LATEST NEWS

In the Interview

Ferruccio Furlanetto speaks with Terri Knudsen from Operafocus

Published on May 11 2013

“OPERAFOCUS met with renowned bass Ferruccio Furlanetto at the Royal Opera House in London a day before the opening night of “Don Carlo” on the 4th of May. If I?m being perfectly honest, I was feeling really rather nervous before this interview, mainly because I have so much respect for Maestro Furlanetto as an artist and as a singer. He?s always struck me as very… authoritative, and rightly so. I wasn?t sure what to expect – but he showed up right on time, dressed in a beautiful tailor-made suit, started chatting to us straight away as we waited to be taken to the press room of the opera house. Not only that, he really is a rare breed of old-fashioned gentleman: opened doors, ladies first (even down to sitting taking his seat last) and he gave very generously of his time. He was utterly charming, relaxed and witty.

Ferruccio Furlanetto is a King, not only on the stage – and when the King speaks, you listen respectfully.”

Read the interview

 

‘Don Quichotte’ at The Stars of White Nights

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing his favorite character in St.Petersburg

Published 10.05.2013

The program of The XXI Stars of White Nights Festival in St.Petersburg has been announced. Ferruccio Furlanetto will be singing title part in Massenet’s ‘Don Quichotte’ on hereJune 29. The brand new production of Yannis Kokkos staging of Massenet’s opera was done on Furlanetto “from scratch” and received high critical acclaim.

“Don Quichotte is one of the best Furlanetto’s parties where excellent vocal is combined with performance that resembles of Feodor Shaliapin for whom this party was written in 1910.” Buisness Petersburg

“Furlanetto delivered a sumptuous performance, making the most of his stage presence and charisma. With a round tone and fine phrasing, the Italian offered an iconic treatment of the ill-fated romantic knight.” The St. Petersburg Times.

You can find all the press here

To the Mariinsky Theater

 

Simon Boccanegra from Lyric on the Air

Lyric Opera of Chicago rebroadcasting internationally their season

Published on May 10 2013

‘Simon Boccanegra’ with Ferruccio Furlanetto as Fiesco will open the series of international broadcasts beginning on Saturday, May 18, and continuing every Saturday through July 13. The Lyric Opera Broadcasts of the 2012/13 Lyric Opera of Chicago season will be rebroadcast internationally by The WFMT Radio Network and heard locally on 98.7WFMT. The eight performances at the Lyric Opera in October and November became an expected triumph for Ferruccio Furlanetto “today’s reining Fiesco” (Chicago Tribune).

“Furlanetto alone invests so much humanity into his part — not to mention strength and warmth throughout its wide range — that the idea that Verdi is only about blood vengeance is pushed far out of mind. Furlanetto’s performance as he handles the old man’s many changing moods and encounters is like a great master class.” – points Andrew Patner in Chicago Sun Times.

You can tune in for “Simon Boccanegra at 1:30pm May 18 CDT. Check local listings for exact times and dates outside the Chicago area. The broadcasts can also be heard anywhere in the world on www.wfmt.com

And you can still attend live performance of ‘Simon Boccanegra’ with Furlanetto as Fiesco this season at the Royal Opera House in June and July. There are still some ticlkets left.

To the broadcast

To the Royal Opera House

 

“A Philosophical Prince of Darkness Commanding Events”

Ferruccio Furlanetto stars as King Philip at the Covent Garden

Published May 9, 2013

The premiere of the second revival of Nickolas Hytner production in the Royal Opera House in London became stunning success with the big ovation at the curtain call and stellar reviews. Ferruccio Furlanetto was “singing with an imposing authority that embraced equally Philip II’s fearsome power and his inner weakness,” – as Richard Fairman at the Financial Times states.

“Ferruccio Furlanetto radiated desperate trapped humanity rather than despotic savagery: his lament for loveless loneliness, sung with impeccable legato, was heart-rending.” - adds Rupert Christiansen in the review for the Telegraph.

And he is still the center of the show “…a philosophical prince of darkness commanding events with baleful demeanour and a burnished tone; his self-tormenting soliloquy was imbued with a massive sadness, and in his duet with the Grand Inquisitor (Eric Halfvarson) the two bass voices meshed in intensely dramatic combat.” As Michael Church writes for The Independent.

And from Opera Today’s review: “Ferruccio Furlanetto was outstanding. His years of experience in the part give him authority. … Furlanetto sings with force, but with color and tenderness.”

A BBC3 broadcast of one of the performances is scheduled for October. The exact date to be announced later.

More reviews you can find here

 

King Philip returns to ROH

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing seven performances of 'Don Carlo'

Published April 23, 2013

Ferruccio Furlanetto returns to the Covent Garden as King Philip in Nicholas Hytner’s production of ‘Don Carlo’, which was done on him “from scratch, - as he recently stated to Opera News, - I was allowed to do whatever I felt — my own choices.”

The first run of this production in 2008 was filmed for DVD and was named a best opera DVD of the year by Gramophone and Ferruccio Furlanetto was nominated for the Laurence Olivier award. He returned for the first production revival in 2009, again with great critical acclaim. In 2010 Hytner’s ‘Don Carlo’ travelled to the Met, where became part of HD-live season, again with stellar reviews and success with the public. This season it was revived at the Met.

“There, in a revival of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” that opened on Friday, the great bass Ferruccio Furlanetto is giving a spellbinding master class on the adage, – wrote The New York Times. - Whether in his stentorian public declarations in the auto-da-fe scene or in the private outpouring “Ella giammai m’amo” (“She never loved me”), his Filippo is exhausted by his power yet frantic to keep it. Mr. Furlanetto meets Verdi’s demanding, wrenching music with commanding power and moving vulnerability in both voice and gesture.” The last performance of the run marked Ferruccio Furlanetto’s 200’s appearance at the Met.

Now Don Carlo returns to the Covent Garden again with Furlanetto as King Philip and with Antonio Pappano in the pit (the production was born with him and now he returns to one of the deepest Verdi’s scores with some interesting additions from the usual cuts among them King’s Philip lament over Posa and following duet with Don Carlo which later became Lacrimosa in Verdi’s Requiem). This time in the cast: Don Carlo –Jonas Kaufmann/ Roberto Aronica, Elizabeth of Valois - Anja Harteros/ Lianna Haroutounian, Posa - Mariusz Kwiecien, Eboli - Beatrice Uria-Monzon, Grand Inquisitor - Eric Halfvarson. All the performances (only few tickets left for the very last one) are sold out. Luckily one of them will be broadcasted on BBC 3 (time and date will be announced later).

To the ROH

To the BBC 3

 

The Lion Speaks to the Opera News

Cover story in the May issue

Published April 18, 2013

Don’t miss Ferruccio Furlanetto on the cover of the May issue of Opera News and inside feature “The Lion Speaks”: “For decades, Ferruccio Furlanetto has exemplified the highest performing standard in opera. As he prepares to sing Filippo in Covent Garden's Don Carlo, the Italian bass speaks to BARRY SINGER about maintaining that standard — and where he fears the opera world is heading”

Read the feature at the Opera News

 

“Murder in the Cathedral”: press-report

Ferruccio Furlanetto shines as Thomas Becket in San Diego in the reviews and supporting events

Published April 14, 2013

The 4 highly successful performances of the first U.S.A. “Murder in the Cathedral” is over. They left long lasting impression of interesting rare piece with bigger than life central figure of Thomas Becket performed by Ferruccio Furlanetto, who ‘didn’t just sing the role of Thomas Becket, whose 1170 assassination is the topic of Pizzetti’s opera, based on an Italian translation of T.S. Elliot’s 1935 play. He inhabited it.” – as United Tribune San Diego stated, - capturing “every nuance of Becket’s struggle. His acting is so convincing, so nuanced, that you almost take his commanding voice for granted.”

Mark Swed in Los Angeles Times adds: “He is not a weary Thomas but a commandingly cranky and heroic one. His voice is dark, mature and powerful. The stage is his.”

From the review of Simon Williams for Opera News: “all interest was centered on the Thomas Becket of Ferruccio Furlanetto. He dominated the stage in the finest voice: his magnificently authoritative bass not only communicated the charismatic power of the defiant archbishop, it elevated Becket's struggle to understand the nature and integrity of martyrdom to the level of an existential interrogation. …The solo with which Becket accepts his role as martyr to God's cause was delivered with such mesmeric force that for the rest of the opera our interest was centered on the spiritual struggle and victory of Becket”.

And Matthew Richard Martinez for Bachtrack.com summons his impressions of Ferruccio Furlanetto’s performance: “It was a high artistic achievement, a sort of culmination of all that can be inspiring in great opera.”

