Bravo, 
Cura!

 

 

 

Cuibar cancels concerts in Pula and Ohrid.

See article below for details.

 

 

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José Cura concert in Pula has been cancelled

Croatian Times


José Cura’s two concerts scheduled to be held in Pula, Croatia on 5 July and in Ohrid, Macedonia on 12 July have been cancelled.

Cuibar Productions S.L., the Spanish company that represents Cura, made the announcement today (Fri), citing technical and production problems caused by an intermediary agency’s breach of contract.
    
Cuibar Productions claimed Cura, an operatic tenor, was not responsible for the cancellations.

Emanuele Destrini from Cuibar Productions marketing department said: "In these sad circumstances, Mr. Cura expresses his great respect and consideration for the audiences who would have been present at the two concerts and for the people of Croatia and Macedonia. We tried to solve the problem until the last minute and regret any inconvenience caused by a situation out of our control."

 

   

 

Cuibar Blurb:

 

** PRESS RELEASE **

 

CANCELLATION OF TWO EVENTS FROM JOSÉ CURA'S OFFICIAL CALENDAR.

We inform that José Cura's participation in the following concerts has been cancelled:

- Pula Arena Gala Concert, scheduled on the 5th of July 2009 due to technical and production problems caused by the breach of contract of the intermediary agency;

- Ohrid Colosseum Gala Concert, scheduled on the 12th of July 2009 due to the breach of contract of the intermediary agency.

We want to emphasize that the Artist, José Cura, is free of any responsibility and that he is truly affected by this event. In these sad circumstances, Mr. Cura expresses his great respect and consideration for the audience of these two concerts and for the people of Croatia and Macedonia.

We point out Cuibar Productions S.L.'s (Spanish company representing José Cura) continuous efforts to solve this problem until the last minute and we regret any inconvenience caused by a situation beyond our control.

dott. Emanuele Destrini (Mr.)
PR & Marketing Department
Cuibar Productions S.L.

 

From Kira's Desk

We have eye-witnesses this week to the fabulous performances of Maestro Cura in Zurich and Spain, and recommendations for web viewing from a friend on the other side of the world!  So, thanks so much to Gudrun, Helga, Irmela, Rosanna, Rubén, and Ryoko for keeping watch for Bravo Cura! 

Maestro has added another summer concert, this time just outside Barcelona, so if your vacation in August takes you in that direction, be sure to stop by Peralada for an awesome show!

 

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Cura's  Newest Gig

 

Peralada is a small town of 1500 inhabitants situated in the Alt Empordà region of Catalonia, between Figueres and the Costa Brava and 150 kilometres from Barcelona. It is well connected by motorway and train with two airports (Gerona and Perpignan) less than 30 minutes away.

The Castillo de Peralada, which hosts the Castillo de Peralada Festival, dates from the late middle ages. The medieval site was acquired by Miguel Mateu in 1923 and is currently the home of the Casino de Peralada, the Museo del Vidrio (Glass Museum), the Museo del Vino (Wine Museum), an impressive library with over 80,000 volumes of antiquarian books including 1,000 copies of Don Quixote, wine cellars with selection of excellent wines which are eventually marketed as Castillo de Peralada cavas and wines, and the Gothic-style Iglesia del Carmen.

Leisure facilities also offered at Peralada include the Peralada Golf Club which surrounds the five-star Hotel Golf Peralada and the hotel’s Wine Spa.

Tickets:

WEBSITE

 

Cura Reviews --

Zurich's Cav & Pag

 

 

Many thanks to the fabulous Monica for translating the German!

