum, achieving the greatest possible theatrical effectiveness. His acting skills, stage experience and great talent make him stand out above the rest and make an otherwise routine performance of Carmen an unforgettable experience. The difference is all in the details. The attention paid to facial expressions and the spontaneous experiencing of the character gives us a deeply human, suffering and true Don José. The swift gesture with which he hides the flower when Micaela arrives, the rapid shifting of the Navaja knife from one hand to the other when he challenges Escamillo, the sensual ferocity with which he seals Carmen's lips before leaving her in the mountains. Only to find her again in the finale. He is destroyed. She beautiful at another man's side. From the festive images in a rich and crowded space we suddenly pass to an empty stage. The two protagonists remain in a kind of psychological duel. A cross stands in the centre. Don José pleads with Carmen, seeks comfort or mercy from God, finds no peace in his desperate love. Devastated by the last rejection, he throws himself on Carmen and mortally wounds her. A tragic and powerful finale that unites their two lives forever in one last desperate mortal embrace. And as the lights go down and the last note closes the show, the audience explodes into thunderous applause, aware that they have witnessed one of the greatest interpretations of Don José ever performed under the magical Verona sky.»
 
 

Impiccione Viggiatore - Andrea Merli - 21/07/2022

 
❝ Roberto Alagna does not "fit" into his character: HE "IS" THE CHARACTER, period... The look of an ETERNAL BOY, an ideal physique, AGILE and FRESH, a modern "PRINCE CHARMING"… Scenic CREDIBILITY … The staging is ALL HIS PLAY … A THRILLING ACTOR’s demonstration… MIRACULOUS VOCAL FRESHNESS, sweet and persuasive voice with a truly "BLESSED BY GOD" TIMBRE, with exemplary hold of HIGH NOTES and BREATH, with an emission of PERFECT LEGATO, mastered in piani and PIANISSIMI OF RARE BEAUTY and to which is added a PERFECT DICTION, clear and intelligible even in whispered sentences. The JUBILATION after the aria "La fleur" and the calls for encores only anticipated the APOTHEOSIS that greeted him then, after the ENTHRALLING final duet, in the closing limelight."
 
READ MORE (EXCERPTS, translated from Italian ): « Back to the Arena, braving the great heat, to review Carmen, the production signed by Franco Zeffirelli that opened this 99th edition of the popular summer festival. The motivation? The involvement of the Franco-Italian, or Sicilian-French tenor as you like, Roberto Alagna. Who will again sing the role of Don José on Sunday, July 31. And so, for once at least, the opera could be named after Don José and not the provocative gypsy and cigar-girl of Seville.
Expectations were great and equally great was the excitement of the many fans who came from all over to fill the Arena on a hot Thursday evening. The former were not disappointed while one could literally cut the latter with a knife.
Alagna does not "fit" into his character: he "is" the character, period. The look of an eternal boy, and he is in his early 59s, with an ideal physique, agile and fresh, a modern "prince charming" as one of his unconditional fans called him, certainly contributes to the scenic credibility of a staging that, obviously and in view of the times, is all his play and that sees him committed with an overwhelming passion, seductive in the evolution of the character, at first detached and affectionate toward Micaela, then gradually getting more and more into the madness of love for Carmen, up to the violent outbursts of jealousy in the third act and finally pleading, sobbing and soulfully devastated, in the fourth act. A thrilling actor’s demonstration.
But what was miraculous was his vocal freshness, the expansion of a sweet and persuasive voice with a truly "blessed by God" timbre, with exemplary hold of high notes and breath, with an emission of perfect legato, mastered in piani and pianissimi of rare beauty and to which is added a perfect diction, clear and intelligible even in whispered sentences. The jubilation after the aria "La fleur" and the calls for encores only anticipated the apotheosis that greeted him then, after the enthralling final duet, in the closing limelight.
Of course, when you think that we "exiled" him for over twenty years, there is something to kick ourselves for. Welcome back Roberto, the Italian audience loves you and the other night proved it. »
 
 

Ieri, Oggi, Domani Opera - Francesco Lodola - 31/07/2022

 
❝ THE TRIUMPH OF DON JOSÉ. Unleashed MAGNETIC POWER, vibrating the Arena with emotions … He CAPTIVATES with his SUNNY, GENEROUS VOICE … from the very lyrical tones to the melancholically virile tones of the Flower aria (which of course elicits a well-deserved applause) to the exasperated and dramatic ones … UNIQUE …STUNNING personality … GLOWING SUCCESS ❞ 
 
READ MORE (EXCERPTS, translated from Italian): « The Triumph of José - July at the Arena di Verona closes under a lucky star as Roberto Alagna returns to the Arena after his triumphant debut last year. This year, the iconic tenor brings to the Verona stage one of the most important roles of his repertoire, Don José in Carmen. His magnetic power was thus unleashed, vibrating the pink marble of Arena with emotions that has been missing in this area lately. He captivates first of all with his sunny, generous voice, which is instantly recognizable, and then with the way in which the words (through his singing) light up with the expression, from the very lyrical tones of the first act to the melancholically virile tones of the Flower aria (which of course elicits a well-deserved applause) to the exasperated and dramatic ones. Unique. Franco Zeffirelli's production, which shines here thanks to the performances of Roberto Alagna and J'Nai Bridges (as Carmen), remains fascinating. […] Marco Armiliato […] excels in the care with which he accompanies the singers and lets Alagna's stunning personality shine through. A fine performance by the orchestra and chorus under the direction of Maestro Ulisse Trabacchino. A glowing success at the end. »
 
 

Gallery

 



13/10/2022