DENIS VLASENKO, conductor

SLOVENIAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
SNG Maribor Opera Choir
SNG Ljubljana Opera Choir

Programme:
Giacomo Puccini:
“Popolo di Pekino… Dal deserto al mar…”, Mandarin’s introduction from Turandot
“In questa reggia… Al principe straniero offri la prova ardita, o Turandot”, Turandot’s aria from Turandot
“Non piangere, Liù… Turandot!… La fossa già scaviam per te che vuoi sfidar l’amor!”, Calaf’s aria from Turandot
“Principessa Divina!… Sei pallido, straniero!”, Turandot, Calaf, Liù and Ping’s scene from Turandot
“Tu che di gel sei cinta… per non vederlo più”, Liù’s aria from Turandot
“Diecimila anni al nostro Imperatore!… Padre Augusto, conosco il nome dello straniero! Il suo nome e amore…”, Turandot’s aria and chorus from Turandot

Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
“Sola, perduta, abbandonata”, Manon’s aria from Manon Lescaut
“Donna non vidi mai”, Des Grieux’s aria from Manon Lescaut
“Mario! Mario! Mario!”, Tosca and Cavaradossi’s duet from Tosca

***
“Ohé, là, le guardie… Sa dirmi, scusi, qual’è l’osteria …Mimi!…Speravo di trovarti qui…”, Act III with Mimi, Rodolfo, Musetta and Marcello from La Bohème
“Questo amor, vergogna mia”, Frank’s aria from Edgar
“Vissi d’arte”, Tosca’s aria from Tosca
“Recondita armonia”, Cavaradossi’s aria from Tosca

Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly
“Vogliatemi bene”, Cio-Cio San and Pinkerton’s duet from Madama Butterfly

Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov return to Ljubljana, continuing their stage collaboration after a decade together. The Russian-born Austrian soprano, who trained at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, made her debut at the age of 22. An exclusive artist for Deutsche Grammophon since 2003, she is today one of the foremost and most distinguished figures in classical music. The Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvazov, who trained in Italy and in 2007 was named a People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, was recently appointed director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The two artists will be joined by  the Russian conductor Denis Vlasenko. The evening will be dedicated to the art of the Late Romantic opera composer Giacomo Puccini, considered the true successor to Giuseppe Verdi. Puccini drew creative inspiration above all from the excesses of literary naturalism (verismo) and the complex music of Richard Wagner. The programme consists of popular highlights from his operas Turandot, Manon Lescaut, La bohème, Edgar, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. At the heart of these tragic works lie the themes of fateful love, suffering and death, which the composer combines with magnificently orchestrated music and an incomparable sense of drama. The result is an emotionally powerful, deeply moving and, above all, unique listening experience.