You can read all the press here

The importance of the event inspired many things which happened around “Murder”: several interviews, podcasts, backstage ..etc.

You can find all these interviews features here

 

Extraordinary portrait of the soul searching Archbishop Becket

More gleaming reviews

Published April 2, 2013

Check gleaming reviews for the “Murder in the Cathedral” in San Diego and great performance of Ferruccio Fuirlanetto, as Mr. Martinez in Bachtrack.com stated: “To say Furlanetto’s performance was remarkable would be an understatement. It was a high artistic achievement, a sort of culmination of all that can be inspiring in great opera.”

Los Angeles Times

Bachtrack.com

Opera News

Operawarhorses

Go behind “Murder in the Cathedral”

Opera Sportlight program

Published 2.04.2013

Enjoy OperaSpotlight program about San Diego “Murder in the Cathedral’ with the performance and behind-the-scenes footage and a lot of interviews.

 

 

Season 2013-2014 is approaching

More performances has been announced

Published April 2, 2013

The majority of Ferruccio Furlanetto’s 2013/2014 schedule has been posted on ferrucciofurlanetto.com. a few dates still missing, but we will post once we have the “go ahead” from the theaters and concert organizations. It will be thrilling and intense season and we are happy to share it all with you.

Recent announced highlights include Verdi Requiem and Don Quichotte in San Diego Opera and recitals in Berlin, Milan and Moscow.

To the schedule

 

“Murder in the Cathedral”: A Triumph for Ferruccio Furlanetto

Another review

Published April 1, 2013

“Can there be any doubt that this role of Thomas Becket is a Christmas gift from Tiffany’s for the right bass? Or the slightest doubt that the Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto at this stage of his career is exactly the right singer to portray Becket?

The deep end of Furlanetto’s instrument is rich and mellow, and it gains even more power as it ascends to a beautiful baritonal cantabile at its summit. When defending himself against his accusers, he was stentorian without resorting to bluster, and in his gentle Christmas Day homily, he floated a gentle yet ardent legato line that could pierce even the coldest of hearts. A demanding role—Becket is on stage most of the time—Furlanetto’s archbishop resounded with authority and compassion.”

Read the whole review here

For more information and tickets please visit San Diego Opera

 

Furlanetto magnificent in 'Murder in the Cathedral'

In the review

Published March 31, 2013

From the UT San Diego comes the first review of the San Diego Opera’s ‘Murder in the Cathedral’:

“Bass Ferruccio Furlanetto didn’t just sing the role of Thomas Becket, whose 1170 assassination is the topic of Pizzetti’s opera, based on an Italian translation of T.S. Elliot’s 1935 play. He inhabited it.

There’s little drama in this opera except what’s going on in Becket’s mind. Even without the title, the opening chorus makes Becket’s fate clear. So it’s left to Furlanetto to propel the opera forward as Becket agonizes over whether it is his ego and pride that carry him towards his martyrdom (whether he’s committing the “greatest treason” by doing “the right deed for the wrong reason”) or if he is truly is giving himself over to God’s.

Furlanetto captured every nuance of Becket’s struggle. His acting is so convincing, so nuanced, that you almost take his commanding voice for granted.”

Read the whole review here

Next performances of Pizzetti’s opera on April 2, 5 and 7. Thomas Becket - Ferruccio Furlanetto Herald - Allan Glassman, First Chorus - Susan Neves, Second Chorus - Helene Schneiderman, Conductor- Donato Renzetti, Director - Ian Campbell, Production Designer - Ralph Funicello.

For more information and tickets please visit San Diego Opera

 

Ferruccio Furlanetto about San Diego and Murder in the Cathedral

In the interviews to the ConcertoNet.com and the San Diego Story

Published March 27, 2013

The first representation of the Murder in the Cathedral at the U.S.A. raised big interest in the press to the rare Pizzetti’s opera and to the star of the production – Ferruccio Furlanetto. Don’t miss him in the deep and insightful talk with ConcertoNet.com. You find the artist’s vision of recent Met’s successful Don Carlo, investigate with him Murder in the Cathedral and find out about his warm feeling about Dan Diego Opera Company.

Ferruccio Furlanetto”In my heart, San Diego is the place that comes first. I know that San Diego cannot do the things that the Met does, but what is happening culturally and musically in San Diego is not second to any of these theaters. It was really, from the very beginning, a wonderful relationship with the administration: friendship, first of all, and then the joy of building events together. …

Read the whole interview here

The feature of Ken Herman in San Diego Story explores further Furlanetto’s releationship with the Company and his feelings about Thomas Becket.

“It is not that unusual for a company to mount a production for a singer with a significant draw. Furlanetto’s relationship with San Diego Opera and its General Director goes back to the 1985 season, during the first years of Campbell’s tenure, when the bass sang the title role in Verdi’s first—and rarely staged—opera Oberto.

Murder in the Cathedral marks Furlanetto’s 10th production with San Diego Opera, a level of loyalty he has shown to no other American company. When asked to explain this unusual local allegiance, he gave the expected reply about the “perpetual spring” of San Diego’s climate and added that a cadre expatriate Italians in North County favor him with parties and dinners when he arrives in town.

Singing Pizzetti’s Thomas Becket presents the dramatic challenge of portraying an essentially introverted character whose conflicts are internal. “He realizes that the Law of God must come first, so when he returns to England from exile in France, he knows he has made a fatal choice. All of the struggle goes on inside his mind, but the opera presents this with four characters who represent his four temptations, the last of which is matyrdom.”

Furlanetto’s back-burner “Murder in the Cathedral” project is to mount a semi-staged production of the opera in England’s Canterbury Cathedral, where the climactic scene of this opera took place in the 12th century. His cohort in this project is the Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, with whom he has worked at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

“The clergy of the cathedral are eager to have such a production in their church, if only we can get the London Symphony to bus its orchestra up to Canterbury for the concert.”

you can read the whole feature here.

The San Diego Opera production of Pizzetti’s opera “Murder in the Cathedral” opens at San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. and runs through Sunday, April 7. Tickets: 619.533.7000; wwwsdopera.com

 

Stars in the Salon of the San Diego Opera

Ferruccio Furlanetto in the panel discussion

Published 26.03.2013

The cast and artistic team behind San Diego Opera's new production gather to discuss the intricacies of this unjustly-negelected masterwork. Hosted by Dr. Nicolas Reveles.

 

 

Incomparable Furlanetto

In the interviews to the Union Tribune and OperaPuls

Published March 26, 2013

In between of the rehearsals for the Murder in the Cathedral in San Diego Ferruccio Firlanetto sat down with James Chute from Union Tribune and Erica Miner from OperaPuls to talk about Thomas Becket, Pizzetti opera and other things.

“He is Ferruccio Furlanetto, - writes Opera Puls in the feature “Incomparable Furlanetto”, - the most renowned basso profundo of our age, and a familiar and beloved presence in San Diego. Since 1985 he has performed here in roles such as Don Quichotte, Boris Godunov, Don Giovanni and King Philip. Fresh from his latest success in New York, he is now back to prepare for the signature role of Thomas Becket in San Diego Opera’s groundbreaking premiere of Ildebrando Pizzetti’s Murder In The Cathedral (Assassinio nella Cattedrale). Erica Miner “was blessed to spend an amazing hour chatting with him, - and find him “charismatic, deeply intelligent, and most of all, a total gentleman.”

In the interview Ferruccio Furlanetto speaks about recent Met’s Don Carlo, Don Quichotte, his present and past roles and of course about role of Thomas Becket:

“… it was fun from the very beginning. I really wanted it, I loved it and it was fulfilling. And now I can tell you that every year it becomes easier and easier to refresh it, and it’s really rewarding”

Read the whole interview here

“Furlanetto looking for the space to act” – under this title the article of James Chute in the Union Tribune comes out

“I love to be a bass…., - told Ferruccio Furlanetto to him, - I wouldn’t like to be a tenor. I love to be a singer, of course, but also to be an interpreter. Apart from (Verdi’s) ‘Otello,’ they don’t have much. They have only the usual silly lovers and beautiful singing… The (bass) aria in ‘Don Carlo’ is probably the most beautiful aria in the entire drama, so we are not badly treated by the composer. Plus, we have these amazing standard roles where you have to be an actor, a singing actor. ”

“I like beautiful roles where there is a wide space for acting,” Furlanetto said. “Thomas Becket is much less known (as an operatic role) than King Philip, or Boris or Don Quichotte, but it doesn’t offer anything less as a character. So it is really a wonderful privilege to do it.”

you can read the whole feature here.

