Singers on Singing: Angela Gheorghiu
Before the great virtuoso soprano Angela Gheorghiu made her international career launches at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera and New York Metropolitan Opera in 1992 and 1993, immediately winning high acclaim for her vocal virtuosity, expressive artistry and dramatic subtlety, she had for some years already been singled out in her home country, Romania, as an exceptional talent who had particularly impressively benefitted from the famously rigorous operatic schooling in her land. When she first appeared in the West, her masterly realizations of the vocal demands, musical styles, words and music relationships, and psychological and dramatic characteristics of the operatic roles she performed created a sensation. Ever since then, Angela Gheorghiu’s perfectionist aspirations and attainments on the highest technical, artistic and intellectual levels have made her one of the most greatly lauded singers and actresses on the operatic stage. The biographical profile of her appearing here is an adaptation of “Angela Gheorghiu – A Portrait”, a tribute made by the WFMT Radio Network in 2006. It has been updated to include some further materials that originated in later years, up to 2011. Miss Gheorghiu speaks about her life and career, her love of music and arts of many genres, and her interpretation of operatic roles and songs that have brought her acclaim as one of the most highly admired dramatic and lyric singer actresses of the last 100 years. Additionally, other distinguished musicians and music experts, who are identified during the feature, cast light on her very special vocal, artistic and theatrical qualities. Details of the recordings that are included in the profile follow below.
–Jon Tolansky
Host:
Jon Tolansky
Guest Artists included in this feature:
- Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano
- Soprano Carol Neblett
- Richard Hazell, Member of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
- Maria Cleva, Italian Opera Coach at Covent Garden
- Peter Alward, Former President of EMI Classics
- Charles Osborne, Musicologist and Verdi Scholar
- Paul Findlay, Former Opera Director, Royal Opera House
- Mezzo Soprano Marilyn Horne
- Baritone Thomas Hampson
Musical excerpts included in this feature:
- “In quelle trine morbide” from Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
- “Je suis encor tout etourdie” from Manon (Massenet)
- “Mi chiamano Mimi” from La Bohème (Puccini)
- “Donde lieta usci” from La Bohème (Puccini)
- “E’ strano … Ah, fors’e lui …” from La Traviata (Verdi)
- “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La Rondine (Puccini)
- Closing scene from La Rondine (Puccini)
- “N’est ce plus ma main” from Manon (Massenet)
- “Non, tu ne m’aimes pas” from Carmen (Bizet)
- “Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns)
- “Je vous ecris…” from Werther (Massenet)
- “Non mi rammenta più!…” from Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
- “Cate flori pe deal in sus” from La Seceris (Brediceanu)
Puccini: Opera Arias
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Anton Coppola, conductor
Verdi Grand Symphonic Orchestra Milan
EMI Classics: 0724355795502
Massenet: Manon (2000)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Antonio Pappano, conductor
Orchestre Symphonique de la Monnaie
EMI Classics: 0724355700520
Verdi: La Traviata (1995)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Georg Solti, conductor
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House
Decca Classics: 448 119
Puccini: La Rondine (1997)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano | Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
EMI Classics: 0724355633828
My World: Songs From Around the Globe (1998)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Malcolm Martineau, piano
Decca: 458360
Bizet: Carmen (2003)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Michel Plasson, conductor
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
EMI Classics: 0724355743428
Homage to Maria Callas (2011)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Marco Armiliato, conductor
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
EMI Classics: 5099963150926
Massenet: Werther (1999)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
EMI Classics: 0094638184928
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (2009)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma
EMI Classics: 5099926418728
Angela Gheorghiu: Live at Covent Garden (2002)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Ion Marin, conductor
Royal Opera House Orchestra
EMI Classics: 0724355726421