Soprano Asmik Grigorian's recital in Rome
In Turin, Riccardo Muti conducts 'Macbeth'; at the Sala Verdi in Milan, pianists Jan Lisiecki and Igor Levit
In Rome the star, Asmik Grigorian, in recital with a well-chosen programme; everyone awaits her debut in Carmen at the forthcoming Salzburg Festival. In Turin, Muti returns to "Macbeth"; the last time was in Salzburg and Rome in 2011. In the title role Luca Micheletti, recently Guglielmo in La Scala's "Così fan tutte" (but also director of "Simone Boccanegra" at La Fenice a few days ago); the Lady is Lidia Fridman. In Milan, two great young pianists, Jan Lisiecki and Igor Levit.
Rome
On the 11th at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, soprano Asmik Grigorian, with pianist Lukas Geniušas. Between dream and confession, the recital weaves together pages spanning a century of vocal lyricism. From the Vocalise of Rachmaninov, Fauré and Messiaen, pure song without words, to the miniatures of Hahn, Bizet and Ravel, in which nostalgia and exoticism intertwine. The second part is entirely dedicated to Richard Strauss: from the first Stimmungsbilder to the most famous pages, the Four Last Lieder, the composer's poetic and sonorous testament. A journey that opens to lightness and enchantment, concluding in an intense meditation on time and the end. The concert will be broadcast live on Rai RadioTre (8.30 pm). The famous singer's only Italian date - she will return to the Maggio Fiorentino in June, but with a different programme. Waiting to hear her in the summer in the title role of 'Carmen' at the Salzburg Festival - her debut with this character.On 12-13-14, same venue, the Orchestra and Choir of S. Cecilia are conducted by Alexander Soddy, whom the Milan audience has just heard successfully in Wagner's 'Twilight of the Gods'. A well-paced programme between Fauré and Ravel.
Torino
On 24-26 February and 1-3-5-7 March the Teatro Regio will stage Verdi's 'Macbeth', directed by Riccardo Muti. The direction of the new production is by Chiara Muti; in the company Luca Micheletti in the title role; Lidia Fridman as Lady Macbeth; Giovanni Sala and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo. Muti points to the opera's secret heart: 'In Macbeth there is above all the lust for the throne, for the sceptre; everything is in the hands of the Lady, who has Macbeth in her grasp... Every time I return to this opera, I realise that one never stops digging into its characters'.
Milan
On 24 February in the Sala Verdi of the Conservatorio for the Società del Quartetto Season, pianist Jan Lisiecki, a young talent that the La Scala audience already knows, will celebrate dance in music, from Martinu to Ginastera, from De Falla to Piazzolla, in the programme World (of) Dance. A lively and virtuosic journey that includes Martinu's 'Three Czech Dances', Ginastera's 'Danzas argentinas2', Brahms and Chopin's 'Waltzes', and Piazzolla's 'Libertango'. On 3 March, a pianist like Igor Levit, with a challenging programme: Continuing his Beethovenian exploration, he juxtaposes Sonatas op. 2 no. 1 and op. 57 with Schumann's Nachtstücke op. 23 and Chopin's Sonata no. 3.
On the 17th on ScalaTv live coverage of Wagner's opera 'Twilight of the Gods'; then available on demand until 24 February.