 

Ferruccio Furlanetto about 'Murder in the Cathedral'

San Diego Opera podcast

Published 21.03.2013

Ferruccio Furlanetto returnes to San Diego Opera. This season he sings, for the first time in the U.S., the role of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Ildebrando Pizzetti's Murder in the Cathedral, a role that he thinks compares to the other great roles for bass: Boris, Philip in Don Carlo, Don Quixote. In this wide-ranging conversation with Nicolas Reveles, Geisel Director of Education and Outreach, he talks about this neglected opera and the challenges of the role.

 

 

Three different roles in Vienna for 2013-14

House on the Ring announced it's new season today

Published March 20, 2013

Vienna State Opera announced it’s 2013-2014 season today: Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing his three key parts in three different productions.

He will start in September as Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra opposite Thomas Hampson (Simon), Joseph Calleja (Adorno) and Tamar Iveri (Amelia); Alain Altinoglu conducts. Performances on September 27, October 1 and 4.

More about SIMON BOCCANEGRA performances

Verdi year celebration will continue with Furlanetto’s other phrased Verdi part – King Philip in Don Carlo. Ramon Vargas will be Don Carlo, Ludovic Tezier – Rodrigo, Eric Halfvarson – Grand Inquisitor, Anja Harteros – Elisabeth, Violeta Urmana – Eboli. The production of Daniele Abbado, Franz Welser-Most conducts. Performances on October 13, 16, 19.

More about DON CARLO performances

In January 2014 Ferruccio Furlanetto will return to Vienna as Boris Godunov in the Mussorgsky opera. Herbert Lippert – Schuiskij, Kurt Rydl – Pimen, Marian Talaba - Grigori. Performances on january 23, 28 and 31.

More about BORIS GODUNOV performances

 

In the title role of Thomas Becket

San Diego Opera staging rare Pizzetti's opera

Published March 18, 2013

At the end of March Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing the title role of Thomas Becket in the first representation of the Pizzetti's opera Murder in the Cathedral in U.S.A.

In advance Furlanetto gave an interview to the SDO blog ‘Aria Serios’: “Pizzetti's Assassinio nella Cattedrale is a piece that is not very well known simply because it is difficult to cast. The role of Thomas Becket is a gigantic role not only for its demanding vocals but also for deep acting interpretation required that is equal to Boris Godunov or King Philip.

It was composed in 1953 and presented for the first time at the Auditorium RAI of Torino conducted by Pizzetti himself with Nicola Rossi Lemeni in the title role. A few years later, Herbert Von Karajan did it in the State Opera of Vienna with Hans Hotter. As it happens very often, even to beautiful pieces, it was forgotten for quite a while.

I started to perform this opera in 2002 in Trieste , performed a few other concert versions in Italy and, finally after 54 years of absence, I did it in La Scala of Milan in 2008 in a splendid production of Yannis Kokkos and conducted by Donato Renzetti whom we have the great privilege to have in San Diego. Maestro Renzetti is not only a very refined and charismatic conductor but also a stunning interpreter of this masterpiece and, last but not least, a splendid person.”

Read the whole interview at the Aria Serios SDO blog. You can also meet Ferruccio Furlanetto during roundtable discussion at San Diego Opera on March 21.

Furlanetto is no stranger to San Diego Opera. He made his Company debut in 1985 as Oberto has sung often with the Company since then including the title roles of Don Giovanni, Boris Godunov, Don Quixote as well as King Philip in Don Carlo.

The first night performance on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 7:00pm will be heard on KPBS 89.5FM, 89.1FM in La Jolla and 97.7 in Imperial Valley or online at www.kpbs.org

For more information and tickets

Listen to the broadcast

 

A masterful performance

200 milestone at the Met

Published March 17, 2013

The successful run of Don Carlo at the Met was closed on March 16 – it marked another milestone in Ferruccio Furlanetto’s career, his 200th performance at the Met.

He debuted in the house in 1980 as Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo, in the whole performed 16 roles, including Mephistopheles in Faust, Silva in Ernani, Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Seviglia, Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Cardinal Brogni in La Juive, Leporello and Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro amoung others. This season he triumphally returned to the Met in Don Carlo with the top reviews in New York Times, New York Post, Associated Press and others.

The last one came from Mario Hamlet-Metz for Opera+ magazine: “The most remarkable performance came from bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, who revealed us eloquently all the complexities of the embittered King, mainly his total isolation and impossibility to trust anyone, which made him suspicious of, and violent with wife and son as well as involuntarily submissive to the powers of the Church. In his study, his long meditation started out as if he were in a dream, a dream that soon became a nightmare. Mr. Furlanetto’s rendering of the scene was heart-wrenching and it constituted the highest point of the entire evening. His voice sounded free, round, expressive, authoritarian and threatening or introspective and pensive when needed. A masterful performance.”

Read all

 

Mariinsky‘Don Quichotte’ in the Press

Press report

Published 05.03.2013

Massenet’s Don Quichotte staged at the Mariinsky theatre with Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title party became one of the most successful projects of this year to judge from the reaction of public (the standing ovation was lasting more then 15 minutes) and critics. The Massenet’s opera originally written to the great Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin returned to Mariinsky repertoire only with another great performer for Don Quichotte. Furlanetto started singing it at Mariinsky Theater first in concert, recorded it for Mariinsky label and now in a brand new production of Yannis Kokkos which was mounted on Furlanetto, from scratch. The performances had tremendous success among public and critics. Here is the selection of the press from the major Russian newspapers.

“Ferruccio Furlanetto’s Don Quichotte is a true classical character… His performance is natural and phenomenally aristocratic.” Izvestia

“As it was expected, the lion’s share in the success of this opera was obliged to the acting of brilliant Italian bass in the title part. Furlanetto’s powerful voice perfectly filled all the auditorium and his acting charisma was so powerful that you can’t want more.” Nevskoje Vrema

Read more

 

Around ‘Don Carlo’

Public appearances and other events

Published 21.02.2013

Don’t miss the Verdi’s Don Carlo with Ferruccio Furlanetto tomorrow streamed live at Met Opera web site as well as supporting events surrounding the first revival at the Met of Nickolas Hytner staging of the opera.

Tonight February 21 during ‘Parsifal’ broadcast (at the second intermission around 9.45 Eastern time) listen to Ferruccio Furlanetto’s interview.

Listen live Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS XM Channel 74

On February 26 at the Casa Italiana meet Ferruccio Furlanetto with Barbara Frittoli in the exiting conversation with Fred Plotkin as a part of his famous series “Adventure in Italian Opera” specially devoted to the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. Tickets Member-only RSVP: 212-502-7944 212-502-7944 FREE. RSVP deadline: 24 hours prior to event start. All seats will be released 10 minutes prior to scheduled start.

For more information and tickets

 

The Return of the King

Ferruccio Furlanetto as king Philip at the Met

Published 11.02.2013

Don’t miss Ferruccio Furlanetto as King Philip II - one of his signature parts already won great critical acclaim worldwide - in the Met’s revival of ‘Don Carlo’, opening February 22, 7 PM. This season Ferruccio Furlanetto will be performing ‘Don Carlo’ at the Met with Ramуn Vargas, Barbara Frittoli, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Eric Halfvarson in the cast. Conductor – Lorin Maazel. In May will sing in the same Nicolas Hytner production of Verdi’s opera at the Royal Opera House with Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Mariusz Kwiecien, Christine Rice and Eric Halfvarson. Conductor – Antonio Pappano.

The opening performance performance will be streamed live on the Met’s website, www.metopera.org and also broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS XM Channel 74.

For more information and tickets

 

Teatro Real announced 17th season

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing Procida in 'I Vespri Siciliani'

Published 8.02.2013

Programme of the Teatro Real’s 17th Season 2013/2014 was presented on February, 7 by Gerard Mortier to the press. Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing Giovanni di Procida in concert version of 'I Vespri Siciliani' under musical lead of James Conlon. In other parts: Arrigo - Yonghoon Lee, Elena - Julianna Di Giacomo, Guido di Monforte – TBA

The performances on June 11, 14 and 17 2014

For more information and tickets

 

Don Carlo for the Verdi Year

Ferruccio Furlanetto Returns to the Met as Philip II in Verdi’s Don Carlo

Published 6.02.2013

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing tormented King Philip II in the Met’s revival of Don Carlo, opening February 22. This season’s performances of opera are the first revival of Nicholas Hytner’s production, which opened to critical acclaim in the Met’s 2010-11 season. The production was mounted by an renowned director with Furlanetto as Philip in mind, first seen at Royal Opera House in London in 2008, winning not only critical acclaim for the Italian bass, but also nomination for him in 2009 for the prestigious Laurence Oliver Award for the outstanding achievement in opera. The Covent-Garden performance was released on DVD and was named Opera DVD of the Year by Gramophone magazine.

