Dimitra Theodossiou

Part of Tutto Verdi series - Nabucco (2009) Parma. NABUCCO was Verdi’s third work for the stage and proved his first great success when performed in 1842. It deals with the Hebrew’s attempts to break free from the yoke of their Babylonian oppressors and is nowadays numbered among Verdi’s most popular works, not least on account of its famous Chorus of Hebrew Slaves, which has one of the best-loved melodies in the whole history of opera.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Macbeth" staged by Dario Argento, directed by Marco Scalfi.

Director Stefano Poda set the action in the mid 19th century. There’s not a piece of furniture in the whole show. Just a lot of slabs which change position as the opera progresses. There were also a lot of non-singing characters in strange poses who popped up here and there. This sort of staging is not the usual for the Parma house which typically stays close to the traditional. There’s nothing wrong with the staging that a first rate musical effort couldn’t overcome. But that effort was not forthcoming.

I Lombardi alla prima crociata (The Lombards on the First Crusade) was Verdi’s fourth opera and received its first performance at La Scala, Milan, in February 1843. The grandiloquent subject matter is fleshed-out with broad-brushed musical and dramatic effects and lavish choral scenes created a correspondingly impressive impact. A great success in Milan, it spread to the rest of Europe within a matter of only a few years.

Part of Tutto Verdi series - La battaglia di Legnano (2012) Trieste. 'La battaglia di Legnano' ('The Battle of Legnano') is an opera in four acts, with music by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian-language libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. Most of the early Verdi operas are sort of rare for a reason. They do not rise to the heights of genius that his middle period and late period operas did. However, there are always some beautiful arias or choruses and most of them are great fun......sort of like bel canto on steroids! What I mean is that you can hear that he was coming from the bel canto tradition, but he liked to inject a lot more power into the characters and their music.

This production of Mascagni's three-act comedic opera includes a stellar cast, headed by Jose Bros as Fritz.

A tragedy through and through, then: intense, deep and profoundly romantic. Anna Bolena is a very significant work in the history of opera, as well as in Donizetti’s own personal history. In this Teatro Donizetti di Bergamo production Dimitra Theodossiou stands out as a fine interpreter both as a singer and as an actress.

Recorded live from the Teatro Regio di Parma, 8 October 2011

The recording took place in Teatro Farnese di Parma, a kind of "mini-Verona" stage, but under roof. Probably good acoustics. But that doesn't rescue this perfomance of the Requiem mass, the fault is mainly being the conductor's, Yuri Temirkanov. He doesn't at all seems inspired of this work and not interested in whats happens on stage, if judged by the video. Particularly, he seems unintersted in the choir. The tenor, Francesco Meli, delivers a very inspired Ingemisco, but the other soloists are probably affected by the conductor.

Live performance of April 5, 2005 at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Leo Nucci, Dimitra Theodossiou, Mariana Pentcheva, Miroslav Dvorski lead the cast. The Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna is conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Optional English, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese subtitles. A Hardy Classic Video release. Color, 130 minutes, 4:3, All regions IL TROVATORE Music by Giuseppe Verdi Cast: Il Conte di Luna - Leo Nucci Leonora - Dimitra Theodossiou Azucena - Mariana Pentcheva Manrico - Miroslav Dvorski Ferrando - Andrea Papi Ines - Bernadette Lucarini Ruiz - Enrico Cossutta Un Vecchio Zingaro - Raddaele Costantini Un messo - Martino Laterza Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna Carlo Rizzi, conducting

Starring Ferruccio Furlanetto, Giuseppe Filianoti & Dimitra Theodossiou. From Teatro Massimo, Palermo, Sicily