Tag

Andrea Chenier

Andrea Chénier in HD

December 13, 2025

The Met added Giordano’s Andrea Chénier to its HD series today. The opera, the composer’s only hit, is a rousing four act distillation of the French Revolution. It has three demanding parts for tenor, soprano, and baritone. While the opera is considered a prime example of the verismo school of Italian opera, it requires singers […]

Andrea Chenier in San Francisco

September 15, 2016

Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chenier is one of opera’s guiltiest pleasures. Critics fall all over their computers deploring its second rate status, but audiences love it when it’s properly cast and led. To bring off the work you must have a big voiced Verdi tenor, soprano, and baritone. My first experience with Giordano’s potboiler was with […]

Jonas Kaufmann’s First Andrea Chenier in London

February 2, 2015

On January 20 The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden mounted its first new production in 30 years of Giordano’s opera Andrea Chenier. The reason for the opera’s reappearance was Jonas Kaufmann’s initial performance of the title role. Right thinking critics turn up their noses at Chenier – actually they come close to regurgitating when they think […]

Jonas Kaufmann’s First Andrea Chenier in London

Andrea Chenier – Improvviso

December 1, 2013

Been away for three weeks, hence no recent posts. But will be at home for a while and thus regular posts will resume. Umberto Giordano’s (1867- 1948) Andrea Chenier is firmly ensconced in the standard operatic repertory. It is very loosely based on the life of the poet Andre Chenier (1762-94) who lost his head during […]

Andrea Chenier Act 2 Duet

January 29, 2012

Here for no other reason than it’s beautiful is the second act duet from Giordano’s most performed opera. It’s not as well known as the duet for the the same characters that concludes the opera, though it contains almost the same material. It’s taken from the Dec 28, 1957 performance of Chenier at the Met. […]