Charles François Systems

In the imposing Arena di Verona, soprano Sonya Yoncheva and tenor Vittorio Grigolo present with dramatic and passionate synergy an evening of the most beautiful operatic love arias and duets in opera history. Passion that burns, consumes and sometimes kills is the central theme of this concert including arias from Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod as well as from Puccini´s Tosca, La bohème, Madama Butterfly and Verdi´s La traviata, all conducted by Plácido Domingo. Sonya Yoncheva has the full and vibrant timbre of a true lyrical soprano while Vittorio Grigolo, like Cavaradossi and Rodolfo, plays the cards of ardor and passion, with sweet and affectionate colors. An overall successful evening.

Charles-François Gounod’s Faust was once one of the most famous and most performed of all operas and is still cherished today. This is the first performance at the Salzburg Festival!
This stunning production was staged by Reinhard von der Thannen, the supreme cast is led by Piotr Beczała as Faust, Ildar Abdrazakov embodies a seductive and demonic Méphistophélès and Italian soprano Maria Agresta stars as Marguerite, who struggles to resist temptation and gain salvation. The Wiener Philharmoniker play under the baton of young Argentinian conductor Alejo Pérez.