To hear Michael Spyres is to be transported to a golden age of singing long past, a time when the most prolific opera composers put themselves at the service of the most talented singers of the day. Berlioz and Offenbach, along with the Italian bel canto trio of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti, would all find in Spyres, who is celebrated in European capitals like few of his contemporaries, one of, if not the most eloquent interpreters of their music today. For his Canadian debut, the American tenor offers a panorama of his incomparable talent, masterfully supported by the Orchestre and Chœur du Festival led by Corrado Rovaris.
Gioachino ROSSINI
La gazza ladra / Act 1: “Vieni fra queste braccia”
Vincenzo BELLINI
La Sonnambula: Act I: "Son Geloso del Zefiro Errante"
Hector BERLIOZ
La damnation de Faust, Op. 24: "Hungarian March"
Hector BERLIOZ
Les Troyens / Act 4: "O blonde Cérès"
Hector BERLOZ
La Damnation de Faust: "Nature immense"
Ambroise THOMAS
Raymond: "Overture"
Gioachino ROSSINI
Guillaume Tell / Act 4: "Ne m'abandonne point...Asile héréditaire...Amis, secondez ma vengeance"
Adolphe ADAM
Le postillon de Lonjumeau: "Mes amis écoutez l'histoire"
Gioachino ROSSINI
La Cenerentola / Act 2: "Sì, ritrovarla io giuro"
Gioachino ROSSINI
La Gazza Ladra: "Overture"
Jacques OFFENBACH
Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Act 1: "Va pour Kleinzach!"
Robert WRIGHT
Kismet: "And this is my beloved"