In 2010 the production came across the ocean to the Met won critical acclaim and was enthusiastically received by the public. "Ferruccio Furlanetto dominates proceedings triumphantly as Filippo II. … enriches the cantilena with an endless stream of deep, dark, rolling tone, always fresh and equally resonant at both range extremes. ....he conveys the king’s anguish with compelling dignity and authority." - wrote Martin Bernheimer in The Financial Times Paul F. Driscoll in the Opera News stated: “Best of the opening-night cast was Ferruccio Furlanetto, in voice, manner and mien a magnificent Filippo”

This time with Ferruccio Furlanetto in the cast: Ramуn Vargas, Barbara Frittoli, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Eric Halfvarson. Conductor – Lorin Maazel.

The February 22 opening performance of Don Carlo will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS XM Channel 74, as will the performances on March 6 and 9. The February 22 performance will also be streamed live on the Met’s website, www.metopera.org. The March 9 matinee performance will be broadcast live over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.

For more information on this season’s performances of Don Carlo, please visit the Met’s website

 

Don Quichotte in Toronto

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing his favorite part at the Canadian Opera Company

Published 26.01.2013

On January 23 the new 2013/2014 season was announced by the Canadian Opera Company. Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing once again one of his signature roles on stage of the Four Seasons Centre, (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). The production of Linda Brovsky originally created for Seattle Opera Company. In other roles: Sancho Panza: Quinn Kelsey, Dulcinee: Ekaterina Gubanova. Conductor: Johannes Debus.

The performances on May 9, 11, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 2014

For more information and tickets

 

Brilliant Mustafa in Vienna

Ferruccio Furlanetto returned to L'Italiana in Algeri

Published 14.01.2013

Ferruccio Furlanetto returned to Vienna Staatsoper to sing one of his rare comedian roles – Mustafa in l’Italiana in Algeri in the legendary production of J.-P. Ponnelle. It is the only staging of the opera in which renowned bass agrees to sing Mustafa. He started in Ponnelle L’Italiana in 1988 working with famous director in his last work and returned to the production for it’s revivals at the Vienna Staatsoper and at the Met. This time in other roles: L’Italiana – Agnes Baltsa, Lindoro – Antonino Siragusa. Conductor – Jesus Lopez Cobos.

The first two performances of Ferruccio Furlanetto (starting from February, 10) were huge success. “Star of the evening was certainly Ferruccio Furlanetto as a Mustafa” – wrote Johannes Marksteiner. Renate Wagner added: “And that makes such a joy to hear how flexible this great bass voice is to have all required notes from the top to the low register without any effort … Furlanetto is today the fulfillment of the role and we could enjoy it once again.” (Der Neue Merker).

And from The Opera Critic review: "“Mustafa is an ideal role for Furlanetto ... His seemingly unlimited range, vocal (and physical) agility, and a wonderful sense of humour turn this cantankerous old figure into a delightful and almost lovable one, who - judging from his talent in sending Isabella's bouquet through her balcony window - might have equally enjoyed a career on the basketball court.” (Moore Parker)

To the Vienna State Opera

 

Return of Don Quichotte

Ferruccio Furlanetto sang premiere of Massenet’s opera

Published 31.12.2012

On December 28 a long awaited premier of ‘Don Quichotte’ Massenet with Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title part was enthusiastically received by the public at Mariinsky Theater, St.Petersburg. The history of the opera started here with the Feodor Chaliapin as Don Quichotte (opera was originally written for him). With Ferruccio Furlanetto opera was re-born in St.Petersburg first in the concert version at the Mariinsky Concert Hall, also at the Easter Festival in Moscow (you can watch the video of this performance here); it was recorded for Mariinsky Label also with Furlanetto and was named the CD of the week by BBC Radio 3 and CD of the Month by the BBC Music Magazine, it was also nominated for Grammy.

For the staging of ‘Don Quichotte’ a renown Greek-French director Yannis Kokkos was invited; he worked with Ferruccio Furlanetto before at La Scala (Assassinio nella Cattedrale) and at Vienna State Opera (Boris Godunov). At the premiere the young Mariinsky singeres shared success with Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title part: Anna Kiknadze (Dulcinee) and Andrey Serov (Sanco). Conductor – Valery Gergiev. The performance was repeated with the same cast on December 29. The information about premiere was shown in newsreels of the all major TV channels and aired on Radio, all praising importance of Ferruccio Furlanetto for the staging of the opera - "the best Don Quichotte of our time who inherited Chaliapin's manthle" (St.Petersburg TV).

Mariinsky‘Don Quichotte’ in the Russian news

St.Petersburg TV

5 Channel

Mir TV

Radio Russia

Read more

 

Champagne aria for 'Vinodentro'

Ferruccio Furlanetto sung Mozart arias for Italian movie

Published on December 16 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto had recorded two arias from Don Giovanni (Catalog aria and Champagne aria) for the Italian movie Vinodentro, which will come out in spring. The script is based on on the novel "Vino Dentro" by Fabio Marcotto, the film is directed by the director, screenwriter and producer Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani.

It is the story of Giovanni Cuttin, the most important and recognized Italian wine-writer (the Italian Sommelier Association supports the project). His life unfolds as repeated successes between public wine tastings, conferences, and the presentation of his autobiographical book Vinodentro. Until one day he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman who drags him into a downwards spiral with no exit. Through an enigmatic past which resurfaces, glasses of Marzemino and echoes of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, sooner or later the bill must be paid.

The cast includes Vincenzo Amato and Giovanna Mezzogiorno. Vinodentro is produced by Alba Produzioni srl by Sandro Frezza and Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani in collaboration with Trentino Marketing Spa and the support of the Trentino Film Commissio.

 

Verdi Requiem at Tanglewood

Ferruccio Furlanetto will perform at the famous US festival

Published on December 15 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing bass part in Verdi Requiem on July 27 at Tanglewood Music Festival 2013 with Boston Symphony Orchestra under the lead of Andris Nelsons. Soloists: Krist ne Opolais (soprano), Lioba Brown (mezzo-soprano), Dmytri Popov (tenor).

The Tanglewood Music Festival is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood estate Massachusetts. The festival consists of a series of concerts, including symphonic music, chamber music, choral music, musical theater, contemporary music, jazz, and pop music. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is in residence at the festival, but many of the concerts are put on by other groups. It is arguably the premier music festival in the United States and one of the top in the world.

The ticket sales starts on January 27.

to the Tanglewood web-site

 

Favorite Mozart Arias for Christmas

Ferruccio Furlanetto will perform in Jansons Christmas Matenee

Published on December 8 2012

Don't miss Ferruccio Furlanetto's performance in Maris Jansons Christmas Matenee from Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

‘Rarely is such a warm, captivating and smooth voice heard here in the Netherlands,’ wrote Peter van der Lint in the Dutch newspaper Trouw following the Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto’s last performance with the RCO, for which he garnered wide acclaim with the orchestra singing Musorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death on 25 August 2010. Now he returns with his favorite arias from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni. After the interval, a truly unique event will take place: for the very first time, a work by Bruckner will be performed on a Christmas Matinee concert – and what’s more, it will be conducted by chief conductor Mariss Jansons. It promises to be quite a performance.

The performance on December 25, starting 14.45 will be broadcasted worldwide by International TV Channel UNITEL Classica.

Buy the tickets

 

Ovations for Boris

Success at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow

Published on December 6 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto performed the title part in Mussorgsky’s ‘Boris Godunov’ with great success and standing ovation. The reviews pointed that Russian tsar in Furlanetto’s depiction became shockingly sensitive and intimate. “His Boris is becoming crazy, obsessed by the idea that he is a killer and in the same moment he is the tsar keeping his dignity to the very last moment… His velvet lyrical timbre are especially notable in the scenes with children and in the moment when his soul is addressing to God”, - wrote Nezavisimaja Gazeta.

Just before the performance Ferruccio Furlanetto gave an interview to the TV Channel Culture. You can watch it here.

 

Boris Godunov for Moscow

Ferruccio Furlanetto will perform at the historical stage of Bolshoi Theater

Published on November 26 2012

Highly anticipated performances of Ferruccio Furlanetto in one of his charismatic roles at the Bolshoi is around the corner now. Italian bass will sing the role of tormented Russian tsar in the famous historical production of 1948, staged by Leonid Baratov and designed by Feodor Fedorovsky. The legendary production was revived in 2011 (director of revival – Igor Ushakov) after the re-opening of the theater.

