Recorded late last year in New York City, and produced by Ettore Stratta, The Lost Days spotlights the opera superstar in performance with Chucho Valdés, Josè Maria Vitier, Pablo Ziegler and Eliane Elias, bringing together the rich and varied musical strains of South America and the Caribbean, into a rich mélange of classic, jazz and Latin sounds.
A breathtaking change of pace for the internationally renowned diva, The Lost Days features fourteen selections by such composers as tango legend Astor Piazzolla, Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino and Brazil's musical pioneer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Also highlighted is material written especially for Graves, including "Romanza de Denyce" by the Cuban-born Chucho Valdés, who also contributed "Habanera de Lorraine."
Ms. Graves states that, " Lost Days: Music in the Latin Style is a collaborative effort that I am so proud of. The Spanish repertory is one that I've always been interested in, and have loved since I began singing. I find it rich and soulful. This project was born out of that love. I wanted, however, to take some traditional material and add a very new treatment to it; something more contemporary and more me."
Standout tracks on Lost Days: Music in the Latin Style include Argentinean Pablo Ziegler's arrangements of Piazzolla's "Yo Soy Maria," "Milonga sin palabras," and "Los pájaros perdidos" as well as Guastavino's "Plancha," "Los días perdidos" and "Plomada." New York-based and Brazilian-influenced pianist and composer Eliane Elias performs on her original composition "Haabiá-Tupi" along with arrangements of Villa-Lobos' "Canção do poeta do século XVIII" and "Estrella é lua nóva." Cuba's Josè Maria Vitier plays piano on his original compositions "Soledad," "Al alba, el bosque" and "Te vas de mí," with lyrics by his wife, Silvia Rodríguez.
Ms. Graves was thrilled to have the unique opportunity to work with a coterie of multi-talented composers, who wanted to conceive something new and exciting for the album. "It was an unusual venture for me to actually create 'on the spot' during our sessions, and I am so proud of Los Dias Perdidos, which was the result of that collaborative effort. Often times, in classical music, we are re-creating, and The Lost Days allowed me to feel that I actually had a chance to bring music to life."
Uniting these disparate musical elements throughout is the distinctive mezzo-soprano of Graves, whose bravura performance conclusively proves that she is equally at home with sultry Latin tempos as she is with soaring operatic flights. With the potent combination of her expressive and elegant vocal gifts and charismatic stage presence, the world-class diva has graced the stages of the world's great opera houses and is particularly well known for her portrayals in the title roles of Carmen and Samson et Dalila. Ms. Graves returns to the Metropolitan Opera in January 2003 to perform in Carmen. She is also an immensely popular concert attraction with a repertoire that includes German Lieder, French Mélodie, English Art Song as well as Broadway, jazz and American spirituals. The recipient of many awards, Graves has won, among others, the Grand Prix du Concours International de Chant de Paris, the Marian Anderson Award and the Eleanor Steber Music Award in the Opera Columbus Vocal Competition.
In 1999 Graves signed an exclusive recording contract with RCA Red Seal, releasing her best-selling debut Voce di Donna that same year. The Lost Days follows the release late last year of the Red Cross benefit album American Anthem, on which she performed "The Lord's Prayer" and "America The Beautiful" in commemoration of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
When Pavarotti was taken ill during rehearsals for the Tosca performances believed to have been the venerable tenor¹s farewell to the operatic stage Licitra was summoned from Italy to be on standby. Pavarotti canceled the last performance less than an hour before curtain, and the young 33-year-old tenor went on for what the Associated Press hailed as "the most triumphant Met debut in recent history."
In reviewing the Tosca performance, The New York Times called Licitra "a genuine find, an exciting tenor with a big, dark-hued and muscular voice." Noting the tenor¹s "thrilling, ringing high notes," The New YorkerŒs Alex Ross wrote, "In Licitra¹s best moments, he actually sounds like an ideal blend of the two mega-tenors, echoing both Pavarotti¹s fluency and Domingo¹s fire. He has a combination of musicality and power that is essential for the Italian repertory. He moves around an opera stage as if he belonged there."
