Roberto Alagna

Frank Dunlop's witty, unvarnished view of Donizetti's country comedy, updated to the 1930s, is delightful to see, wondrous to hear. Gheorghiu and Alagna make an ideal partnership as capricious girl and shy bumpkin. They both act and sing their roles to near perfection in a staging that exposes the heart and heartlessness as much as the fun of this work.

Unforeseen and born out of unique circumstances, this is a unique record. This is the first album I have made devoted entirely to French song. I think this is no more than my French listeners deserve. We have made numerous journeys together, from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to South America with Pasión, from Italy to the United States with Little Italy, but I thought it was finally time to play the music of our own native land, too. Thats why I am dedicating this album in its entirety to French song, but with a twist. Between the lines, as it were, in this repertoire, I have sought to highlight all the variety of genres and influences from near and far that are now intrinsic elements of French musical identity and heritage. As many are no doubt aware, I am passionate about different musical cultures from all over the world. As we explore the French repertoire, we shall make many musical discoveries on our travels…

Retrouvez les grands standards de la musique sud-américaine interprétés par Roberto Alagna, enregistrés dans le cadre exceptionnel de l’Opéra Royal de Versailles. Une extraordinaire promenade dans le boléro cubain, la ranchera mexicaine et le tango argentin et pas question de dénaturer ces chansons auxquelles il est très attaché car « ces chansons ont toujours fait partie de ma vie ». En préservant l’authenticité de ces morceaux, notamment grâce à des arrangements qualifiés d’ethniques » par Yvan Cassar, mais sans hésiter à secouer des standards comme « La Cumparsita », Roberto Alagna explore ce répertoire avec lequel il a une proximité instinctive.

Arvo Pärt is one of the greatest and most performed of living composers. Slow and meditative, often religious, reflecting his mystical experiences, Pärt’s works are unmistakeable. Here Morphing Chamber Orchestra, under its artistic director Tomasz Wabnic, performs some of the Estonian composer’s finest instrumental works, Fratres, Spiegel im Spiegel and Summa, together with one of his vocal masterpieces, the Stabat Mater, presented here in a new arrangement, sung by three of today’s greatest operatic voices, Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak and Andreas Scholl. Several shorter pieces, marvels of poetry and purity, sung by Andreas Scholl, complete this programme.

We can thank the Lyon Opera for reviving the long-forgotten French version in January 2002 and it is that production upon which this DVD is based. With Patricia Ciofi in the title role and the splendid Roberto Alagna as Edgard Ravenswood, the production was recorded for TV under Don Kent's direction, with Evelino Pido ably conducting the orchestra and chorus of the Opera National de Lyon.

World-renowned tenor Roberto Alagna stars in the most passionate of French operas, conveying the young poet’s journey from naïve hope to the agony of the much-loved aria ‘Pourquoi me réveiller?’ and the shattering final tragedy.
Massenet’s glorious opera, based on a novel by Goethe, is regularly performed all over the world and its central role is one in which Roberto Alagna has been celebrated for more than a decade. The role of Werther’s beloved Charlotte is sung by American mezzo Kate Aldrich (an acclaimed Carmen at ‘The Met’), who has sung the role to critical acclaim in Europe and Japan. Filmed live at the Teatro Regio in Turin, the powerful stage production is the work of another member of the Alagna family – the tenor’s younger brother, David.

Early recordings of Franco Zeffirelli's 2006 production of Verdi's opera which saw Roberto Alagna's high-profile exit during the second performance. Egypt and Ethiopia are at war. Radames is appointed commander of the Egyptian forces by the King, whose daughter, Amneris, loves Radames. It is in fact Amneris' Ethiopian slave Aida whom Radames loves. Ramades wins the war against the Ethiopians, capturing Aida's father Amonasro in the process. On his return to Egypt he faces a choice between marrying Amneris or betraying his country through his love for Aida.