Concert - Opera For All

Simon will appear in the 10th anniversary NDR free concert in the park in Hanover on 22 and 24 August 2024.

This concert will be livestreamed on 24 August.

From the NDR website: 

Change of date 

"The first performance of the opera gala will not take place on Friday as announced, but on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024, at 8 p.m. The reason for this is a soccer game in the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena, which is located in the immediate vicinity. Hannover 96's home game against Hamburger SV was recently scheduled for this evening. The second performance date of the opera gala on Saturday, August 24th at 8 p.m., remains unchanged - the video livestream from arte Concert and the radio broadcast on NDR Kultur have been moved to this performance.

On Thursday, August 22nd and Saturday, August 24th, the city of Hanover is once again inviting you to a free visit to the "Opera for All" in the Maschpark. Reminisce with friends and participants and look forward to new musical experiences.

You do not need to register in advance. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy a first-class orchestra, world-class opera stars and a programme with the most beautiful and famous arias in the world of opera. The opera gala will be broadcast into the park on two video screens. There will generally be no seating. Where the screens are located and other practical information for planning your visit will be announced on the website of the city of Hanover."

More information on NDR website

City of Hannover information website

You can watch the whole 24 August concert here on arte.tv until 22 November 2024

Video trailer for the first concert on 22 August

NDR Photo Gallery of the 22 August concert

Programme 
 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
"Don Giovanni" (Overture)
"Là ci darem la mano"
Duet (Zerlina, Don Giovanni) from "Don Giovanni"
"Dalla sua pace"
Aria (Don Ottavio) from "Don Giovanni"

Giuseppe Verdi
"Di Provenza il mar, il suol"
Aria (Germont) from "La Traviata"

Giacomo Puccini
"Non sono in vena"
Duet (Mimì, Rodolfo) from "La Bohème"

Interval

Pietro Mascagni
Intermezzo sinfonico
from "Cavalleria rusticana"

Giuseppe Verdi
"Parla … siam soli. - Ciel! dammi coraggio … Tutte le feste"
Recitative - Duet (Gilda, Rigoletto) from "Rigoletto"

Giacomo Puccini
"E lucevan le stelle"
Aria (Cavaradossi) from "Tosca"

Giuseppe Verdi
"È strano - Sempre libera degg’io"
Recitative - Aria (Violetta) from "La Traviata"

Giuseppe Verdi 
Overture
from "La Forza del Destino"

Giacomo Puccini
"Nessun Dorma"
Aria (Turiddu) from "Turandot"

Giuseppe Verdi
"Ehi! paggio!...L'onore! Ladri!"
Aria (Falstaff) from "Falstaff"

Giacomo Puccini
"O soave fanciulla"
Duet (Mimì, Rodolfo) from "La Bohème"

Gioachino Rossini
"Zitti, zitti, piano, piano"
Trio (Almaviva, Rosina, Figaro) from "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"

SOUNDBITES

"Unerwähnt sollte in keinem Fall der Bariton Simon Keenlyside bleiben, denn auch die charaktervolle Interpretation der Germont aus La Traviata macht beeindruckend viel her. Stimmwucht und eine gaumenrunde Tiefe versetzt mit viel Ausdruck machen auch das baritonale Erlebnis zu einem musikalischen Hochgenuss.

Rund, rund und nochmals rund bleibt dieser Abend mit einer letzten Zugabe ein klassisches Musik-Schmankerl der Superlative. Auf die nächsten 10 Jahre mit ganz viel Pauken und Trompeten."

"The baritone Simon Keenlyside should not go unmentioned, as his characterful interpretation of Germont from La Traviata is also very compelling. Vocal power and an impressive depth, combined with a great deal of expression, make the baritone experience a musical treat.

Over, over and over again, this evening, with its final encore, remains a superlative classical music delicacy. Here's to the next 10 years with lots of drums and trumpets."

" ..... Der britische Bariton Simon Keenlyside singt den Satz in einem knappen Rezitativ als Hinführung zum anmutigsten Duett der Musikgeschichte. In einem Opernhaus muss man gut anderthalb Stunden darauf warten, dass Zerlina endlich Don Giovanni hoffnungsfroh die Hand reicht. Hier ist das schon nach zehn Minuten der Fall.

Das Duett „La ci cdarem la mano“ ist ein zartes Abtasten zwischen zwei Menschen, die einen glücklichen (wenn auch trügerischen) Augenblick der Harmonie erleben. Mozart hat in dem Stück einen Ton getroffen, der einen Hörer über die Jahrhunderte seit Entstehung der Komposition hinweg berühren kann.  ...

Bariton Keenlyside ist ein großartiger Sänger und ein toller Charakterdarsteller – und doch ist der Brite bei Weitem nicht die größte Attraktion....."

" ..... The British baritone Simon Keenlyside sings the movement in a brief recitative as an introduction to the most graceful duet in music history. In an opera house you have to wait a good hour and a half for Zerlina finally to extend her hand hopefully to Don Giovanni. Here it happens after just ten minutes.

The duet "La ci darem la mano" is a tender probing between two people who experience a happy (albeit deceptive) moment of harmony. Mozart struck a note in this piece that can touch a listener across the centuries since the composition was written.

Baritone Keenlyside is a great singer and a great character actor - and yet the Brit is far from being the biggest attraction....."

Our thanks to Patti Lynn Miller for her contribution to the gallery below.