Opera’s young golden couple due to appear in Athens in September
Are two exceptionally gifted artists better than one? Like Lauren Bacall and Bogie, or Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Angela Gheorghiu have achieved star status through their impressive individual talents, but their union both on stage and off has only added to their power. Recognized as two of the great singers of our times, Alagna and Gheorghiu are scheduled to appear in Athens on September 6 at the Herod Atticus Theater. They will be accompanied by the ERT National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anton Guadagno. Organized by the Hellenic Festival, the American Community Schools of Athens (ACS) and the American-Hellenic Arts Center of Halandri Association, this exceptional evening is billed as part of ongoing efforts to raise funds for the construction of the American-Hellenic Arts Center of Halandri. An ambitious project, the arts center will have 600 to 800 seats, serving the educational needs of the schools’ students as well as the broader community in the area (it will also be available for events linked to the 2004 Olympic Games). This summer’s performance follows others such as that of the New York City Ballet at the Herod Atticus Theater last summer, and an appearance by soprano prodigy Charlotte Church at the Athens Concert Hall in March. What makes this gala performance a truly grand occasion for local audiences, however, is that the two artists will make their debut appearance in Greece at the height of their respective careers – for years, local venues have welcomed great talents, such as Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti or even Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, at their sunset. An attractive duo on stage, Alagna and Gheorghiu are well known for their passion for the French operatic tradition. But the upcoming concert will feature solely Italian works, namely 69 years of great lyrical tradition, beginning with Gaetano Donizetti’s «Lucia di Lammermoor» (1835), and ending with Giacomo Puccini’s «Madame Butterfly» (1904) – though not necessarily in the same order. The first part of the evening will be entirely dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, with excerpts and arias from «Luisa Miller,» «La Traviata,» «La Forza del Destino,» «Macbeth,» and «Otello,» while the second part of the evening will feature pieces from Pietro Mascagni’s «L’Amico Fritz,» Donizetti’s «Lucia de Lammermoor,» Umberto Giordano’s «Andrea Chenier,» as well as Giacomo Puccini’s «Madame Butterfly.» Suave Alagna Born in France to Sicilian parents, Alagna combines a French education and Italian identity with a lyrical tenor voice. His career essentially began when he won the top prize at the 1988 Luciano Pavarotti International Competition in Philadelphia. From then on, the doors were open and the young tenor went on to make his debut appearances at international opera houses such as La Scala, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera, among others, taking lead roles in the field’s great works such as «Rigoletto,» «Tosca,» «Les Contes d’Hoffmann» or «Il Trovatore.» In 1994, Alagna was named musical personality of the year by the French press, while in the following year, he was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in opera. Other distinctions include that of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, by the French Ministry of Culture (1996) and best opera artist in 1997 at the French music awards. The beauty of Gheorghiu Gheorghiu was born in Adjud, Romania, and graduated from the Bucharest Music Academy in 1990. Two years later, she made her first global debut at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden; also in London she sang her much-acclaimed «La Traviata» in 1994. Other prestigious opera houses followed, while her growing repertoire includes «La Boheme,» «Turandot,» «L’Elisir d’ Amore,» and «Romeo and Juliet.» Gheorghiu also starred in «Tosca,» shot in 2000 and screened at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. Through living, working, and frequently appearing on stage together, Alagna and Gheorghiu have reached unparalleled status as opera’s young, golden couple, their star quality winging them to appearances such as a concert in July celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee, straight from Buckingham Palace.