Licitra sings both the tenor arias from Tosca "Recondita armonia" and "E lucevan le stelle" on The Debut. Other Puccini arias featured on the recording are "Nessun dorma" from Turandot; "Ch¹ella mi creda" from La Fanciulla del West; "Che gelida manina" from La Bohème; "Donna non vidi mai" from Manon Lescaut; and "Addio fiorito asil" from Madama Butterfly.
Arias from operas by Verdi on The Debut include "Celeste Aida" from Aida; "La vita è inferno Š O tu che in seno agli angeli" from La Forza del Destino; "Sento avvampar nel¹anima" from Simon Boccanegra; the barcarolle "Dì tu se fedele" and "Forse la soglia attinse" from Un Ballo in Maschera; "Ah, la paterna mano" from Macbeth; and "Ah si, ben mio, oll¹essere" and "Di quella pira" from Il Trovatore.
Licitra made his Sony Classical recording debut on the soundtrack of the 2000 film The Man Who Cried (SK 61870), providing the singing voice for actor John Turturro in arias from Tosca and Bizet¹s The Pearl Fishers, as well as other selections. He has won critical acclaim for Sony Classical¹s complete recording of Il Trovatore (S2K 89553), recorded live in performances at Milan¹s La Scala in December 2000, with Riccardo Muti conducting.
"A tenor with a turbine of a voice," Newsday wrote of Licitra¹s singing on the Il Trovatore recording, adding, "His fortes sound big and easy, his top notes shiny and unforced, and through it all is the sugestion of a massive presence." The Dallas Morning News wrote, "Licitra boasts a lovely tone the sound halfway between the effulgence of a Plácido Domingo and the trumpetlike brilliance of yesteryear¹s Giovanni Martinelli. There¹s also a hint of Licitra¹s teacher Carlo Bergnozi in the mix."
In the coming seasons, Licitra will make his debuts with the Vienna State Opera (in June in Tosca), the Bastille Opera of Paris, Munich¹s Bavarian State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and many other companies. He is scheduled to return to the Metropolitan Opera in the 2004-05 season. This summer, the tenor returns to the Arena of Verona, singing the role of Radames in Aida in its famous amphitheater performances.
Salvatore Licitra¹s new recording of Italian tenor arias will be featured on www.salvatorelicitra.com, the singer¹s domain on Sony Classical¹s Web site at www.sonyclassical.com. Sony Classical.com is an online resource for exploring the label¹s entire catalogue of recordings, and includes sound clips, track listings, cover art and other information about the recordings. The site also features an online radio show, album supersites, multimedia, artist biographies, tour schedules and discographies for all Sony Classical artists, as well as special promotions, and much more.
In only three short years, Italian native Salvatore Licitra has emerged as the most promising Italian tenor of his generation, the latest in an illustrious tradition that includes Caruso, Gigli, di Stefano, Bergonzi and Pavarotti.
"...a genuine find, an exciting tenor with a big, dark-hued and muscular voice. -- New York Times, May 2002
"...the most triumphant Met debut in recent memory....a bright hope for opera lovers who have been searching desperately for tenors to fill the gap in the Italian repertory left by Pavarotti... ardent, natural vocalism of a sort that has become increasingly rare on the world's opera stages." -- Associated Press, May 2002
"Licitra gives 'Di quella pira,' Manrico's pre-battle anthem, a briskly paced, tightly disciplined and blazing performance." -- Newsday, February 2002
"...may be the most thrilling Trovatore on disc....Salvatore Licitra shows why he's attracting so much attention as one of the best young tenors on the scene,...." -- Amazon.com, January 2002
"Everybody's always wondering when the next tenor will come along to take the place of the famous...Three....maybe your man will be the newest tenor of them all, Salvatore Licitra....Mr. Licitra boasts a lovely tone - the sound half way between...Placido Domingo and the...brilliance of yesteryear's Giovanni Martinelli....This may be the best-conducted Il Trovatore ever... a must for those who want to know what's happening in the world of Italian opera." -- Dallas Morning News, January 2002
"C'est ca la vie, c'est ca l'amour": French Operetta Arias"
Reynaldo Hahn
Our price: $15.49 | You save: $1.49
available here.
