Roberto Alagna

Opera

Fedora is an Opera in three acts by Umberto Giordano 

On an Italian libretto by Arturo Colautti based on the 1882 play Fedora by Victorien Sardou  Along with Andrea Chenier and Siberia, it is one of the most notable works of Giordano.

It was first performed at theTeatro Lirico in Milan on 17 November 1898

conducted by the composer Gemma Bellincioni created the role of Fedora with Enrico Caruso  as her lover, Loris Ipanov.

Performances

Grand Théâtre de Geneve

12th of décember 2024 

15th of décember 2024

17th of décember 2024 

19th of décember 2024 

22th of décember 2024 

Cast

Aleksandra Kurzak - Fedora

Roberto Alagna - Loris Ipanov

Yulia Zasimova - Contessa Olga Sukarev

Simone Del Savio - De Siriex

Mark Kurmanbayev - Grech

Vladimir Kazakov - Cirillo

Sebastià Peris - Lorek

Conductor - Antonio Fogliani

Productor  - Arnaud Bernard

Orchestre et choeurs Grand Théâtre de Genève 

Reviews

✪ VARIOUS REVIEWS🇨🇭 FEDORA Grand Théâtre de Genève  | ❝ The chemistry between Kurzak and Alagna needs no further proof. Their duet is of a wild intensity … Roberto Alagna’s voice lost nothing of its directness, striking power, and clarity … It remains that of a royal and radiant tenor. Intensity, flawless phrasing, fantastic generosity in the singing … Mastery of vocal technique, total commitment… He seems to burn himself out on stage as if it were the last time he would perform … always disarmingly truthful in his expressiveness because it is deeply felt … A gift from an incomparable artist❞

🔺« The voice remains that of a royal and radiant tenor. Intensity, flawless phrasing, and above all, that fantastic generosity in the singing that the entire world acknowledges. One leaves this melodrama once again grateful for the gift that this incomparable artist gives us. » Concert Classic (translated from 🇫🇷) 

🔺« The chemistry between soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and tenor Roberto Alagna needs no further proof. Their duet at the end of the second act [...] is of a wild intensity. The tenor's voice, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, has lost nothing of its directness, striking power, and clarity, now tinged with mineral shades. The mastery of vocal technique and the artist's total commitment [are reassuring]. He seems to burn himself out on stage as if it were the last time he would perform, not shying away from any expressive excess, always disarmingly truthful because it is deeply felt. » Forum Opera (translated from 🇫🇷)

✪ REVIEWS 🇫🇷 FEDORA Grand Théâtre de Genève 12/12/2024 | ❝ Fiery and emotionally charged portrayal, powerful and nuanced voice drawing the audience into every moment, unmatched stage presence, remarkable ability to convey vulnerability and strength ... Bravery, legendary generosity, a radiant timbre, irresistible in both passion and softness... Prodigious vocal projection... A magnetic alchemy within the star couple ❞

🔺« The Star Couple: Alagna and Kurzak
The chemistry between Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak, both onstage and in real life, is magnetic. […] Roberto Alagna, a true living legend, proved once again why he is so beloved. His portrayal of Loris Ipanoff was fiery and emotionally charged, with his powerful and nuanced voice drawing the audience into every moment. His stage presence is unmatched, and his ability to convey vulnerability and strength is remarkable. […] This production, with its stellar cast and innovative staging, marks a triumphant return for this rare work. If you have the chance to see it, don’t miss it! » Opera Diary (🇬🇧)

🔺 « At over sixty, the tenorissimo reprises a role first performed just two seasons ago in Milan. His bravery, legendary generosity, radiant timbre — irresistible both in moments of passion and in those requiring greater softness — remain as striking as ever. » Diapason (🇫🇷)  
🔺 « The tenor's vocal projection abilities remain prodigious. » La Tribune de Genève (🇫🇷)

✪ VARIOUS REVIEWS🇨🇭 FEDORA Grand Théâtre de Genève  | ❝ Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak make the lyricism of the score shine … The chemistry between the couple is a real asset … Roberto Alagna still stands out with his radiant generosity … An undeniable moving presence … His voice remains splendid … He sings without sparing himself, in a perfectly intelligible Italian … Impressive power of vocal projection, warm voice, shining brightly [...] Flawless acting ... The complexity and richness of the Count are displayed with a disarming simplicity that convinces without hesitation ❞

🔺« Roberto Alagna is exactly as he is: his voice remains splendid despite age and an unwavering drive that has led him to sing without sparing himself. Thus, his radiant tone is adorned with amber hues, and the vocal line is always generously sustained. Furthermore, he is the only one to offer perfectly intelligible Italian, which is essential for the credibility of the drama »  L’Avant-Scene Opera (translated from 🇫🇷)

