Daniele Caluri

Parma’s Boccanegra is Leo Nucci…The handsome voice, which once seemed on the light side for Verdi’s heavier, darker title roles, now has the apposite color and weight, and it remains surprisingly firm and focused…he’s honest, commanding and deeply moving. Honest commitment distinguishes his colleagues, too. Tamar Iveri…[has] a lovely, full lyric voice with a welcome authority at bottom, steered by fine musicianship…and a lively, sympathetic temperament and presence. Francesco Meli…sings handsomely and looks properly romantic…Roberto Scandiuzzi…makes a fine, idiomatic Fiesco; and Simone Piazzola…gives promise of a major-league Boccanegra to come. Daniele Callegari, in Parma’s pit, lets the score unfold naturally and compellingly. (Opera News)

François Girard‘s stunning post-apocalyptic production of Parsifal at The Metropolitan Opera trail-blazed the way for Wagner’s centennial year celebrations last year. Wagner's last and most intriguing opera, Parsifal centers on a young hero’s search for compassion, redemption, and acceptance in a world dominated by rules and fanaticism.

Julius Röntgen (1855-1932) stands apart from the legions of Brahms imitators and conservative late Romantics for one thing: melody. It seeps from every theme and cadence. Everything I've heard from his pen is overflowing with inventive tunefulness. It is no wonder he enjoyed a close friendship with another great melodist of his day, Edvard Grieg. Röntgen's enormous output includes 14 cello sonatas, many of which were dedicated to and performed by Pablo Casals.

Aigul Akhmetshina is the fiery young mezzo taking the opera world by storm. In her debut album Aigul, the illustrious young opera singer Aigul Akhmetshina finds her voice in the role of Carmen and traces a path through her own remarkable journey. Her story is one of determination and perseverance against the odds, starting in a rural village in the mountains of Bashkortostan. She left home aged 14 to pursue her singing career. Despite facing rejection from a conservatory in Moscow, where she was told she lacked the right voice and appearance, at the age of 27 Aigul has already etched her name in history.