GIORDANO: Andrea Chenier (Teatro Comunale di Bologna, 2006) (NTSC)

• This brand new production from January 2006 comes from the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, one of the most important theatres in Italy.

• Giordano’s tragic tale of revolution and doomed love was a huge success at both its European and American premieres and provides a technically challenging role for its lead.

• Star tenor José Cura takes on the challenge, relishing the heroic part of Andrea Chénier, a historic poet during the French Revolution. His partner is the dramatic soprano Maria Guleghina, a key exponent of Verismo opera, and the demanding part of Maddalena belongs to her most successful roles. Carlo Guelfi is one of Italy’s leading baritones, who sings regularly at La Scala and in Florence and is perfectly at home in this repertoire.

“...in repertoire that can often encourage excessive histrionics, Cura’s singing, besides demonstrating first-rate intonation and consistent technical security, is also utterly disciplined (listen, for example, to the ’Improvviso’ from Andrea Chénier)...”Fanfare