Programme:

G. Verdi: “Ritorna vincitor!”, Aida’s aria from Aida
G. Verdi: “Celeste Aida”, Radames’ aria from Aida
G. Verdi: “La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse…O terra, addio”, Radames’ aria from Aida
G. Verdi: “Alzati! … Eri tu, che macchiavi quell’anima”, Renato’s aria from Un ballo di maschera
G: Verdi: “Pace, pace, mio Dio”, Leonora’s aria from La forza del destino
G. Verdi: “La vita è inferno all’infelice… O tu che in seno agli angeli”, Alvaro’s aria from La forza del destino
G. Verdi: “Un dí, se ben rammentomi…Bella figlia dell’amore”, Gilda’s, Maddalena’s, duke’s and Rigoletto’s aria from Rigoletto
G. Verdi: “Ballabili” from Otello
G. Verdi: “Una macchia è qui tuttora!”, Lady Macbeth’s, doctor’s and lady-in-waiting’s recitative from Macbeth
G. Verdi: “Desdemona rea!…Ora e per sempre addio…Era la notte…Sì, pel ciel marmoreo giuro!”, Otello’s and Iago’s recitative from Otello
G. Verdi: “Stride la vampa”, Azucena’s aria from Il trovatore
G. Verdi: “Ove son io?”, Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s recitative from Macbeth
G. Verdi: “Ella mi fu rapita!…Parmi veder le Iagrime…Possente amor”, duke’s aria from Rigoletto
G. Verdi: “Tacea la notte…Di geloso amor sprezzato”,  Leonora’s aria from Il trovatore

The reigning prima donna of the 21st century, Anna Netrebko has redefined what it means to be an opera star with her rich-sounding voice and charismatic stage presence. Her live performances and award-winning recordings have made her a leading international voice in opera. She and her husband, the charismatic Yusif Eyvazov – one of the most sought-after tenors of his generation – have become a unique star opera couple. They will be joined on stage by the baritone Željko Lučić, who continues to win accolades for his performances of the dramatic repertoire in the world’s leading opera houses, and the mezzo-soprano Elena Zhidkova, renowned as a brilliant interpreter of Wagner’s mighty roles. They will perform with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michelangelo Mazza, who has been working with the star couple since 2017. The programme will focus on the favourite parts of Verdi’s diverse works from different periods, from the early “grandiose” style (Macbeth), to the late spectacular and “personal” style, which loosened the established operatic forms and showed a new dramatic development (Aida, Otello). His works strongly influenced the later veristic and naturalistic development of Italian opera.