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing the role on November 29 and December 1 alongside the strong cast: Shuisky - Maxim Paster, Pimen - Alexei Tikhomirov, Grigory Otrepiev - Vsevolod Grivnov, Marina Mnishek - Ekaterina Gubanova, Varlaam - Vladimir Matorin, Missail - Yuri Markelov, Andrei Shchelkalov - Elchin Azizov, Innkeeper - Tatiana Erastova, Simpleton - Stanislav Mostovoy, Xenia - Alina Yarovaya, Fyodor - Alexandra Kadurina, Xenia’s Nurse - Evgenia Segenyuk. Conductor - Vassily Sinaisky.

Ferruccio Furlanetto is recognised today as the great Boris Godunov. He debuted with this part in 1999 in Rome, sang it in Florence, Milan, Venice, Palermo, Vienna, San-Diego and Chicago. He became the first Italian to sing the part at the Mariinsky Theater. His recent performances as Boris in Chicago, Vienna and Palermo was highly praised by the press. With the performances at the Bolshoi Theater he will become the first western artist who sang the part on the both historical stages of Russia.

To the Bolshoi Theater website

 

An Expected Triumph

"Simon Boccanegra" performances are widely praised by the press

Published on November 17 2012

The “Simon Boccanegra” performances at the Lyric Opera of Chicago became an expected triumph for Ferruccio Furlanetto – “today’s reining Fiesco” (Chicago Tribune). The Lyric Opera gathered a strong cast: Thomas Hampson (Boccanegra), Krassimira Stoyanova (Amelia), Frank Lopardo (Gabriel Adorno), Quinn Kelsey (Paolo). The stellar reviews in the leading editions after the premiere were followed by local press, Internet and International reviews all praising “the real star of the evening - Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto who brought a vocal purity and tonal beauty as well as dramatic intensity and tenderness when needed to the role of Fiesco that, even taken alone, makes seeing this production well worth while.” (Newcitystage.com)

“Our first encounter with Fiesco occurs in the prologue as he mourns the death of his daughter Maria with the heartbreaking and beautiful aria Il lacerto spirito. Furlanetto’s emotional and pitch-perfect portrayal is marvelous.” (Chicagostagereview.com)

Salvatore Calomino from Opera Today analyze every detail of the singer performance in his review: “At the entrance of Fiesco Mr. Furlanetto establishes his character immediately by denouncing in a curse laden with vocal tremor Simone as the “vile seduttore” [“wretched seducer”] of his daughter Maria, who has now died. Fiesco’s noted aria, “Il lacerato spirito” [“The tormented spirit”] is sung by Furlanetto with palpable feeling and a fine sense of Verdi’s line. His repeated bass notes on “Prega, Maria, per me” [“Maria, pray for me”] at the close of the aria seems to come with Fiesco’s last breath of emotional control. …”

Read the press

 

About "Simon Boccanegra"

Ferruccio Furlanetto participated in the "Discovery Series" at the Lyric Opera

Published on October 25 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto currently starring in the Lyric Opera “Simon Boccanegra” appeared in a “Discovery series” as part of the theater educational program.

“Slim and crisply tailored in a three-piece brown tweed suit, the famed bass seems unrecognizable backstage as the man who brought Mussorgsky’s besieged 16th czar and Verdi’s vengeful 14th-century aristocrat to life on Lyric’s stage. “Here I am, without my fur,” he said, jokingly referring to the wild manes and extravagant beards he usually wears onstage.” – described the renown bass classical music critic Wynne Delacoma, who interviewed Furlanetto on the same day for the Chicago Sun Times feature on “Simon Boccanegra”.

“All of Verdi’s operas are extremely well written for the right voices,” said Furlanetto in the interview -, his deep voice and Italian accent adding gravitas to his carefully chosen words. “If you have the right voice, it’s a promenade…” You can read the whole feature here , but Furlanetto reviled much more about Verdi, “Simon Boccanegra” in the whole and his role in particular during the following “Discovery series” – the Talk Show with the Lyric Opera dramaturge Roger Pines.

You can find video and audio here

 

Talk Show at the Opera Academy of California

Complete video of Ferruccio Furlanetto's meeting with the opera students

Published on October 23 2012

During his summer performances as Attila in San Francisco Ferruccio Furlanetto participated in the “Meet the Artist” event organized by Artistic Director of the Opera Academy of California Yefim Maizel. Ferruccio Furlanetto in a sincere talk with the students recollected his long great career and answered questions. The video and photos of the event were generously provided by Mr. Maizel to share on this site.

Watch the video

 

'The most powerful performance from today's reigning Fiesco'

Ferruccio Furlanetto triumphed as Fiesco at the premiere of Simon Boccanegra

Published on October 17 2012

The opening night of “Simon Boccanegra” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago turned out as a triumph for Ferruccio Furlanetto. When he appeared for a curtain call the audience raised on their feet for the standin ovation and the night was followed by the stellar reviews in the press.

“The most powerful performance came from Furlanetto, today's reigning Fiesco. As Amelia's grandfather and Boccanegra's political nemesis, he held the stage with his big, imposing bass – rock-sold down to the low F sharp in his aria "Il lacerato spirito" – and a portrayal that balanced dignity with an implacable thirst for vengeance.” – wrote John von Rhein in Chicago Tribune.

“Furlanetto alone invests so much humanity into his part — not to mention strength and warmth throughout its wide range — that the idea that Verdi is only about blood vengeance is pushed far out of mind. Furlanetto’s performance as he handles the old man’s many changing moods and encounters is like a great master class.” – points Andrew Patner in Suntimes.

“Following up his memorable company debut as Boris Godunov last season, Ferruccio Furlanetto etched yet another incisive portrait as Boccanegra’s enemy, Fiesco. The Italian bass brought a natural ease of production, saturnine tone and glorious dark vocalism to the character. Fiesco could easily become just another Verdi bad-guy bass role, but Furlanetto brought a striking depth to the wealthy patrician, conveying the volatile anger, filial devotion and misplaced justice, particularly his forgiveness of Boccanegra in the final scene.” – Lawrence A. Johnson in Chicago Classical Review

And as the review published in Chicago Now and Chicago Theater beat puts it: “Already in the prologue, Furlanetto sets the precedence for an evening of enchantment. He doesn’t mislead!”

The next performances of the opera on October 20 24, 28, 31 November 3, 6, 9.

Lyric Opera of Chicago

 

Winterreise for Sacile

Ferruccio Furlanetto will perform in his native town

Published on October 13 2012

On November 21 Ferruccio Furlanetto will grant his native city Sacile (PN) in Friuli a recital with Schubert’s “Winterreise”, piano – Igor Tchetuev. The performance of the true Ambassador of the city of Sacile in the world will open Concert Series of the season at the Fazzioli Concert Hall. Ferruccio Furlanetto dedicates his free performance to his fellow citizens.

Next recitals of Ferruccio Furlanetto are on December 12, Prague (Winterreise) and May 28, Vienna State Opera.

To Fazzioli Concert Hall

Tickets for the Prague recital

 

Fiesco once again

"Simon Boccanegra" coming soon at the Lyric Opera of Chicago

Published on October 3 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto will be starring soon as Fiesco in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. One of the key parts of his repertoire is praised worldwide. “Ferruccio Furlanetto, as Fiesco, gave a master class in Verdi singing... In the true Italian manner, his voice is even, full and effortlessly powerful from bottom to top," - wrote Antonio Tommasini in New York Times about recent performances at the Met.

Furlanetto’s Fiesco was seen and heard on all major world opera stages and three times documented on DVD.

At the Lyric Opera Ferruccio Furlanetto will reprise Elijah Moshinksy ROH production which will return to London at the end of the season (again with Furlanetto). At the Lyric Opera performances Boccanegra is Thomas Hampson, Amelia – Krassimira Stoyanova, Adorno – Frank Lopardo, Paolo – Quinn Kelsey. Conductor - Sir Andrew Davis.

Don’t miss also “Simon Boccanegra” discussion as part of discovery series with Ferruccio Furlanetto on October 16 (UBS Tower – 1N. Wacker Dr. across from the Civic Opera House; call 312.827.59.12 for tickets).

In advance of Chicago performances Ferruccio Furlanetto gave his comments about the opera and his role to Lyric Opera dramaturge Roger Pines, which he kindly provided for publication here. Text is reproduced here by permission of the Lyric Opera.