 

 

Cav and Pag, Zurich, June 2009:  'Opera right out of a picture postcard: Something clicks here---and Asagaroff ‘s skillful transformation of this story’s playfully comedic surface into the eventually profound, existential tragedy is an accomplishment that deserves respect. To an extraordinary degree, it is also due to the acting talents of José Cura, who is singing the part of Turiddu as well as that of Canio. Dazzlingly brilliant his voice in the sweeping melodic arches of  Cavalleria, remarkably vigorous and lively in the articulation of the drinking song "Viva il vino spumeggiante". That has class and gives the impression of authenticity down to the last inch. Perhaps even more awesome is his Canio: an alcohol-dependent clown, grown old, who is living off what’s left of his former assets, and, mind you, does so in magnificent voice. His slight stagger as he exits the stage after the famous "Vesti la giubba" goes to the quick, yes even more than that, it is heart-rending.'  Werner Pfister, Zürichsee-Zeitung, 8 June 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Cav and Pag, Zurich, June 2009:  'In the Wake of Infidelity: the Obligatory Knifing:  José Cura, who lets Santuzza have the action in the first piece, turns into a melodramatic anti-hero, driven by jealousy, in the second part, in Pagliacci. The transition from play to reality is hardly noticeable with him. The clown who has seemingly been joking just a minute earlier appears dead serious the next; it’s of distressing ambiguity even for the spectator with knowledge in the matter.  Since Enrico Caruso’s interpretation at the latest, the character of the clown is lachrymose, sentimental and full of self-pity. Cura endows him with that also and seems doubly lost in himself exactly because of his physical and vocal stage presence. And it is precisely this ‘mismatch’ of weakness in character and brute violence that logically, resolutely leads to tragedy.'  Thomas Meyer,  Tagesanzeiger 8 June 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Cav and Pag, Zurich, June 2009:  'Big Sound, Idyllic-Postcard Style:  On Saturday, the Zurich Opernhaus brought the so-called ‘Verismo-Twins’—Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”--to the stage. Star-tenor José Cura left his mark on both....The final quarter hour of “Pagliacci” was a veritable José Cura show. Everybody got carried away by the Argentine tenor’s intensity and presence: colleagues, chorus, orchestra and naturally the audience. Cura’s portrayal of the jealous leader of the somewhat shabby troupe of comedians, Canio, in his wounded male pride, in his despair and in his deadly rage was a theatrical event. Canio, in danger of losing his wife Nedda and nonetheless expected to perform in a comedy, a comedy which is about to become his personal tragedy. This very same Canio is the clown Pagliaccio, behind whose back the smart-looking Arlecchino reels in his Columbina. In the end, two lie dead on stage right in front of the eyes of a shocked audience.

 

Vocal bright sides on display:  “Vesti la giubba-ridi Pagliaccio” is Leoncavallo’s greatest aria and a cornerstone of the tenor repertory. Cura charged it with all the drama imaginable. But also elsewhere, also as Turiddu in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria”, did he show the bright side of his magnificent and powerful voice- a voice of substance and foundation, which also has a smooth, rich flow- in conjunction with the complex and intelligent employ of vocal resources: Not only loud and extroverted, but differentiated in the service of two very different roles. Thus Cura downgraded everyone to supernumerary status-conductor Stefano Ranzani included…. Compared with Cura, the other singers had a hard time.'   Reinmar Wagner, Die Suedostschweiz, 08 Jun 2009

 

 

 

 

Elina Garança and José Cura Conquer the Campoamor


Paul Galician

LNS / Diario Independiente de Asturias

25 June 2009

[Excerpts]

A convincing success.  The opera gala to benefit the Fundación Banco de Alimentos that united Elina Garança and José Cura on the stage of the Campoamor won the hearts of the audience that filled the seats of the theater….

The recital began with works by Verdi, Leoncavallo, Donizetti and Bellini, alternating the voice of the mezzo, with her brilliant performance of arias from Don Carlo and Maria Stuarda, with Cura's strong dramatic energy that gave life to Verdi’s Otello and the clown in “Vesti la giubba”.  Together they closed the first half with Norma; Cura used glasses to read in snatches from the score, something unusual in shows of this sort. 

[…] Cura, who changed from white shirt in the first half to a black one for the second, sometimes exaggerated his strong acting skill, offered a passionate interpretation of Don José in Bizet’s ‘La fleur que tu m'avais jetée’.  After three rounds of bows and having presenting works not often heard at Campoamor, came the encores. … .  Cura offered a ‘Nessun dorma’ that finished conquering the audience who had gathered for a good cause.

