Homage to Maria Callas is a collection of beloved French and Italian operatic masterpieces performed by Angela Gheorghiu, the defining diva of this century. The programme is inspired by the career and recordings of Maria Callas, the greatest diva of the last century. The arias are shared favourites of both Callas and Gheorghiu, and Angela’s new recording demonstrates once again her extraordinary vocal and emotional range.
Angela Gheorghiu said recently, “Callas was original in everything she did; she was a phenomenon. In every performance she gave her all. She was the most wonderful painter and you can always hear exactly the right colour in her voice. Just hearing her sound, you understand all the power or fragility of her emotions. That's a rare talent and a great gift.” Gheorghiu continued, “EMI was her record label and it’s mine too. It feels like a family”.
Recorded at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios in London and in New York, the repertoire of Gheorghiu’s first studio recital in six years (during which time she recorded several complete operas, including a multi-award-winning Madama Butterfly), shows her versatility in lyric, spinto and mezzo roles, with each of which she feels a strong emotional connection. These include Mimi (La bohème), Marguerite (Faust), Imogene (Il pirata), Adriana (Adriana Lecouvreur - an opera which Gheorghiu added to her repertoire in 2010 to great critical acclaim), Maddalena (Andrea Chénier), Nedda (Pagliacci), Wally (La Wally), Medea, Chimène (Le Cid) and Delilah (Samson et Delilah). The new album also includes two arias from the opera that launched her career: La traviata by Verdi, New York Magazine praised at the time that “Her lady of the camellias is a worthy successor to Garbo and Callas.” Here she sings Violetta’s closing scene from Act I, in which the heroine wonders whether it is worth sacrificing her precious freedom to take young Alfredo as a lover. ‘It was very important for me to have this aria here. I’ve sung the role a lot on stage, but I haven’t ever recorded it in the studio’ adds Angela.
"“She [Angela Gheorghiu] has earned her place as one of the best sopranos of her generation and it has been said that her voice is ‘…perhaps the most instantly recognizable and interesting soprano voice of our time… a liquid instrument of great beauty“" Gramophone
Artists: Angela Gheorghiu
James Valenti, tenor *
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Marco Armiliato, conductor
Works: [1] PUCCINI : LA BOHÈME –Donde lieta usci
[2] GOUNOD : FAUST -Jewel Song: O Dieux! Que de bijoux
[3] BELLINI : IL PIRATA -Col sorriso d'innocenza
[4] LEONCAVALLO : I PAGLIACCI –Qual fiamma...Stridono lassù
[5] SAINT-SAENS : SAMSON et DELILAH -Mon Coeur s'ouvre à ta voix
[6] CATALANI : La WALLY -Ebben? Ne andrò lontana
[7] BIZET : CARMEN -Habanera: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
[8] GIORDANO : ANDREA CHENIER -La mamma morta
[9] CHERUBINI : MEDEA -Dei tuoi figli madre
[10] MASSENET : LE CID -De cet affreux... Pleurez mes yeux
[11] CILÈA : ADRIANA LECOUVREUR –Poveri fiori
[12] VERDI : LA TRAVIATA -È strano... Ah fors'è lui che l'anima
[13] VERDI : LA TRAVIATA - Follie! ... Sempre libera*
Born in Romania, Angela is at home on all the great opera and recital stages of the world, and has been hailed as one of opera’s greatest singing actresses in such operas as Verdi’s La Traviata – “Her lady of the camellias is a worthy successor to Garbo and Callas” (New York Magazine), and Puccini’s Tosca – “I don’t think I have heard Tosca’s love music more beautifully sung in the theatre.” (The Times London).
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