San Diego Opera Announces 2014-15 Season After Rescue

Seats at San Diego Civic Theatre
wait to be filled with opera fans.

"San Diego Opera’s Board of Directors voted today to rescind the decision to close the Company after nearly two months of careful analysis, deliberation and fundraising. The Company originally announced its closure and the sale of its assets on March 19, 2014. The original closure date was scheduled to occur on April 14, 2014, the day after the Company’s final sold-out performance of Don Quixote. A vote by the Board on March 31, 2014, delayed that closure by two weeks until April 29, 2014. Another vote by the Board on April 18, 2014, extended that closure date to at least May 19, 2014. Today’s vote on May 16, 2014, overturns the original decision to close. 'The public spoke, we listened, and we’re open for business,' shares Board President Carol Lazier, 'and do we have some great news to share with you!' In light of this news, San Diego Opera is announcing its 2015 season, the Company’s 50th. La bohème, Don Giovanni, and Nixon in China are the three operas being performed at the San Diego Civic Theatre. The Company will also celebrate its 50th anniversary with special Gala Concerts of favorite arias, duets, ensembles and choruses with the San Diego Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall. Additional events and performances are in the works, and will be announced shortly. The Company has also announced that the ongoing crowd funding effort has resulted in a total of $2,116,376 in donations from 2461 of donors as of midnight Sunday, May 18, 2014. 48% of these donors have never given before and represent gifts from six countries – Austria, Australia, Canada, England, Italy, Mexico & 36 States. The gifts range from $10 – $50,000 with a median gift of $100. Now that the $1 million goal has been reached, and the Company has announced a 2015 season, both triggers of the escrow account have been met and donations will be moved from the escrow account into the Company’s 2015 fund to be used for the just-announced season." [Source] See details of the season, including artists performing, after the jump.

Watch a Cast Rehearsal For L.A. Opera's "Così Fan Tutte"

The clip features an inside look at a musical preparation for the Mozart opera with Aleksandra Kurzak, Ruxandra Donose, Saimir Pirgu and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, led by maestro James Conlon. Check out a photo gallery of the production by clicking here. The last performance of Così Fan Tutte at Los Angeles Opera will be October 8, 2011.

Ildebrando d'Arcangelo Does Not Collect Women!

(Photo: Uwe Arens/Deutsche Grammophon)

In a new interview with Kleine Zeitung, the bass-baritone discusses singing with Anna Netrebko in Rossini's Stabat Mater, his new Mozart-dedicated CD on Deutsche Grammophon, similarities (and differences) to the character of Don Giovanni in his own personal life, the special love he has for the movie Gladiator (he's seen it 10 times...) and how he feels about being the "Antonio Banderas" of opera. Read the full interview by clicking here.

Ildebrando d'Arcangelo Gets a New Look with CD Release

With the release of his new album of Mozart arias on DG, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo is sporting a new look in photos taken by Uwe Arens.

Two more images after the jump.

Photos: Anna Netrebko is Anna Bolena

(Photo: Michael Pöhn/Wiener Staatsoper)

Head over to the Intermezzo blog to see a whole lot of photos from the production of Anna Bolena that is to be premiered at the Wiener Staatsoper on April 2 featuring Anna Netrebko in the title role, Elīna Garanča and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. There is also an article in the Kurier with more photos.

DG Spring Releases For René Pape & Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

International release date: April 1, 2011

TRACK LISTING:
1. Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind! (Die Walküre)
2. Der Augen leuchtendes Paar (Die Walküre)
3. Loge, hör! Lausche hieher! (Die Walküre)
4. Was duftet doch der Flieder (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
5. Hört, ihr Leut, und laßt euch sagen (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
6. Verachtet mir die Meister nicht (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
7. Gott grüß' euch, liebe Männer von Brabant! (Lohengrin)
8. Oh Gnade! Höchstes Heil! - Oh Herr! (Parsifal)
9. Und ich, ich bin's - Nicht doch! Die heilge Quelle selbst (Parsifal)
10. Gesegnet sei, du Reiner, durch das Reine! (Parsifal)*
11. Wie dünkt mich doch die Aue (Parsifal)*
12. Wie Todesahnung...O du mein holder Abendstern (Tannhäuser)
*Special guest: Plácido Domingo

International release date: April 29, 2011

TRACK LISTING:
1.  "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" (Don Giovanni)
2.   Bravo, Signor padrone! (Le Nozze di Figaro)
3.  "Se vuol ballare, signor Contino" (Le Nozze di Figaro) 
4.   Alcandro lo confesso
5.   Non sò d'onde viene
6.   Ehi sor paggio! (Le Nozze di Figaro)
7.  "Non più andrai" (Le Nozze di Figaro)
8.  "Deh! vieni alla finestra" (Don Giovanni)
9.   Mentre ti lascio, oh figlia, K.513
10. "Fin ch'han dal vino" (Don Giovanni)
11.  Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo
12. "Tutto è disposto"
13. "Aprite un po' quegli occhi"
14.  Così dunque tradisci
15.  Aspri rimorsi atroci
16. "Donne mie, la fate a tanti" (Così fan tutte)
17.  Per questa bella mano, K.612
18. "Hai già vinta la causa!" (Le Nozze di Figaro)
19. "Vedro mentr'io sospiro" (Le Nozze di Figaro)