Read Ferruccio Furlanetto’s comments about “Simon Boccanegra”

To the Lyric Opera web-site

 

Sensational Furlanetto

Ferruccio Furlanetto triumphed as Boris Godunov in Vienna

Published on September 30 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto returned to the Vienna “Boris Godunov” as a matter of last moment cast change and his performances as tormented Russian Tzar became a real triumph with long lasted ovations from the public and raving press. As Volkmar Parschalk in the ”Kronen Zeitung” reports “Ferruccio Furlanetto dominated the stage with his beautiful (one of the best of our time) bass voice and his theatrical creation of this difficult role of strong and suffering Tzar”.

The “Kurier” review of Luisa Hahn came out under the title “Boris Godunov” with sensational Furlanetto. The critic praised his stellar clear pronunciation and perfect phrasing, beautiful timbre of easily flowing voice.

At Vienna Staatsoper the original Mussorgsky’s score from 1869 was staged by Yannis Kokkos. In the other parts of September run of the opera public heard: Pimen - Ain Anger, Grigori - Marian Talaba, Shuiskij – Jorma Silvasti, conductor - Tugan Sokhiev.

The next appearance of Ferruccio Furlanetto in the role will happen at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow (November 29, December 1) this time in the longer (with Polish act) version of the opera from 1872.

Read the Press about previous performances

 

The Return of the Tzar

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing "Boris Godunov" in Vienna

Published on September 14 2012

Ferruccio Furlanetto will be singing Boris Godunov at the Vienna State Opera on September 24 and 28. This cast change was announced yesterday by the theater.

Ferruccio Furlanetto is recognized today as a greatest Boris of our time. He debuted with this part in 1999 in Rome, sang it in Florence, Milan, Venice, Palermo, San-Diego and Chicago. He became the first Italian bass to appear in this role at the Mariinsky theater and in the upcoming season he will also appear as Boris on the stage of Bolshoi Theater, that will make him the only Western artist who sang this part on both historical main stages of Russia.

At the Vienna State Opera he sang it first in 2007 in the Yannis Kokkos production, repeated it in 2009 and appeared in the original version of Mussorgsky at the end of the previous season opera with great success and stellar reviews in the press. Now he will sing again in its revival. In the other parts: Pimen - Ain Anger, Grigori - Marian Talaba, conductor - Tugan Sokhiev

From the recent press: “All the ways of a vigorous power, of sorrow, despair and crazyness are carried along in Ferruccio Furlanetto’s thrilling interpretation of the title role ,“ – wrote "Der Standard". The correspondent of "The Krone" was impressed when he heard Ferruccio Furlanetto as Boris in 2007 and points that the singer interpretation was “strengthen by the time as well as expressive vocal power and his way of representation”. “The king of the basses Ferruccio Furlanetto sang again the role of Tsar Boris with gigantic voice power and great theatrical sensitivity in the Death scene,” – wrote E.Hirchmann in the „Osterreich”.

Find out more and buy the tickets

Read the Press about previous performances

 

More about 'Vespri' in Vienna

„More reviews are coming out praising Ferruccio Furlanetto’s great performance as Procida. Von Gerhard Kramer in the Wiener Zeitung pointed out the class of the singer, his dominating personality on stage, his intelligent acting and voluminous bass full of character and flowing to the hall easily. Kronen Zeitung also put their two cents worth pointing excellent performance of the “O tu Palermo” aria.

Few days ago Wiener Zeitung also published a feature on Ferruccio Furlanetto where in sincere talk he reviled some details about his character:

“I sang Procida in 1982 in New York. I was always very much fond of this character. All big Verdi's roles are very demanding vocally, but only a few also have a dramatic value for the interpreter. Procida from the Sicilian point of view is the biggest patriot. But from the French side which is closer to our today's perspective, he is a terrorist. To play these both sides of one character is really exciting.

Procida is a fundamentalist. He is ready to give his own blood and the blood of his friends to his only goal – freedom, and he is not considering any losses on the way to achieve that. So he is very dangerous, and we know this danger today everywhere in our world. A model for Procida in this production was the famous Italo-American mafioso Lucky Luciano. "Vespri" is one of the few Verdi's operas which can be staged in modern dress.”

Read the interview in German

The next performances of “I Vespri Siciliani” on September 12, 15 and 19.

"I Vespri Siciliani" live radio broadcast on September 15, 19-00, ORF O1

To the ORF OE1 radio

Buy tickets

'I Vespri Siciliani' in the Press

„Ferruccio Furlanetto impresses as Giovanni da Procida with his mighty bass and sings famous aria “O tu Palermo“excellently”- the Kurier reports today about the September 9th revival of “I Vespri Siciliani” at the Vienna State Opera. Indeed the famous bass aria became the great hit of the evening with the biggest ovation which put the house down as it was stated by Die Presse and Der Neue Merker. Ferruccio Furlanetto who appeared this time opposite absolutely new cast in the Herbert Wernicke impressive production was the true star of the evening (Der Neue Merker) “and his bass became even more dark and powerful over years”( Die Presse).

Stefan Ender in DER STANDARD pointed also that great class of the singer is clearly seen in “the noble darkness and calm power of his voice like organ with velvet and deep foundation and impressive volume.”

In September issue of the Wiener Staatsoper magazine “Prolog” the interview of Ferruccio Furlanetto was published. In the interesting talk with Oliver Lang the singer speaks about the part of Procida and other things.

The next performances of “I Vespri Siciliani” on September 12, 15 and 19.

"I Vespri Siciliani" live radio broadcast on September 15, 19-00, ORF O1

To the ORF OE1 radio

Buy tickets

Read the Prolog interview in German

Mozart Arias CD

The famous Mozart: Bass Arias CD of Ferruccio Furlanetto recorded in 90-s and long ago out of stock was released again by Newton Classics. The studio recording done with Weiner Symphoniker (Conductor - Ion Marin) includes 15 arias from the Mozart operas. “Here is a private portrait gallery for Ferruccio Furlanetto: all his Mozart roles rising up and meeting him in person and showing, in close focus, the quick intelligence and versatility of this bass-baritone”, - wrote Gramophone in the review of this recording.

“Representing the pinnacle of Mozarts mature style, these arias run the full gamut of emotions and reveal Furlanetto’s range of technical and expressive virtuosity. To find the same artist singing such a wide variety of roles in his career, let alone on the same disc, is a rare thing: this recording is a fine addition to the Newton Classics vocal library”, - from the description of the CD.

The much anticipated new release is available in the all major web-stores

Buy at Amazon

'I Vespri Siciliani' in Vienna

Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing Giovanni da Procida in 'I Vespri Siciliani' at the Vienna State Opera (premiere on September 9, next performances on 12, 15 and 19). The current production of the opera (in the Italian version) by Herbert Wernicke was premiered at the House on the Ring in 1998 with KS Ferruccio Furlanetto as Procida as well.

His debut in the role was in 1982 at the Met with Renata Scotto as Elena and James Levine in the pit. “His bass was firm, rich, consistently in tune and gracefully responsive to all of Verdi's demands”, - as Bernard Holland stated in New York Times.

After that he sang this part in Italian and French versions with great success. His performance with Riccardo Muti at Teatro alla Scala was filmed and released on DVD (available also on CD). Ferruccio Furlanetto about the part: “I love Procida, it’s a complex character; from the French point of view he is a terrorist, but from Sicilian point of view – a patriot”.

This time the opera is presented under the musical lead of Gianandrea Noseda in his debut at Vienna State Opera with the strong cast: Guido di Monforte - Gabriele Viviani, Arrigo - Burkhard Fritz, Elena -Angela Meade.

"I Vespri Siciliani" live radio broadcast on September 15, 19-00, ORF O1

To the ORF OE1 radio

To the Vienna State Opera web-site

The New Season is Around the Corner

The 2012-2013 season begins for Ferruccio Furlanetto in September with the part of Procida in "I Vespri Siciliani" at the Vienna Staatsoper. He will appear in his other famous Verdi's part – Fiesco in "Simon Boccanegra" - at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in October and at the season ending at the Royal Opera House in July.

Recognized today as the great Philipp of our time in Verdi’s "Don Carlo" he will sing this part at the Metropolitan Opera in February and March and then perform it at the Royal Opera House in June.

The other important season appointment is the first presentation in the USA Pizzetti’s "Assassinio nella Cattedrale" (Murder in the Cathedral) in the San Diego Opera in April with Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title role of Thomas Becket.