Susan Graham's latest recital, "French Operetta Arias," is
irresistible and delicious. She's included many forgotten gems from
the genre that explore from a woman's point of view the
relationships between men and women.
"Resurrection--Complete Opera (libretto by Laura Harrington after
Tolstoy's novel)"
Tod Machover
Our price: $35.13 | You save: $1.85
available here.
Contemporary composer Tod Machover is known for his far-out
interactive and architecturally ambient sonic experiments, but in
this version of the moving Tolstoy novel "Resurrection," he trusts
in the tried-and-true power of the opera stage.
"Rossini - Bianca e Falliero / Larmore · Cullagh · Banks ·
D'Arcangelo · LPO · Parry (Complete Opera)"
Gioachino Rossini
Our price: $40.83 | You save: $2.15
available here.
"Bianca e Falliero" might be one of Rossini's lesser-known operas, but if you don't yet know it, you have a thoroughly delightful discovery ahead of you in this performance featuring Jennifer Larmore and Barry Banks under David Parry.
"Words Of The Angel"
Trio Mediaeval
Our price: $15.99 | You save: $1.99
available here.
The Scandinavian women who make up the Trio Mediaeval aren't
world-weary Norns, but rather vehicles of ethereal, chantlike music
on their new release, "Words of the Angel." The early polyphony of
the Tournai Mass from the 14th century blends seamlessly with a
short contemporary piece by Ivan Moody.
Save up to 30% in our special Spring into Savings Store, plus find
all you need for Easter. And don't miss our free Super Saver
Shipping offer on orders of $99 or more (some restrictions apply).
available here.
EARLY MUSIC STORE
you enjoy the rich, transporting blend of a cappella voices, be sure to consider these selections from our Early Music Store: the most recent release from the Anonymous 4 (in love songs by Francesco Landini) and the Tallis Scholars singing the Magnificats of Nicolas Gombert.
"The Second Circle: Love Songs of Francesco Landini"
Anonymous 4
Our price: $18.97 | You save: $1.01
available here.
"Gombert: Magnificats 1-4"
Nicolas Gombert
Our price: $18.97 | You save: $1.01
available here.
Go to Early Music Store
available here.
GREAT BERLIOZ TITLES
Conductors have sympathized so clearly with the fantastic, eccentric, wild, yet subtle genius of Berlioz as has Sir Colin Davis. His second recording of "Les Troyens" took home the top Grammy Awards this year not only for best opera, but for best classical recording overall. Also, don't miss French soprano Véronique Gens's stunning new account of the composer's song cycle "Les Nuits d'été."
"Berlioz: Les Troyens"
Hector Berlioz
Our price: $35.98 | You save: $4.00
available here.
"Véronique Gens ~ Berlioz - Les Nuits d'été · La mort de Cléopatre"
Hector Berlioz
Our price: $15.49 | You save: $1.49
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005A9ND/ncdn"> available here.
TWO TENORS
Here are CDs from two tenors whose star power can't be denied: a compilation of highlights from the career of Luciano Pavarotti and the latest from Andrea Bocelli.
"Romantica: The Very Best Of Luciano Pavarotti"
Lucio Dalla
Our price: $11.99 | You save: $7.99
available here.
"Cieli di Toscana"
Andrea Bocelli
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $4.99
available here.
TOP SELLERS
Here's a look at what our Opera & Vocal customers are buying
these days:
* Juan Diego Flórez, "Rossini Arias"
available here.
* Andrea Bocelli, "Romanza"
available here.
* Morten Lauridsen, "Lux aeterna"
available here.
See all Opera & Vocal top sellers
available here.
