Category Archives: Verdi

La Traviata Program Notes

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 1st March 2012

Below are the program notes I wrote for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra’s performances of Verdi’s La Traviata March 2 and 3, 2012. La Traviata was Giuseppe Verdi’s 19th opera. Though the composer was dissatisfied with its initial run, the opera rapidly established itself as his most popular work. Indeed, it may be the most popular opera even…


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La Traviata in Lubbock

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 7th February 2012

The Lubbock Symphony Orchestra will present two concert performances of Verdi’s opera on March 2 and 3. Amanda Hall is Verdi’s noble courtesan, Tenor Scott Ramsay is her overwrought lover Alfredo, and baritone Ashley Prewett is his father Germont. Thomasz Golka will conduct the LSO and the Lubbock Civic Chorale.


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D’amor sull’ali rosee

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 2nd January 2012

If a knowledgeable opera goer were asked to name the most demanding and beautiful bel canto aria written for the soprano voice “Casta diva” from Bellini’s Norma or “Bel raggio lusinghier” from Rossini’s Semiramide or perhaps “Regnava nel silenzio” from Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor might head the list. But to my ears nothing is as beautiful and…


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Verdi Sing-Along in New York

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 14th September 2011

If you’re in the New York area September 18 and 19 you might want to attend the One World Symphony Orchestra’s Verdi sing along. For details go here.


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Il Trovatore in HD

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th April 2011

Verdi’s Il Trovatore is the transcendental Italian opera of the first half of the 19th century. It is the culmination of that style of operatic writing introduced by Rossini and further advanced by Bellini, and most importantly for Verdi’s development Donizetti. That Verdi was moving in a new direction was shown by Rigoletto (1851). That…


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Leonard Warren’s 100th Birthday

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 25th April 2011

Leonard Warren was born April 21, 1911. No baritone within living memory has matched him in the great Verdi baritone roles Below is the big second act aria from the most challenging of Verdi’s baritone roles – the title character from Rigoletto. He sang this part 89 times with at the Met both in New…


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Yonghoon Lee’s Met Radio Debut

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th December 2010

The young Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee who made his debut at the Met last month to much acclaim in the title role of Verdi’s Don Carlo appeared for the first time on the Met’s Saturday afternoon broadcasts yesterday – again as Don Carlo. His voice was much more appropriate for the part than was the over matched Roberto Alagna who sang most of the…


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Don Carlo in HD

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th December 2010

Verdi’s flawed, but towering, masterpiece Don Carlo was presented in HD Saturday December 11. There is no definitive version of the opera. Verdi authorized so many different variations on his original that it’s up to each company to choose how they’ll mount the work. Five acts, four acts, French, Italian, a ballet, no ballet, a very long list…


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La vita è inferno all’infelice…O tu che seno agli angeli

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 8th May 2010

Verdi’s apotheosis to misery and self pity is one of opera’s greatest arias. The recitative which starts the scena is better than most composers’ best arias. The aria itself is sublime. It requires an extraordinary tenor to bring it off. For no reason other than I like it so much here are three performances of…


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Recording of the Week: Macbeth

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd March 2010

First performed in 1847, Verdi’s Macbeth took 112 years to reach New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Part of the interval was unavoidable as the house didn’t open until 1883. When the work finally did reach the Met the company made up as much as possible for they delay with a superlative production. Verdi’s 10th opera was…


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