The public of Vienna State Opera will enjoy Ferruccio Furlanetto’s Mustafa in L’Italiana in Algieri in January in the famous Ponnelle’s production. His performances as Don Quichotte at the Mariinsky Theater (St.Petersburg) in December in the new production of Massenet’s opera are also highly anticipated. Other importaint season appointment is the title role of Boris Godunov in historical production of the opera at the old stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

The upcoming concert season includes Christmas concert with the Concertgebouw Royal Orchestra under the baton of Mariss Jansons in Amsterdam and also recitals at the Rudolfinum (Prague) in December and at the Vienna Staatsoper in May.

Read More

 

First Winterreise in Austria

Ferruccio Furlanetto sang his first “Winterreise” in Austria. The highly successful performance during the Carinthischer Sommer in the Collegiate Church of Ossiach was praised by the public and the press.

The Ossiach church dates back to the 11th century. The church allows more than 600 seats and has a perfect acoustics. The fact that there was the last concert of the festival in Ossiach and the dark atmosphere of the Schubert Lieder were a good combination as Friedrich Harald wrote in the KTZ: “Opera legend Ferruccio Furlanetto offered his very impressive interpretation of “Winterreise”. Furlanetto knows to describe the sadness, the darkness which he expresses in the bass register, and is very sensitively accompanied by Igor Tchetuev who provides every nuance of the score in a very nuanced and sensitive play.

Willi Rainer in the “Kleine Zeitung” wrote: Ferruccio Furlanetto, acclaimed bass on the world operas stages, travelled in the darkened country of the soul, full of grief, pain, depression , longing for death. With sonorous voice despite of its fullness and dark timbre, he did justice to the fragile architecture of the Schubert’s work with the deep and concentrated interpretation. The review also points that the excellent articulation and technique of the singer underline the whole cycle with a real personal identification

A real support came also from the excellent piano of the Ukrainian Igor Tchetuev :he played sensitively in the background but leading the illustrative accents very seriously. The public was captivated from the first note until the last Lied. After a small break of silence allowing the tension to lay down, came a long applause”

Read the review in Kleine Zeitung in German

Find out more

 

Looking forward for Winterreise

The upcoming Ferruccio Furlanetto’s Recital with Winterreise during Carintishe Sommer in Ossiah is very much anticipated. On August 17 a big feature in Der Standard appeared devoted to the upcoming event. The recording of Winterreise released by Prestige Classics Vienna was already praised by Austrian press. In the conversation with the famed opera star the Viennese newspaper correspondent Stefan Ender tryes to find out deeper meaning of Schubert’s circle for the Italian bass.

Why it appeared on this late stage of his career in his repertoire?

Furlanetto would already have remembered 20 years ago for the first time to sing the work. "I have studied it, has looked for the right moods. Then, however, in the end, I have noticed that I am not ready yet for it. Last year the right moment had come."

In his interpretation he follows not obvious choices (Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau for instance), but Hans Hotter: "His voice is very similar to mine, he has influenced me what concerns the mixture of the vocal colors."

The "Winterreise", according to Furlanetto further, is less challenge for the voice than for the mind: "I am completely exhausted mentally and emotionally afterwards."

Does he know as a famed singer, actually, such situations of the loneliness, the desperation, the being an outsider, the same as songwriter Wilhelm Muller here? "Of course. Everybody knows such situations, maybe not in so extreme form. Feelings and living conditions change like the weather and the seasons..."

Is his song companions to him more servants or partners? "One of my first pianists with which I have made song was Alexis Weissenberg - certainly no servant's type. With him I have made the songs of Rahmaninov and Mussorgsky which I will also sing in my Recital at the Vienna State Opera in May, 2013. The young Russian pianist Igor Tchetuev with whom I go on with the 'Winterreise' is a sensitive, deeply feeling artist. Two personalities must become one with the song, only that way a persuasive experience comes about."

During the season 2012-13 Ferruccio Furlanetto will perform ‘Winterreise” also on November 21 in his native Sacile at the Fazioli Concert Hall and on December 19 in Prague at the Rudolfinum.

Read the whole article in German

 

 

Boris Godunov in Bolshoi

The Bolshoi Theater just announced the plans for the future season. Ferruccio Furlanetto will sing Boris Godunov in the historical 1948 production (Stage Director: Leonid Baratov, Designer: Fyodor Fedorovsky) of the theater on November 29 and December 1.

Boris Godunov is the one of the most renowned part in the repertoire of the singer. He debuted with it in Rome in 1999, and then sang it in Florence, Milan, San Diego and Venice. This season he repeated the part with huge success in Chicago, Palermo and Vienna. He became first Italian who sang Boris in Mariinsky, and with the Bolshoi performance he will become the first non-Russian singer who appeared with this part at the both historical Russian stages. Furlanetto sang both versions of the opera - original 1869 and longer (with Polish act) 1872, but it would be his first apperance in the Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov edition of the opera.

To the Bolshoi Theater website

 

Attila: exciting to watch and to hear

The Ferruccio Furlanetto’s 2011-12 season ended with highly successful “Attila” in San Francisco, still receiving reviews praising his stellar performances in the title role.

“The star is Feruccio Furlanetto as the Hun who is both a destroyer and the sympathetic heart of the show. Perhaps the most sympathetic interpretation of this mess of a show is that Attila, despite his warlike nature, in the end is himself a victim of the march of history, destined to be forgotten other than as a warlord stock character for Hollywood films. Furlanetto certainly is capable of injecting major amounts of pathos into a character with his voice and he does so brilliantly… - wrote Out West Arts.com

“Furlanetto, Luisotti triumph over mixed staging in San Francisco Opera’s “Attila” – was the title of the review at The Classical Review. Remembering that “Furlanetto made his SFO debut in 1979 in a celebrated outdoor concert performance of La Giaconda with Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto and back in San Francisco after a 14-season absence, - the review pointed that Italian bass gave “dramatic impact and tonal elegance” to the “vivid and beautifully sung portrayal”.

The Berkschirereview.net stated: “Furlanetto triumphed as Attila. He caught every dramatic nuance of the role, showing Attila variously as monstrous, noble, bloodthirsty, or sympathetic as each moment required. Last night in Attila, his was a dominating and complete portrayal: in every scene he was exciting to watch and to hear.”

International reviews came out at Classicmus.ru (in Russia) and Operafocus.com (Norwey), both pointed the same thing: “Ferruccio Furlanetto’s voice alone was worth the trip across the Atlantic”. (Operafocus).

Luckily “Attila” was recorded and videotaped. The broadcast of “Attila” is scheduled on September, 3 on KDFC radio station.

Find out more

To the KDFC radio

 

Attila: "breathtaking performance"

The first two performances of Ferruccio Furlanetto as Attila in San-Francisco received fantastic response from the public and stellar reviews from the press. “Bass Ferruccio Furlanetto dominated the stage with his dark, rich voice and brooding charisma”, - wrote Mike Silverman for the Associated Press.

“Furlanetto definitely had the most imposing vocal and stage presence. His performance was breathtaking, made all the faces of his character emerge: with great precision and vigour, he portrayed Attila as vulnerable and authoritative, graceful and rough at the same time. (Marina Romani, Musicalcriticism.com).

“Seeing Furlanetto’s Attila is like attending a master class in the art of the operatic basso.” (Operawarhorses.com). He is “traversing Attila’s emotional poles and vocal treacheries with ease, reaching the high notes of its extreme range with force and security, descending to the suave tones that evoke the sexual allure of a powerful man.” And he is “tall, fit and heroic” (Opera Today).

He “sang the evening’s titular character brilliantly” (Bachtrack.com) and his “magnificent portrayal is a triumph.” (San Francisco Classical Voice)

Read all

 

Attila triumps in San Francisco

The premiere of Attila at San Francisco opera was tremendous success. The first reviews are coming, praising Ferruccio Furlanetto’s performance: “This year, Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto has inherited the Attila mantle, and he inhabited it with tremendous verve. The voice is big, firm-toned and resonant, and Furlanetto deployed it with clarity and fervor.” – writes Georgia Rowe for the Mercury News.

Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle adds: “Bass Ferruccio Furlanetto gave a magnetic and authoritative performance in the title role, singing with muscular clarity and a darkly heroic demeanor.”

Also just before the premiere a big feature “In conversation with Ferruccio Furlanetto” came out on MusicalCriticism.com, where in sincere talk with Marina Romani the singer shared his impressions on his current work on Attila:

“This is a sober and effective production: it tells the story. We are working very well together, and the cast is excellent. I've known Maestro Luisotti for a long time – we had done another Attila in the past, and we had collaborated for a recording, as well. On the other hand, I had never worked with Gabriele Lavia before, but I'm very happy I met him. He is a great director and an admirable person. The atmosphere here at the SF Opera is ideal. In addition, I was very impressed by the youngest members of our cast, [soprano] Lucrecia Garcia and [baritone] Quinn Kelsey.”

