Anna Netrebko

Acclaimed Polish-born tenor Piotr Beczala pays tribute to the Austrian singer Richard Tauber (1891–1948), one of the most widely celebrated musical celebrities of his time. Recognized by many as one of the greatest tenors in the world, Piotr is regularly praised for his artistry, immaculate musicianship, keen interpretive intelligence, and flawless, elegant delivery. A perfectly cultivated and stylish singer, he is currently at the pinnacle of his career

A prominent exponent of popular song and operetta, Tauber’s career is closely associated with operetta’s golden age in pre-war Europe

In this recording Beczala shares his deeply honed affinity for this timeless, eternally popular music – a delightful recital of operetta favourites by Lehár, Kálmán, Robert Stolz, Johann Strauss II, among others – and continues the tradition set forth by legendary predecessors like Fritz Wunderlich and Nicolai Gedda

Features special guest appearances from Anna Netrebko (“Lippen schweigen”), The Berlin Comedian Harmonists, Avi Avital, Austrian soprano Daniela Fally and a unique “duet” with Richard Tauber himself, using special 21st century technology and a recorded master from 1934.

Leading tenor, Rolando Villazon, has personally selected 34 great Verdi tracks, sung by the great names of the present and past, both to celebrate Verdi at 200 and to inspire a new generation with the composer’s great arias, powerful choruses and popular tunes.

The tracklist is framed by two stirring overtures, it includes famous numbers by all the leading singers on DG and Decca (as well as a couple from EMI), including Roberto Alagna, Carlo Bergonzi, Grace Bumbry, Joseph Calleja, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Luciano Pavorotti, Katia Ricciarelli, Joan Sutherland and BrynTerfel. There are rousing choruses and several extracts from the Requiem too. It’s a splendid 150-minute collection.

The striking cover includes one of Rolando’s inimitable Verdi sketches, and will include a sticker incorporating a photo of the artist. The all-colour booklet has an article by journalist Richard Lawrence which also takes in some quotes from the artist in a recent interview for this release.

Villazón is confident that every excerpt on these discs will make the listener want to hear the complete work. “No other composer creates such an immediate link with the audience. Go to see La traviata: you hear those rhythms, those melodies, that dramatic force, and you are drawn into his world. It doesn’t matter whether you love opera or know nothing about it: it just captures you, it grabs you.” Listening to the numbers from La traviata here, you have to agree.

Released in 2009, this DVD of Anna Netrebko´s internationally acclaimed, first performance of Lucia at the Met has since shipped nearly 35,000 units. Now it is coming to Blu-Ray for the first time. Having dazzled opera audiences as Lucia from St. Petersburg to Los Angeles, in 2009 Anna Netrebko returned to the Met in Mary Zimmerman´s “imaginative staging” (The New York Times) of Donizetti´s bel canto masterpiece.

Extras include interviews by Nathalie Dessay with singers Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala, Mariusz Kwiecien, Ildar Abdrazakov. Conductor Marco Armiliato and director Mary Zimmerman.