Nicholas Pallesen to perform Bellini rarity

Nicholas Pallesen

New York's Collegiate Chorale announced that it has joined forces with the American Symphony Orchestra to perform Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 6pm at Carnegie Hall.

Barihunk Nicholas Pallesen will sing Filippo, who has one of the great baritone bel canto arias,
"O divina Agnese!...Forse gi? disposti i modi." In fact, like many Bellini operas, it's rich with beautiful baritone melodies, including a stunning duet with the soprano. Pallesen will be joined by soprano sensation Angela Meade as Beatrice di Tenda, mezzo Jamie Barton as Agnese and tenor Michael Spyres as Orombello. The chorus plays a key role in this opera, and in the true tradition of classical Greek dramas, they not only comment on the action, but advise and comfort the protagonists.

Joan Sutherland & Enzo Sordello sing the Act I duet "Tu qui, Filippo?": 

The opera was was rarely performed after its premiere in 1833, but was revived in 1961 by the American Opera Society with Joan Sutherland, Enzo Sordello, Marilyn Horne and Richard Cassilly under the baton of Nicola Rescigno. Later that year it was performed at La Scala with Sutherland and Raina Kabaivanska under the baton of Antonino Votto. Since then the title role has been assumed by a number of other prominent sopranos: Leyla Gencer, Mirella Freni, June Anderson, Cecilia Gasdia, Edita Gruberová and Mariella Devia.

Set in 15th century Milan and based on a historical figure, the opera tells of the tormented but saintly wife of the Duke of Milan, falsely accused of adultery by the scorned lover of one of her admirers and sentenced to death by her husband.  Beatrice di Tenda is characterized by ravishing melodies and exciting finales. 

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Roberto Frontali sings "O divina Agnese!...Forse gi? disposti i modi" from Beatrice di Tenda:

A native of Riverside, California, Nicholas Pallesen is establishing himself as one of the most promising talents of his generation. He is a 2012 recipient of a Richard Tucker Career Grant, was a Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and can be seen in the documentary, "The Audition." Pallesen’s performance in Beatrice di Tenda will mark his Carnegie Hall debut. He will also make two title-role debuts: as Lord Ruthven in Marschner's Der Vampyr with the American Symphony Orchestra and in Rigoletto with Shreveport Opera. He will return to the Metropolitan Opera’s roster for Ades’ The Tempest. Future engagements include debuts with the Metropolitan, Fort Worth and Cincinnati Operas, all in leading roles. Mr. Pallesen is a winner of the Giulio Gari, Sullivan Foundation, Opera Index and the Bel Canto Foundation competitions. He has also won awards from the George London Foundation, the Loren L. Zachary Society, the Liederkranz Foundation, the Gerda Lissner Foundation, the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation and the Santa Fe Opera, among others.

Singers like Nicholas Pallesen and Angela Meade have succeeded because of their successful training in young artist programs. You can help support these programs and enjoy a year of hunky baritones on your wall by purchasing our 2013 Barihunks Charity Calendar. Buy now before the holiday rush: