Duets is een interessant album met medewerking van twee operasterren: de Mexicaanse tenor Rolando Villazón en de Russische bas Ildar Abdrazakov. Zij worden begeleid door Orchestre Métropolitan de Montréal onder leiding van de dynamische dirigent Yanninck Nézet-Séguin, die vanaf het seizoen 2020/21 chef-dirigent wordt van de New Yorkse Metropolitan Opera. Gedurende een uur brengen zij dramatische en komische duetten uit grote 19e eeuwse Franse en Italiaanse opera’s. Het album opent met het beroemde duet Au fond du temple saint uit de Parelvissers van Bizet. Naast werken van Verdi, Donizetti en Gounod zijn er twee aria’s uit Mefistofele van Boito. Een veelzijdig operaprogramma waarbij de twee verschillende stemmen prachtig met elkaar kleuren. Het album wordt afgesloten met twee aria’s in de moedertaal van de twee solisten: Granada van Lara en Ochi chernye van Hermann.
Duets - Rolando Villazón & Ildar Abdrazakov
Bizet:
Au fond du temple saint (from Les Pêcheurs de Perles)
Je suis Escamillo, torero de Grenade! (from Carmen)
Boito:
Son lo Spirito che nega (from Mefistofele)
Strano figlio del caos (from Mefistofele)
Donizetti:
La vostra ostinazione...Prender moglie? (from Don Pasquale)
Sogno soave e casto (from Don Pasquale)
Ardir! Ha forse il cielo ... Ecco il magico liquore ... Va, mortale fortunate (from L'Elisir d'amore)
Gounod:
Mais ce Dieu, que peut-il pour moi? (from Faust)
Me voici! (from Faust)
Hermann, Florian:
Ochi chyornye (Dark Eyes)
Ildar Abdrazakov (bass)
Lara, Augustin:
Granada
Rolando Villazón (tenor)
Verdi:
Propizio ei giunge! (from Simon Boccanegra)
Vieni a me, ti benedico (from Simon Boccanegra)
Rolando Villazón (tenor) & Ildar Abdrazakov (bass)
Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Three exceptional artists join forces for an operatic treat! Star tenor Rolando Villazón, who was just named artistic director of Salzburg Mozart week, Ildar Abdrazakov, one of the most sought-after young basses in the operatic world (Vanity Fair), who is debuting on Deutsche Grammophon with this album and the in-coming music director of the Metropolitan Opera Yannick Nézet-Séguin – a conductor full of vim and vigor – with Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal.
Following Rolando’s and Yannick’s latest successful collaboration in DG’s Mozart opera cycle (Le Nozze di Figaro), this recording includes a wide range of beautiful French/Italian duets for tenor and bass presented with dedication and passion!
Rolando and Ildar go back to 2009 when they first performed together in a production of "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Met. They re-unite to sing a colorful variety of beautiful opera duets from nineteenth century drammi giocosi and opéras comiques, such as the beloved “Au fond du temple saint” from Les pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) or “Ah, quando fia… Se inclinassi a prender moglie” from L’italiana in Algeri (Rossini) as well as the duet “Je suis Escamillo” from Bizet’s famous opera Carmen.
Besides the renowned repertoire the artists also recorded two tracks with special arrangements referring to their personal life: the legendary Granada, standing for Rolando’s Latin heritage, Ochi Chernye as a tribute to Ildar’s home country Russia.
Tracks
Disc 1
1. "C'était Le Soir" ... "Au Fond Du Temple Saint" (Act 1)
2. "Son Lo Spirito Che Nega" (Act 1)
3. "Strano Figlio Del Caos" (Act 1)
4. "La Vostra Ostinazione" ... "Prender Moglie?" (Act 1)
5. "Sogno Soave E Casto Mi Fa Il Destin Mendico" (Act 1)
