Verdi Domingo

Jul 17, 2013

Today Sony Classical officially announced the release of Plácido Domingo – Verdi, an album of baritone arias featuring the legendary singer with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado. The new album comprises selections from some of the composer’s most beloved works, including Macbeth, Rigoletto, Un ballo in maschera, La traviata, Simon Boccanegra, Ernani, Il Trovatore, Don Carlo and La forza del destino and is an homage to Verdi in the year of the composer’s bicentennial.

Mr. Domingo emphasizes that the purpose of the album is not simply to present something new: “It is and will remain my voice – a voice that is familiar, that people know very well.” However, the newly acquired repertoire brings to light previously unknown timbres in his voice, which Domingo himself aims to explore. “It is like a painter’s palette on which you suddenly discover new colours. The vocal quality and pitch blend to create new forms of expression, which are quite simply exciting – for the singer at least as much as for the listener.”

For Pablo, the album completes a focus on Verdi in the 2012/13 season, which also included Rigoletto at Deutsche Oper Berlin and Les vêpres siciliennes at Oper Frankfurt. In the fall he once again returns to Rigoletto for his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Release: August 19, 2013. Watch a video about the making of the album and pre-order your copy here.

Track listing:
1. Macbeth, Act IV, Scene and Aria: “Perfidi! All’anglo contro me v’unite! … Pietà, rispetto, amore”
2. Rigoletto, Act I, Scene 3, Scena: “Pari siamo! Io la lingua”
3. Rigoletto, Act II, Scene 2, Aria: “Sì, la mia figlia! … Cortigiani, vil razza dannata”
4. Un ballo in maschera, Act III, Scene 1, Aria: “Alzati! Là tuo figlio … Eri tu che macciavi quell’anima”
5. La traviata, Act II, Scene 1, Aria: “Di Provenza il mar, il suol”
6. Simon Boccanegra, Act I, Scene 2: “Abbasso le spade! … Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo dalla feroce storia!” – Cor de la Generalitat Valencia
7. Simon Boccanegra, Act I, Scene 2: “Ecco la spada” – Cor de la Generalitat Valencia
8. Ernani, Act III, Scene and Cavatina: “È questo il loco?”
9. Ernani, Act III, Scene and Cavatina: “Oh, de’ verd’anni miei”
10. Il trovatore, Part II, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “Tutto è deserto”
11. Il trovatore, Part II, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “Il balen del suo sorriso”
12. Il trovatore, Part II, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “Qual suono! Oh ciel! … Per me, ora fatale” – Cor de la Generalitat Valencia
13. Don Carlo, Act IV, Scene 2: “Son io, mio Carlo”
14. Don Carlo, Act IV, Scene 2: “Per me giunto è il dì supremo”
15. Don Carlo, Act IV, Scene 2: “Che parli tu di morte?”
16. La forza del destino, Act III, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “Morir! Tremenda cosa”
17. La forza del destino, Act III, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “Urna fatale del mio destino”
18. La forza del destino, Act III, Scene 2, Scena ed Aria: “E s’altra prova rinvenir potessi? … Egli è salvo! Gioia immensa”