At the Met in Ernani
Don Carlo marks Hampson’s 20th role at the Met and third Verdi role in the U.S. this season
New DVD release of Hampson starring in Busoni’s Doktor Faust is now available in the U.S.
On March 17, 2008, Thomas Hampson will perform his 20th role on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera when he makes his debut in the role of Don Carlo in Verdi’s Ernani, with a cast including Marcello Giordani in the title role, Sondra Radvanovsky as Elvira, and Ferruccio Furlanetto as Silva, conducted by Roberto Abbado. Additional performances will be on March 21, 26, 29m, April 2, 5, and 10.
This season, Mr. Hampson’s American opera appearances have consisted exclusively of Verdi roles. Earlier this season he starred in the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth at the San Francisco Opera and last month he appeared opposite Renée Fleming in La traviata at Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Chicago Tribune wrote of Mr. Hampson’s performance as Germont:
The evening’s most complete performance came from Hampson. I have never heard the American baritone in better voice or more intelligently invested in his character…. He and Fleming played to each other’s strengths – their dialogue crackled with so much tension that you could almost see the sparks. His magnificently sung “Di Provenza” stopped the show.
The remarkable Thomas Hampson is magnificent in the title role, particularly in his vivid portrayal of the doomed Faust in the final scene.
– ClassicalCDreview.com
Last month, ArtHaus released a DVD of Busoni’s Doktor Faust with Thomas Hampson in the title role. This performance was recorded at the Zurich Opera in 2006 with Philippe Jordan conducting. European reviews of the DVD have been very enthusiastic. The Financial Times wrote of the performance, “Faust dominates virtually every scene, making the opera an ideal vehicle for a singer-actor of Hampson’s caliber. His compelling performance is the genie that keeps this DVD, recorded last year at the Zurich Opera House, worth watching.” London’s Times wrote, “On a breathtaking set, frequently symbolizing a searching mind that finds scant resolution, the lyrical Thomas Hampson is outstanding as a crazed, world-weary Faust, dogged by pride and motoring on the wrong side of sanity.” Mr. Hampson performed this thorny role at the Met in the company’s premiere of the opera in 2001. The New York Times review stated: “It’s an unforgettable performance… Mr. Hampson’s burnished baritone and dramatic presence give the doctor the heroic stature and human vulnerability he needs.”
In addition to media appearances in Chicago last month (on WTTW TV’s “Chicago Tonight” and as the host of a four-hour WFMT-FM radio show on the history of the baritone voice), Mr. Hampson was interviewed live from the famed Pebble Beach golf club, by morning drive-time personalities Murph & Mac on KNBR, the leading AM sports radio station in San Francisco. Mr. Hampson was competing in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Celebrity Golf Tournament, along with such other celebrities as Michael Bolton and Huey Lewis.
Listen to Thomas’ live interview with Murph & Mac from Pebble Beach:
Metropolitan Opera, Ernani with Thomas Hampson as Don Carlo
Performance Dates: March 17, 21, 26, 29, April 2, 5, 10.
Matinee international radio broadcast is March 29
New DVD release: Busoni’s Doktor Faust, on ArtHaus Musik
Doktor Faust – Thomas Hampson
Wagner, his student / Master of Ceremonies – Günther Groissböck
Mephistopheles – Gregory Kunde
Duke of Parma / Girl’s brother / Soldier – Reinaldo Macias
Duchess of Parma – Sandra Trattnigg
Lieutenant – Martin Zysset
Chorus and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House
Philippe Jordan, conductor
Klaus Michael Grüber, stage director
Eduardo Arroyo, stage design
Eva Dessecker, costumes
Jürgen Hoffmann, lighting
Catalogue No: 101283
Recorded live from the Zurich Opera House, 2006