Grida natura, e desta!

Dear Friends,

Although I had no time to breathe these last days, I kept my promise and here I am with something more from the beautiful adventure called “Tokyo”, still fresh in my memory and soul. 

As you know, the wonderful Angela Gheroghiu invited me to sing with her on 11th and 16th of October.

There were two magical Gala Concerts, both of them sold out. Our voices blended just perfect, on every single duet we sung, beautifully accompanied by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, under maestro conductor Ion Marin.

I guess, you have already seen „Vieni fra queste braccia”, the splendid duet from Vincenzo Bellini's „I Puritani”.

And there were more… “Parigi o cara” form Verdi’s “La Traviata”, for example, or “C'est le Dieu de la jeunesse” from Leo Delibes’s “Lakme”. 

But today, I present you the demanding aria of Prince Adelberto, from the second act of Rossini's “Adelaide di Borgogna” – “Grida natura, e desta!”.

This aria represented a challenge for me as it is a challenge for any tenor who approaches it. Because a high tessitura and a warm but still strong coloratura voice is needed.

This is a sort of madness aria - “aria di pazzia" – usually composed just for sopranos. But for “Adelaide di Borgogna”, Rossini changed the rule and gave this challenge to a tenor.

Adelberto remains alone in the chambers of the palace after having a fight with his mother Eurice.

She tried to convince him to give Adelaide back to Ottone, otherwise his father, Berengario, will die - being captured by him.

This is the moment when Adelberto must make up his mind: save his father or loose forever the beloved Adelaide.

And all he has in mind is that all the people around him and even the Universe it’s self are against him: “Nemici o gli uomini, Nemico h'o il cielo".

I hope you have enjoyed my performance from Suntory Hall, Tokyo, and I promise to be back with more.

Now…I have to run or I’ll be late for “Don Pasquale” rehearsal at Zurich Opernhouse.

Yes…I’m already in Zurich

The end of a wonderful dream... looking forward for the next one!

I just can’t believe it’s over…but it is!

As I already said, the two concerts in Tokyo with the wonderful Angela Gheorghiu and maestro Ion Marin, and the whole Japan experience, made me feel that my last 14 years of hard work fully worth.

And I can’t express the happyness and gratitude I feel... Two sold out concerts, great audience, standing ovations, more than a thousand people asking for autographs...it’s been unbelievable!

I think there is no greater satisfaction and fulfillment for an artist than the appreciation he/she receives from the public.

And today, as you can see in the video below, Angela and I, along with maestro Ion Marin and the Japan Philarmonic Orchestra, we felt the love and appreciation of the public all the way...

This was just a little part of the concert, „Vieni fra queste braccia”, the splendid duetto from Vincenzo Bellini's „I Puritani”. More photos and videos are on the way...

Thank You so much Angela, for inviting me to sing with you!

Thank you to all those who came at Suntory Hall today to see the concert and thank you Tokyo for having me!

This was a beautiful dream came true!

Now, it’s time for me to move on to the next dream: after a few days in Romania with my parents and friends, I’ll fly to Zurich.

I’ll be „Ernesto” in Donizetti's „Don Pasquale”, at Zurich Opernhaus, under maestro Nello Santi. It’s a debu and that means a lot of hard work.

Well? See you at the premiere?