World-renowned soprano Nelly Miricioiu will perform in Manila on April 9 at the Ayala Museum at 6 p.m. with the country’s premier tenor Arthur Espiritu in an evening of favorite duets from La Traviata and Rigoletto, among others.
The acclaimed soprano’s duet with the Filipino tenor is keenly awaited as she has sung earlier with the likes of Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Roberto Alagna, and Carlo Bergonzi, among others.
By coincidence, both Miricioiu and Espiritu have sung at the venerable La Scala di Milan in Italy.
Miricioiu was first heard in Manila in 1980 at the CCP followed by a return engagement at the Manila Metro Metropolitan Theater in 1984 and an another one at the Meralco Theater in 2015 all of which ended in a rousing standing ovation.
She will also conduct master classes for Filipino singers from April 10 to 14 at the 5th floor, SJG Center, Kalayaan Ave., Makati City.
A week before her Manila return engagement, she also conducted master classes at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
Filipino tenor Nomher Nival said the famous soprano is just as excellent as teacher as she is as a singer. He stayed at the London home of the Romanian diva where he received personalized lessons about correct posture, breathing and the like. “I also learned about body movements, how to sing stylistically based on muscle adjustments and many more. I just need to imbibe new concepts and get used to new sensations and vocal exercises that I still need to work on before I can totally grasp and master them. I like Maestra Nelly’s instincts and intelligence. She can easily demonstrate what’s written in the books and apply it to her singing very clearly. I would say my learning process is still ongoing.”
For Nival, studying with tenor Arthur Espiritu was a big refresher course. “I have learned earlier lessons that I have forgotten and his presence made me work on them again with fresh perspective.”
Miricioiu is also mentor for the Jette Parker Young Artists Program at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and visiting professor with the London Master classes, The Mediterranean Opera Studio Festival and Wales International Academy among others.
Hailed as a singing actress, Miricioiu is one of the most versatile artists of our day. Her repertoire extends from Mozart and bel canto to Verdi, Puccini to the verismo and modern Italian opera Respighi and Zandonai. She has also sung the works of French and Russian composers.
Michael Davidson wrote in Opera Magazine: “The highly individual timbre of Miricioiu’s voice, her imagination and intensity, her exceptional range and sense of timing make for a unique talent.”
A grand prizewinner of the Maria Callas International Voice Competition where she now frequently sits as member of the jury, Miricioiu was entrusted with reviving the infamous Tosca production for Maria Callas. The revival was a huge success and established her as one of the best Tosca’s seen on stage.
Clive Hirshon wrote in the Daily Express: “Nelly Miricioiu had the requisite passion for the title role plus a melting pianissimo that ravished the house with its purity of tone.”
The Financial Times’ Richard Fairman wrote: “Her Tosca is an artist down to her fingertips, the kind who turns every wave in a theatrical event.”
The April 9 Ayala Museum program includes Donizetti’s Spirto Gentil (from La Favorita), Bellini’s Casta Diva (from Norma), Mozart’s Un Aura Amoroso (
from the opera Cosi fan Tutte), Giordano’s La Mamma Morta (from the opera Andrea Chenier), Verdi’s
Parmi, Veder le laguine (from the opera Rigoletto), Signor ne principe (duet from the opera Rigoletto), Donizetti’s Oh nube! che lieve per l’aria ti aggiri…Nella pace del mesto riposo (from the opera Maria Stuarda), Angelo, Casta e bel (from the opera Il Duca di Alba), Catalani’s Ebben? Ne andro lontana (from the opera La Wally) and Parigi o cara (from La Traviata).
Four Filipino art songs are also in the program.
For ticket inquiries, please call 5763132, 09065104270, or 09183473027.