Jonas Kaufmann “Sehnsucht” new CD

I’ve spent the entire morning on opera (not that unusual when I have the time). There are so many posts I want to make and am just going to push ahead.  At any rate, Jonas Kaufmann, the incredible German tenor who can sing it all,  has a great new CD coming up.  Sehnsucht (Longing). It features the German repertoire ( Wagner et. al at their most lyrical) for which he is destined,  while he still excels in Italian and French repertoire. From the CD is this  You Tube clip In fernem Land from the finale to Lohengrin, one of Wagner’s most brilliant works, beautiful, lyrical and impressive theater.  The other You Tube  post is Kaufmann in the short role of the Italian Tenor in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier opposite Renee Fleming as the Marschallin.  He is brought in  to amuse the Marschallin  in the Italian fashion amidst the chaos of her morning chores.  Enjoy Both!!  Sehnsucht should be available in the next couple of weeks on Amazon.

Rialto Cinemas MET in HD Tickets on Sale 8/26

There will be a frenzy of ticket buying when the box office opens on 8/26 for the 4th year of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2009-10 Season Live  in High Definition at the Rialto Cinemas  in Santa Rosa.  Here’s what to expect:

If you were a season subscriber last year, full series subscription tickets go on sale on line from Wednesday 8/26 to 9/1 exclusively for you.

If you have purchased tickets to the Met in HD in the past, full series subscription tickets go on sale on line 9/2

Full series subscription tickets go on sale to the general public on line 9/11

Single tickets go on sale to the general public on line 9/25.

If you can’t order on line, you will need to contact the Rialto or go there during less busy times to purchase your tickets.

For the 2009-10 Season’s offerings and my recommendations, scroll down on this page to:

2009/10 Met Live in HD Series Announced.

To order tickets on line and for more information go to :

http://www.rialtocinemas.com/index.php?location=lakeside&film=2009_met

Saturday Morning performances are live from the Met; the opera is repeated on Wednesday, matinee and evening. The season opens on October 10 with Puccini’s Tosca

New Renee Fleming CD: “Verismo”

Renee Fleming’s new CD , VERISMO,   is scheduled for relase on 9/15.  It will be a great acquisition and adjunct to that topic (Verismo ) which is the subject of  my Fall Class at SRJC.   Verismo refers to the last “school” of Italian Opera whose members composed operas about the everyday plight of the lower class. It was “true to life” so to speak. The CD features aria from many of Puccini’s operas,  which Fleming has no inclination to sing on stage.  She has some interesting comments on that fact in the accompanying trailer here.  In addition to Puccini,   Fleming sings arias from some neglected works by other composers of the Verismo school who are rarely heard.  Whether she can sing the entire opera or not,  the snippets on the trailer are certainly gorgeous and enticing. I’m buying!!