Fidelio is known not only as Beethoven's
only opera but also for the demanding lead roles for both
soprano and tenor. Decca is proud to release an all-new
recording of the opera starring Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann,
two singers who effortlessly bring new life to these notoriously
demanding roles. Claudio Abbado conducts the opera, recorded
live during the 2010 Lucerne Festival, which will be released in
the US on August 2, 2011.
The central tenor role
of Florestan in Fidelio is known as one of the most demanding
and difficult in all of opera and it has tested the limits of
many great tenors for the past two centuries. For his first
complete opera recording for Decca, Jonas Kaufmann, "the world's
greatest currently performing tenor" (London's Daily and Sunday
Express), delivers everything the role demands: fearless tone,
peerless style, and heart-stopping dramatic intensity. His
full-throated delivery of Florestan's great aria in Act 2
reaches a level of excitement rarely achieved by most tenors.
Kaufmann is partnered by the exquisite Swedish soprano Nina
Stemme. Of her recent performances in Wagner's Ring Cycle the
San Francisco Chronicle stated that "the triumph of this Ring
has been the Brünnhilde of soprano Nina Stemme, in a performance
of steely power, tonAl Bloom and dramatic depth." Stemme brings
uncommon warmth of sound and depth of character to the role of
Leonore and is a match for Kaufmann's power.
The
remainder of the strong cast includes Rachel Harnisch, Peter
Mattei, Falk Struckmann, Christof Fischesser and Christoph
Strehl. The performance is led by the legendary conductor
Claudio Abbado. Maestro Abbado continues his collaboration with
Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Classics with this recording. Over
the past year he has released new recordings including a
collection of Pergolesi's works, Rachmaninov with soloist Yuja
Wang, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, and will continue with
releases of Mozart concerti and symphonies.