 

Cura Eyewitness Accounts

We enjoyed [Cav & Pag in Zurich] live on 19th June and it was the best of the best. We never heard or saw a better Canio!!  - Helga

 

Some minutes ago I have returned from Zurich where I attended a wonderful performance of Cav + Pag in the afternoon. José was great in Cavalleria and absolutely breathtaking in Pagliacci. - Irmela
 

Yesterday- an unbelievable CAV/PAG performance in Zurich!  We hope to get a DVD production - the world should see that José Cura is able to set the world in fire!

Kira, reviews tell you only the half of what is happening there on that stage!  Cura lives both roles- nobody can be a better Turiddu and Canio these days.  He is such an extraordinary actor and you feel everything the character feels in such a direct way. But he has such an comic talent that he makes you laugh at the beginning of PAG- but only at the very first beginning, because after a few minutes the mood turns tragic and you cry with him, even though he is so drunken and jealous and wrecked.  I've never seen him this way before. I think, he achieved what he wanted to do - rip into the heart of everyone in the audience.  You missed something great!  - Gudrun

 

GREAT CONCERT!!!!!!  - Rubén

GALA LIRICA CAJASTUR - Concierto extraordinario

Miércoles, 24 de Junio de 2009, 20:00 - Teatro Campoamor de Oviedo

1st Half:

VERDI: La fuerza del destino: obertura

VERDI: Otello: Dio! mi potevi scagliar tutti

VERDI: Don Carlo: Nel giardin del bello

LEONCAVALLO: I Pagliacci: intermezzo

LEONCAVALLO: I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba

DONIZETTI: Maria Stuarda:Ah, quando all´ara scorgemi/ Ah! dal ciel discenda

BELLINI: Norma: Eccola va, mi lascia / Va, crudele / Vieni in Roma

 

2nd Half :

BIZET: Carmen: selección

Encores:

CHAPI: Las hijas de Zebedeo: Al pensar en el dueño de mis amores

(Carceleras)

PUCCINI: Turandot: Nessun dorma

 Director: Chichón, Karel Mark

 Solistas: Garanca, Elina (Mezzo), Cura, José (Tenor)

Cura on the Web

 

 

 

 

Watch a snippet from Cavalleria rusticana at the Arena di Verona, dated 1 July 2006

Watch

Watch a snippet of the performance from Zurich's Cav / Pag (background to an interview with the conductor and director)

Watch

Cura Signing

For those of you who are going to Zurich in July - the Maestro will be signing copies of his photography book, Espontaneas, at the opera house.

Following the final performance of Pag / Cav on 8 July, Cura will sign copies of his book.  Bring your own copy or buy it at the signing.

Cura

Ticket Availability

Note to those who are interested in the Liege Samson:  tickets are now on sale.  Special note for Friday, 25 September:  no category 1 seats are available since those seats have already been reserved for a special function.

Booking information:

Tel: 0032 (0)4 - 232 42 17
Fax:0032 (0)4 221 35 66

 

Master Class 4 September - Free admission

Concert 6 September - Tickets available via FNAC

Tickets Available beginning 1 June

Ticket Website

 

The Norwegian National Opera and the Norwegian National Ballet - Norway's biggest culture and stage institution.

Oslo's new opera house opened on 12 April, 2008 and is now the home of the Norwegian Opera and Ballet.

The new opera house is one of the world's most spectacular opera houses, with a fabulous location by the seaside. Renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta designed the building. The new opera house will present a rich and varied programme from three stages: The main theatre (1369 seats), Scene 2 (400 seats) and the Rehearsal theatre (200 seats).

 

 

THREE opportunities to see Maestro Cura at the lovely Norwegian National Opera (Den Norske Opera) - - but tickets are going very quickly so if you are interested in a wonderful week of music in Oslo, consider ordering your tickets SOON!

Website for the National Opera:

http://www.operaen.no/

Quick tip:  At the top right of the page, click on English to have the screens display in English.  You can then use the calendar to move to the desired performances dates.

