Apropos Musik - Ö1 Radio offers Live Opera Excerpts from Vienna

Apropos Music is Vienna State Opera's radio magazine on Ö1 Radio. This week, they broadcast excerpts from live performances recorded last month (September 2013) at the Wiener Staatsoper. I really appreciate the opportunity to hear more “live” opera, even if only in excerpts. The musical performances include bits from La Traviata, Tosca, Carmen, Tristan und Isolde, Otello, and quite a few from Simon Boccenegra. Thanks to this program, I now know:

Cav & Pag – Together Again for the First Time (Opéra Royal de Wallonie)

Marie Kalinine and José Cura

José Cura directs and stars in this traditional double bill, and he adds a few twists. Both operas take place in the same village, with the action of I Pagliacci immediately following Cavalliera Rusticana. Most of each cast appear in both operas. The waiter in Mama Lucia’s café, whom she treats as a son, turns out to be Silvio. Oh, and both composers appear in the performance.