🔺 « Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak make the lyricism of the score shine. […] One of the highlights of the performance is Roberto Alagna’s first steps on the stage in Geneva. At 61, the Franco-Italian tenor still stands out with the radiant generosity that has earned him his reputation. The effects of time on the lightness of the top notes is easily compensated throughout the evening by the undeniable presence in the role of Ipanoff, shaped first and foremost by emotion.» ClassicAgenda (translated from 🇫🇷)

🔺« To carry this demanding score, it was essential to bring together a couple on stage worthy of the protagonists, and it was the star pairing formed by Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna that the Grand Théâtre turned to, for the audience’s greatest delight. [...] Roberto Alagna takes on a role in which he already shone in Milan in 2022. The power of his projection is sure to impress even the most discerning ears. His warm voice builds in strength, warming the hall and shining brightly. [...] The acting is flawless, and the chemistry between the couple is a real asset to the production. The hero is both virile and fragile, powerful and cracked, tormented yet lighthearted in his new love... The complexity and richness of the Count are displayed with a disarming simplicity that convinces without hesitation » OperaOnline (translated from 🇫🇷)

✪ VARIOUS REVIEWS🇨🇭 FEDORA Grand Théâtre de Genève  | ❝ In excellent vocal form Roberto Alagna embodies a passionate and radiant Loris, with a powerful voice, instantly recognizable, which still sounds wonderfully stable and absolutely secure in the high notes … He masters „Amor ti vieta“ with ease and effortlessly … Masterful lament, he excels in the exhilaration of Ipanov's return … The commitment of both artists creates a stunning effect… Moving duets of rare truth, marking the conclusion of a nearly perfect performance in every way … You couldn't ask for a better cast on stage … With such two great performers, Fedora belongs in the pantheon of major works❞

🔺« Roberto Alagna displays excellent vocal form and embodies a passionate and radiant Loris, with a powerful voice. The voices of the two performers blend ideally to offer moving duets. » ConcertoNet (translated from 🇫🇷) 

🔺 «  You couldn't ask for a better cast on stage – […] Even after so many years, Roberto Alagna's voice still sounds wonderfully stable and absolutely secure in the high notes. You get the feeling that he masters „Amor ti vieta“ with ease and effortlessly. » ArcimboldosWorld (translated from 🇩🇪)

🔺« […] Alagna's voice emerges, instantly recognizable. […] It tightens as his own anger grows, and the excitement becomes increasingly palpable. The violent duet with Fedora then rises to great heights, culminating in a masterful lament from the tenor with "Vedi, iopiango." […] In Act III, […] with the exhilaration of Ipanov's return, in which Alagna excels, the final scene of the drama proves sublime, as the commitment of both artists, each performing in a different register, creates a stunning effect, and the emotion builds as the dialogue intensifies and the truth emerges. Alternating moments of excitement and tension’s release […] the performance ends on a duet of rare truth, marking the conclusion of a nearly perfect performance in every way. While Fedora is a rarely performed opera, it has been demonstrated that with such two great performers, it belongs in the pantheon of major works » CultNews 

✪ REVIEW 🇨🇭 FEDORA Grand Théâtre de Genève 12/12/2024 | ❝ Alagna-Kurzak, a duo that perfectly embodies the dream couple of opera in Geneva… Alagna lets his tenor charisma explode, unchanged for nearly 40 years, along with his strong power of seduction … He delivers a heroic, Mediterranean and nuanced brilliance that has lost none of its sparkle, even in the high notes ❞ by Peter Krause for concerti.ch

« For this premiere at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Roberto Alagna performs the iconic aria of the opera (originally sung by Enrico Caruso) and happily shares the stage with Aleksandra Kurzak, his wife in real life, forming in Geneva a duo that perfectly embodies the dream couple of opera. […] [In Act II] Alagna can finally let his tenor charisma explode, unaltered for nearly 40 years, even if it first manifests in the 100 seconds of his 'Amor ti vieta.' His power of seduction is even stronger in the following narrative and in the grand duet with Fedora – the true highlight of the work, where Giordano proves he is no small Puccini, but composes at least on equal terms with his contemporaries. Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna kneel, roll on the floor. This is great opera, opera of singers, which unfolds its effect without pretense and does not require constant fine psychological analysis. […] The entire cast, beautifully conducted even in the secondary roles, honors the conductor. Alagna [displays] a heroic, Mediterranean and nuanced brilliance that has lost none of its sparkle, even in the high notes. »

Gallery