2009-12-12 La Fanciulla del West

2009-12-14 La Fanciulla del West

2009-12-17 José Cura in Recital - Argentinian Songs
 
José Cura is one of the finest Dick Johnson of his generation;  he is NOT to be missed in Fanciulla.  And he is without equal in concerts ...

 

Cura Calendar - Summer

 Month / 2009 Dates Title

Theater /

Sponsor

City

June

6, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 21, 26

Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci

Opernhaus

Zurich

June

24

Concert gala

Teatro Campoamor

Oviedo

July

2

Concert for APCL

Pavilhao Atlantico

Lisboa

July

3, 8

Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci

Opernhaus

Zurich

July

10

Carmen

Opernhaus

Zurich

July

5

Concert gala

Arena

Pula

July

12

Concert gala

Coloseum

Ohrid

July

18

Concert gala

Emilia Romagna Festival

 Rocca San Casciano

August

16

Concert

Castillo de Peralada Festival

Peralada

August

20

Recital with piano

Festival de Santander

Santander

 

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Latest Interview

Posting in the original Spanish;  we didn't have time to attempt a translation.  :( 

 

José Cura - Director, Compositor Y Cantante De Opera

 "Los cantantes de ahora ya no tienen paciencia para trabajar la voz"

 

La Voz de Asturias

Aurelio M. Seco

22/06/2009

 
José Cura (Rosario, Argentina, 1962) es uno de los tenores más importantes de la actualidad. Este miércoles a las 20.00 horas ofrece un concierto benéfico en el teatro Campoamor de Oviedo, junto a la mezzo Elina Garanca. La velada, patrocinada por Cajastur, contará con la dirección musical de Karel Mark Chichon, al frente de la Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias (OSPA). El programa es de corte popular, compuesto por obras de Verdi, Leoncavallo, Donizetti, Bellini, Bizet, Chapí y Puccini. El importe de las entradas se destinará a la Fundación Banco de Alimentos.

--Giancarlo del Monaco afirma que ya no existen voces como las de antes, que se han perdido los grandes tenores dramáticos.

--Lo que no existe es el tesón y la paciencia para trabajar la voz --como un atleta que trabaja sus músculos hasta obtener la hipertrofia buscada-- y se pretende que la fibra se desarrolle por arte de magia. No hay anabólicos para la laringe. A Del Monaco (padre) le llevó años tener la voz que le conocemos.

--Hay varios grandes intérpretes que están teniendo serios problemas con su voz Cuál es el problema?

--Si un atleta baja al ruedo para torear un rol determinado antes de que sus músculos estén a la altura de dicho rol, en vez de la hipertrofia lo que obtiene es una atrofia, que no por ser cacofónicamente semejantes significan lo mismo. Pero la atrofia no siempre es solo física. Si antes bastaba con tener voz para hacer carrera, hoy, gracias a la histeria generalizada en la que está sumido el mundo, lo que hay que tener es una claridad intelectual a toda prueba. Vamos, inteligencia.

-- Cree que el aumento del tamaño de los auditorios, orquestas y afinación perjudica ésta?

-- Y el tamaño de la ambición? O, peor aún, el tamaño de la ambición de aquellos que comen a tu costa? Claro que los factores que menciona influyen, y mucho, en la duración de una carrera. Si los futbolistas tuvieran que correr en canchas de 200 metros en vez de 100 para que el tamaño de los estadios se pudiera duplicar y así vender más entradas, al cabo de tres años estarían quemados. Y si la maratón fuera de 100 kilómetros en vez de 42 para que los derechos de televisión por minuto dieran más frutos? El sonido de las orquestas y la afinación innatural, que ya casi ronda un semitono más alto de los 432 ciclos por segundo con los que Verdi sonaba, tampoco ayuda. Aunque esto va mas allá de los propios músicos pues, cuando las obras que hacemos hoy fueron escritas, la calidad sonora de los instrumentos, sobre todo los de viento, era muy inferior. Pero si hoy un trombón es poco menos que un bazooka!

--Con frecuencia algunos cantantes deciden no formar parte del proyecto artístico de un teatro por la línea artística de su programador. Es conocido el caso de Marcelo Alvarez y el Teatro Real. Qué piensa usted de esto?