'This is the fourth time I will be doing Attila. I did it in Trieste, in Florence, at La Scala with Muti, and I'm doing it now. As I said, I like this production hugely. It works incredibly well.”

“'Verdi made of Attila a king, with the nobility and soul of a king. This contradicts the history, even if we don't really have reliable historical sources about Attila. ... In this opera, Attila is the only one who never betrays anyone, while all the others are traitors. Attila always keeps his word, he has an integrity. The audience can sympathize with him, because he is a honest, loyal warrior. And yet, he is also a destroyer. For these reasons, I love this complex character – he fascinates me”.

Read the whole feature on Musicalcriticism.com

Watch video preview of “Attila” in San Francisco

 

In the title role of Attila

Don’t miss Ferruccio Furlanetto starring in the title role of Verdi’s “Attila” at the San Francisco Opera and Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.

His return to San Francisco company after the long period of absence (previous performances here were at the beginning of his career in 1979 and 1981) with this rare and demanding part is much anticipated. Ferruccio Furlanetto debuted with Attila in La Scala in 1991 and after that he successfully sang it in Italy and recorded it for “Dynamic”.

The cast of ‘Attila” in San Francisco are led by Music Director Nicola Luisotti and includes Venezuelan soprano Lucrecia Garcia as Odabella, Quinn Kelsey as Ezio and Samuel Ramey is Pope Leo I.

San Francisco performances of the opera will be at 8 p.m. June 12, 15, and 23; 7:30 p.m. June 20 and 28; and 2 p.m. July 1.

Find out more

“Attila” in San Francisco

 

Gala Concert in Ostrava

On May 19 Ferruccio Furlanetto sang Gala Concert in Ostarava during the Janacek May Festival with tremendous success. His program included 10 arias from different operas representing his wide repertoire, and different angles of his artistic personality.

The first half of the concert included three Mozart arias: Sarastro's "In diesen heiligen Hallen" from “The Magic Flute” recitative and aria of Count Almaviva from Act 3 of “Le Nozze di Figaro” and Catalog aria of Leporello from “Don Giovanni”, Bellini’s beautiful Rodolpho's aria "Vi ravviso o luoghi ameni" and “Death of Don Quichotte” from Massenet. After intermission Ferruccio Furlanetto presented his famous Verdi caracters: Fiesco and King Philip. The concert, interrupted by ovations after each aria ended with “Death of Boris” from Mussorgsky opera. After that everybody was on their feet. But generously the singer performed two more pieces: Silva aria from “Ernani” and Gremin aria from “Eugeny Onegin”. Ferruccio Furlanetto was accompanied by Opera Orchestra of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre under the lead of Robert Jindra.

Gala concert was part of Janacek May Festival. Day before Ferruccio Furlanetto had a pubic talk with the questions from the audience (video available). He will return to Czech Republic on December with recital in Rudolfinum Prague. His next aria Gala-concert will be at Valladolid (Spain) on July, 6.

More about the concert

To Valladolid Gala

 

"Don Quichotte" at the Easter Festival

Ferruccio Furlanetto performed his famous Don Quichotte under the lead of Valery Gergiev with Mariinsky orchestra, soloists and chorus of the Academy of Young Singers at the Easter Festival in Moscow with the great success, standing ovation and stellar reviews. Moscow had to wait for the “legendary Don Quichotte of our time” (Culture TV): two years ago he was scheduled to sing in Massenet’s opera, but cancelled due to illness. But “this opera looses half of it’s attraction without Furlanetto”, - as Valery Gergiev pointed during press-conference. And at this time Ferruccio Furlanetto indeed rewarded all expectations.

“The concert performance of “Don Qiochotte” with the famous Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title part can’t passed unnoticed. Written in it’s time especially for Chalyapin this part became “difficult to crack nut” for the basses, because demands not only vocal show, but pure breed of the voice, noble artistry, ability to turn declamation into the hymn for the beauty of human soul. And this is the most difficult in the art. This is a miracle which was shown by Ferruccio Furlanetto to Moscow public”, - wrote Irina Muravieva the central Rossijskaya Gazeta.

Sergey Hodnev in Commersant added: “…Ferruccio Furlanetto did even more for the dramatic truth and adequacy of what was going on stage…. It was expected because Don Quichotte is one of the gems in his crown, and all nuances of the vocal and acting he is overcoming with ease… His Knight is natural, noble without any pose and masterfully done…”.

The performance was live webcast by Para Classics and available to view on their site. Requires free registration.

Find out more

Watch the video of the whole concert

 

"Boris Godunov" returned to Vienna

Ferruccio Furlanetto’s current season is very much dominated by his performances in “Boris Godunov”. Recognized today as one of the leading interpreters of the title role in Mussorgsky’s opera, he sang Boris with great success in the Lyric Opera of Chicago in November, making his company debut, in the Teatro Massimo di Palermo and right now you can still catch the last performance on April, 30 at the Vienna Staatsoper (if you manage to get ticket – all four performances were completely sold out weeks ago).

Quite unique that Ferruccio Furlanetto not only sang Boris on the three different stages in different productions, but also performed in the two different versions of the opera: first “ur-Boris” in Chicago and Vienna and second big 1872 version (in Lamm edition) in Palermo.

All performances received the highest critical acclaim, most recently in Austria. “All the ways of a vigorous power, of sorrow, despair and crazyness are carried along in Ferruccio Furlanetto’s thrilling interpretation of the title role ,“ – wrote "Der Standard". The correspondent of "The Krone" was impressed when he heard Ferruccio Furlanetto as Boris in 2007 and points that the singer interpretation was “strengthen by the time as well as expressive vocal power and his way of representation”. “The king of the basses Ferruccio Furlanetto sang again the role of Tsar Boris with gigantic voice power and great theatrical sensitivity in the Death scene,” – wrote E.Hirchmann in the „Osterreich”. And public of the Vienna Staatsoper as well greeted the Kammersanger and Honorary Member of the “House at the Ring” with the ovations which lasted for more then 20 minutes after the performance.

Read all the Press

 

Great Boris Godunov in Palermo: Press Report

The performances of "Boris Godunov" in Teatro Massimo (Palermo) became a great success of Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title role.

La Repubblica wrote that great Boris of Ferruccio Furlanetto was "rich in timbre and powerful, interpreted with a very modern theatrical sensitiveness". As Sicilia press reports Ferruccio Furlanetto received a true ovation from the public “His performance was perfect, supported by a rare ability to dominate the stage”. "Perfect Furlanetto in the title role, - points Il Sole, - Boris here magnificent hero, absolutely, thanks to the strongly theatrical interpretation of Ferruccio Furlanetto: sweet with two children, ferocious in public, raving when he is alone..."

The Mussorgsky opera returned to Teatro Massimo after 25 years in 1872 Lamm version in the colorful staging of Hugo de Ana.

To the Press, Photo report and Video extracts

 

Der Star des Abends

Ferruccio Furlanetto reprised his signature Fiesco in Vienna Staatsoper on March, 5. He sings in Peter Stain production in Vienna Staatsoper since its premiere in 2002 always with the great success with the public and in the press. The first performance of the March run was also expected triumph, biggest ovation at the curtain call and stellar reviews from the press.

„Ferruccio Furlanetto ‘s voluminous bass voice , with deepest range, as proud and noble Fiesco” – wrote M. Eigl in Kurier

“Ferruccio Furlanetto , the only remaining singer from the previous casts , is always a mighty- impressive ...sings throughout elegantly and without forcing ” – pointed Von Wilhelm Sinkovicz in Die Presse.

„Still incredible Ferruccio Furlanetto as Fiesco“ – stated Daniel Ender from Der Standard.

It seems that it is now hard to imagine somebody else in this role at the Staatsoper's stage: Ferruccio Furaletto is the only one from the premier cast and from the opening this season cast in September who returned to the March's run of the opera. This time the cast included some notable newcomers to this popular in Vienna staging: Simon Boccanegra - Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Gabriel Adorno – Francesco Meli, Amelia – Marina Poplavskaya. Paolo Carignani conducted. “Simon Boccanegra” with Ferruccio Furlanetto’s from 2002 was filmed and available on DVD.

The next performances of “Simon Boccanegra” on March 8, 11 and 13.

About September performances in Vienna

Find out more at the Vienna Staatsoper web-site