Watch Anja Harteros Record "O Patria Mia" For Warner Classics

"This magnificent recording of Aida, made in Rome, rises to all the musical and dramatic challenges presented by Verdi’s richly-coloured Egyptian epic. Antonio Pappano, once again proving his mastery of Italian opera, moves between sumptuous grandeur and touching intimacy. The responses of the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia are both immediate and vibrant, while the singers – Anja Harteros, Jonas Kaufmann, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Ludovic Tézier and Erwin Schrott – do justice to every facet of their roles." [Source] Watch Anja Harteros sing "O Patria Mia" from Aida, as well as more excerpts from the recording session along with interviews with the artists, after the jump.

"Aida" With Kaufmann And Harteros Gets 8-Month Lead Time Hype

Australian magazine Limelight discusses the most recent recording of Verdi's Aida for Warner Classics, featuring Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Ekaterina Semenchuk, and Erwin Schrott under the baton of Antonio Pappano, due in October 2015. Those lucky enough to be in Rome can attend a concert on February 27 of the opera with the cast. Tickets available here. "Over the past two decades the number of studio recordings produced by the world’s biggest record labels of grand operas has dwindled. However a new studio recording of Verdi’s epic masterpiece Aida being produced by Warner Classics and featuring an all star cast proves that the tradition of recording large scale operatic works in the studio is still alive. What’s more, the new recording, due for release in October this year, will boast an authentically Italian provenance with conductor Sir Antonio Pappano at the helm. Pappano, who since 2005 has been Music Director of the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, featured on this new recording, is a seasoned hand with Verdi repertoire. This will be the conductor’s second studio recording of a Verdi opera, after his 2002 release of Il Trovatore. His Warner Classics catalogue also contains an award-winning Santa Cecilia version of Verdi’s monumental Requiem. Pappano has assembled an extraordinary cast of similarly experienced Verdi performers, although two notable leads will be making their Aida debuts. In the title role, German soprano and former Cardiff Singer of the World champion

Anja Harteros has firmly established her Verdi credentials having appeared in productions of La traviata, Il trovatore, Simon Boccanegra, La forza del destino, Don Carlo and Otello. This will however be her first time performing the role of the Ethopian princess. Starring opposite Harteros will be superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann, who is no stranger to Verdi’s heroic leads himself, although this too will be the tenor’s Aida debut in the role of the Egyptian warrior Radamès." [Source] Read the full article here. See an interview with Maestro Pappano, and a video of the recording session, after the jump.

Royal Wedding Music, Part 3: Past Services of the Monarchs

HISTORY OF MUSIC AT THE ROYAL WEDDINGS

(click on photo to launch video excerpt)

Wedding: Prince Charles & Camilla Parker Bowles
Location: Windsor Guildhall (Civil Ceremony) & St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle (Blessing)
Date: April 9, 2005
Soloist: Ekaterina Semenchuk sang "Veruyu" (The Creed) by Gretchaninov

Wedding: Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson
Date: July 23, 1986
Estimated audience: 500 million
Musical highlights: Elgar's "Triumphal March" from Caractacus and William Walton's "Crown Imperial."
Soloist: Arleen Augér sang "Exsultate, jubilate" K. 165 (Mozart)

Wedding: Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer
Date: July 29, 1981
Location: St. Paul's Cathedral
Estimated audience: 600 million - 1 billion
Musical highlights: Jeremiah Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary," "I Vow to Thee, My Country," Sir Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance."
Soloist: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang "Let the Bright Seraphim" Samson (Händel)

MET Sirius XM Radio Tonight: "Roméo et Juliette"

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera perform Gounod's Roméo et Juliette live tonight at 8:00 PM EST on Sirius XM radio. Intermission guest: Ekaterina Semenchuk.