We would like to announce that in March Pentatone releases two enthralling new additions to the catalogue: The Three Queens – Donizetti by Sondra Radvanovsky, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Riccardo Frizza, as well as Blue performed by Jeanine Tesori & Tazewell Thompson, the Washington National Opera, and Roderick Cox.
Breath-taking Triptych of Donizetti Heroines
Sondra Radvanovsky, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Riccardo Frizza
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents The Three Queens, a program that brings together the finales of Gaetano Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy, showcasing three of the most fascinating heroines of opera history. These extraordinary women are interpreted by soprano star Sondra Radvanovsky, who performs them together with an excellent ensemble of soloists under the baton of Donizetti specialist Riccardo Frizza. Singing these three breathtaking roles in one night is an enormous challenge for any soprano, and this live recording captures all the excitement of this exceptional achievement.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious opera houses. Riccardo Frizza is among the most sought-after conductors for nineteenth-century Italian opera, while Sondra Radvanovsky is one of the most in-demand singers of her generation on both sides of the Atlantic. All three make their PENTATONE debut with The Three Queens.
Digital Release Date: 4 MARCH 2022
Topical and Heartwrenching Opera on Racial Injustice
Jeanine Tesori & Tazewell Thompson, Washington National Opera, and Roderick Cox
Washington National Opera in association with San Francisco Classical Recording Company presents Blue, a contemporary opera on racial injustice in the US today, with a libretto by Tazewell Thompson set to music by Jeanine Tesori. Blue tells the tragic story of an African-American police officer whose son is killed by a fellow officer during a protest. Strongly resonating with the Black Lives Matter movement, the piece is equally groundbreaking thanks to its intimate and layered portrayal of African-American family life on the operatic stage. Historically and musically, Blue compassionately tells a story that is at once painful and identifiable to so many of us. The Music Critics Association of America named Blue the “Best New Opera” of 2020, while the Financial Times praised it as “an exceptionally strong new opera about race in America”, and hailed Tesori’s music as “eclectic, but assuredly so, full of beauty and eloquence.” The piece is sung by an excellent cast of vocalists, including Kenneth Kellogg as The Father, Briana Hunter as The Mother, and Aaron Crouch as The Son, while The Washington National Opera Orchestra is led by rising star conductor Roderick Cox.
Jeanine Tesori is one of the most important American composers of today, with a diverse catalog for musical theatre, opera, film, and television. Tazewell Thompson is an internationally acclaimed director, playwright, teacher, and actor. Washington National Opera is among the leading US opera houses, and has the mission to present stories that reflect the America of today.
Digital Release Date: 25 MARCH 2022
Photo by Yassine El Mansouri / Elman Studio LLC