--Nunca me he encontrado ante tal encrucijada. Más bien ante favoritismos de inciertos directores artísticos hacia ciertas agencias teatrales que deciden por ellos. Pero eso es agua de un odre que no viene al caso revolver, pues el espacio editorial es tirano.

-- Qué lugar del mundo se encuentra a la vanguardia de las producciones operísticas?

--Vanguardia es también sinónimo de riesgo. Quien está a la vanguardia de un ejército recibe los primeros disparos. La geografía no tiene nada que ver. Quienes no tienen coraje para estar delante se ponen detrás y esperan. Esto es tan viejo como el mundo.

-- Cuál es su ópera favorita?

--La ópera que más amo es la que me toca cantar esa noche, y su compositor, por esa noche, también es el mejor del mundo.

-- Qué cantantes ha admirado más?

--Todos los artistas merecen admiración. Solo el hecho de sacar la cabeza fuera del montón para mostrarte desnudo y vulnerable merece respeto.

-- Una carrera profesional como la suya, entorpece sus relaciones personales?

--No, si no quieres.

--Con lo conocido que es, nunca le ha tentado la política?

-- Dios me libre! Aunque hay que reconocer que los políticos son los divos de hoy en día. Todos los días en primera página. Pero si hasta firman autógrafos! Será por eso que gobiernan tan distraídamente?

-- Colabora con algún proyecto altruista?

--Soy patrono de la Opera Juvenil de Devon, vicepresidente de la Youth Opera de Londres, profesor invitado de la Royal Academy of Music, profesor Honoris Causa de la Universidad CAECE de Buenos Aires, asociado de Kofi Annan en su organización para salvaguardar el clima, socio fundador de la Asociación Portuguesa contra la Leucemia. Mi actividad docente dedicada a los jóvenes es también constante en muchos países. Solo en mi casa de adopción (España), hoy también mi país por derecho de ciudadanía gracias a mi abuelo Soriano, todavía no he sido invitado a tener un rol activo en la sociedad. Espero que eso cambie pronto.

 

 

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Cav & Pag in Zurich!

 

 

from Helga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

from Irmela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concert in Oviedo with José Cura & Elina Garança

from Rubén

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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José Cura's web pages are a varied and a rich source of information about this wonderful artist.   Click on one of the photo below to take a tour and find out what is happening in the career of one of today's greatest tenors.

Calendar

La Commedia e finita

JC pr from new web site

Cuibar

La commedia é finita 

 

José Cura Official Web Site

All things Cura . . . .

 

Cuibar

José Cura's management / production company

   

To learn more about the José Cura ConneXion, check out their web page:

 

José Cura ConneXion

 

   


 

 

 

Patron

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting

 

 Professor of

 

Voice

 

 

 

Vice-President

 

 

 

 

 


 

Please help us take care of Planet Earth, especially for those who have no voice.  It is the only home any of us have--for all creatures great and small and for all generations to come!   -  editorial staff of Bravo Cura

 

 

 

We are always looking for material about Mr. Cura.  'Historical' articles and photos are welcome.  Brand new items are greatly appreciated.  Send them to kireanna@romeoandjuliet.net

 

 

 

                 

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"I pray God that my mission as artist will bring some peace to the souls of whoever come across my work."     

(José Cura, Introduction to Japan Concert Program, October 2001)

 

 

 

 

This page is an UNOFFICIAL fan page Mistakes found in these pages are our mistakes and our responsibility.   

 

This fan page is dedicated to promoting the artistry of  José Cura.  We are supported and encouraged by Cura fans from around the world:  without these wonderful people, we wouldn't be able to keep up with the extraordinary career of this fabulous musical talent.  We are indebted to each and every one one of them. 

 

If you have something concerning Mr. Cura you would like to share, contact me at bravocura@cox.net

 

Note that some of the material included on these pages are covered by copyright laws.  Please respect the rights of the owners.

 

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Last Updated:  Friday, July 03, 2009

© Copyright: Kira