With Monaco’s new opera season 2017 to 2018 recently announced, this art form is in full form in the Principality. And with Alagna, Bartoli, Florez, Nebretko, it will be a fantastic line-up of stars for the upcoming year.
The recently ended season included a “Trouvère de gala” and a “Tannhauser”, which is being publicized throughout Europe, awaiting television broadcasting and the production of video recordings! No sooner has the last note echoed than an even more beautiful season was announced yesterday for 2017-2018 by its director Jean Louis Grinda, in the presence of Mr.Celario, Government Advisor, and Mr. Curau, Director of Cultural Affairs.
A host of stars
There will be a host of stars: Cecilia Bartoli in Rossini’s “Cenerentola” with the Prince’s Musicians from 29 October to 4 November, Roberto Alagna in “Adriana Lecouvreur” from 19 to 26 November, Juan-Diego Florez for the first time in the “Tales of Hoffmann” from 22 to 31 January, Leo Nucci in a recital on 11 March, Anna Netrebko in a recital on 1 February to replace the “Yolanta” which she had to cancel two seasons ago.
As always with Jean Louis Grinda for the past ten years, we will be entitled to a beautiful combination of tradition and novelty. As for novelty, two operas will be performed for the first time ever in Monaco.
A Verdi never seen before in Monaco
The first is “Peter Grimes” of the 20th century English composer Benjamin Britten, from 20 to 28 February. The hero will be played by the super tenor José Cura. The second opera that will be played for the first time on the Monegasque stage will be… by Verdi. Yes, there are still operas by Verdi that have never been seen in Monaco. In this case, it has never been played on many other international stages either. It is a youth opera called “Brigands” in French, “I Masnadieri” in Italian, and which is full of panache.
It will be offered from the 11th to the 24th of April. The great tenor Ramon Vargas will be among these brigands. In addition to this, two Fausts pushed by the satanic spirit of Mephisto will appear in mid-season: one, in the form of a Cine-concert, on 8 November, during a session where the 1926 film by Murnau will be accompanied on the piano by the extraordinary improviser Jean-François Zygel. The other Faust will be from 23rd to 29th March, in the well-known version of Gounod’s opera, where you can hear one of the last great new tenors, the Maltese Joseph Calleja.
And that’s not all! A few days after appearing on all the televisions of the world during the New Year Concert, the Vienna Philharmonic will be at the Salle Garnier in Monaco on 12 January, under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. He will come and wish us a happy new year. With such a program, it will be music to your ears!
The programme
21 September: Opening gala with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.
From 29 October to 4 November: “La Cenerentola” by Rossini with Cecilia Bartoli and the Prince’s Musicians.
8 November: “Faust” in Cine-Concert with Jean-François Zygel.
From 19 to 26 November: “Adriana Lecouvreur” by Cilea with Roberto Alagna and Barbara Frittoli.
From 3 to 6 December: “I Puritani” by Bellini, the concert version, with Annick Massis.
1 February: Recital by Anna Netrebko, soprano.
12 January: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
From 22 to 31 January: “Tales of Hoffmann” by Offenbach, with Juan Diego Florez.
From 20 to 28 February: “Peter Grimes” by Benjamin Britten, with José Cura.
11 March: Recital by Leo Nucci, baritone.
From 23 to 29 March: “Faust” by Gounod, with Joseph Calleja.
From 19 to 24 April: “I Masnadieri” by Verdi, starring Ramon Vargas.
Opera fans will have a lot to look forward to in this new season 2017 to 2018!
