Gianluca Margheri to sing Alidoro in Palermo

Gianluca Margheri as Don Giovanni & Apollo (photo right ©Giancarlo Malandra)

Gianluca Margheri will be singing Alidoro in Rossini's "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella) at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo on April 19, 22 and 24. He'll be joined by the amazing tenor René Barbera as Don Ramiro, Chiara Amarù as Angelina, Paolo Bordogna as Don Magnificio, Riccardo Novaro as Dandini, Marina Bucciarelli as Clorinda,  and Annunziata Vestri as Tisbe. The role of Alidoro replaces the Fairy Godmother from the original story of Cinderella. Tickets are available online.

In Act 1, Alidoro sings "Là del ciel nell'arcano profondo" in disguise as one of the King's officials. He is with Cenerentola who cannot attend the Prince's ball at her father's insistence. Alidoro realizes the goodness in Cenerentola and tells her that he will bring her to the ball himself. She believes that he is making fun of her. To show her that he means what he says, he throws off his cloak to reveal his noble clothes beneath and sings to her that God himself has looked down upon her and shows favor upon her and thus, she should not be afraid of going to the ball. He then goes on to say that his carriage is coming and, although she must be confused and upset, she will soon be in happier days.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sings "Là del ciel nell'arcano profondo":

 

Rossini composed La Cenerentola when he was 25 years old, following the success of The Barber of Seville the year before. Throughout most of the 19th century, its popularity rivaled that of the Barber of Seville, but as the coloratura contralto, for which the title role was originally written, became rare it fell slowly out of the repertoire.

The opera contains some of his finest writing for solo voice and ensembles. Perhaps the most popular aria from the piece today is Cenerentola's "Nacqui all'affanno ... Non piu mesta," which is often used be singers to end recital programs or as an encore. Other popular pieces include Don Magnifico's "Miei rampolli femminini, Dandini's "Come un'ape ne' giorni d'aprile" (a popular audition piece for young baritones), Prince Ramiro's "Si, ritrovarla io giuro" and the ensemble "Questo è un nodo avviluppato."

After Rossini's La Cenerentola, Margheri will head to the Hungarian State Opera from June 17-23 to perform Purcell's The Fairy Queen and then he's off to St. Gallen to sing the title role in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro running from September 17 through November 25.

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo joins Carmen cast at L.A. Opera

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo as Escamillo with Anna Netrebko

The Los Angeles Opera has announced that bass-barihunk Ildebrando D’Arcangelo is joining the cast for their performances of Bizet's Carmen, which opens their 2013/14. Performances run from September 21-October 6 and tickets are available online. 

Also joining the cast as the whiny Micaëla is South African soprano Pretty Yende, who won first prize at 2011 Operalia competition. She is replacing Nino Machaidze, who is having her first child with barihunk Guido Loconsolo.

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo sings "Votre toast" from Carmen:

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo is currently singing the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Theater Bonn. There are two performances remaining on June June 29 and July 14. After that, much of his attention will turn to the comic roles of Rossini, with performances as Alidoro in La Cenerentola at the Vienna State Opera, Selim in Il Turco in Italia at the Bavarian State Opera and Mustafa in L'Italiana in Algeri at the Opéra national de Paris.