Verdi Opera Ernani this Saturday Night

A scene from Verdi's Ernani with Ferruccio Furlanetto as de Silva, Angela Meade as Elvira, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Don Carlo. Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera Taken at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 30, 2012

Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Orcas Center

If you’ve missed the opera on Sunday afternoons, here’s your opportunity to experience The Met: Live in HD with Verdi’s ERNANI, this Saturday night, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Four extraordinary singers star in Verdi’s thrilling early gem Ernani. American soprano Angela Meade, who has just received the prestigious Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera, takes the role of the noblewoman Elvira in her first Live in HD appearance.   Marcello Giordani, star of the Live in HD transmissions of Manon Lescaut, La Damnation de Faust, Madama Butterfly, Turandot, Simon Boccanegra, and La Fanciulla del West, sings the title role of the noble bandit who loves Elvira. Dmitri Hvorostovsky adds a new role to his distinguished repertory as Don Carlo, a royal suitor for Elvira’s hand, and Ferruccio Furlanetto is da Silva, a wealthy relative with his own designs on Elvira. Marco Armiliato, who led the Met premiere performances of Anna Bolena earlier this season, conducts Verdi’s thrilling drama of passion, power, and honor, seen in Pier Luigi Samaritani’s lavish production.

“Ms. Meade’s Elvira showed what this uncommonly gifted rising artist is capable of…her voice is plush and penetrating, though the power comes effortlessly from the body and richness of her sound. Her top notes soared over the orchestra. Yet just as impressive were her finespun pianissimo phrases. Mr. Furlanetto’s strong, dark, textured voice filled Verdi’s lines with burnished sound and arching lyricism.  Hvorostovsky shaped floating phrases with mellifluous, honeyed sound.”—Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times

“There is an argument for Verdi the way it used to be, especially when a rare soprano like Angela Meade commands the night… For pure singing, she is one vocal thrill after another. Her forte notes are true to the top of the register, her piano notes glisten and her improved lower tones growl with ferocity. Her cavatina “Ernani, Ernani, involami (Ernani, Ernani, save me)” was among the moments of the Met season.”—Ronald Blum, Associated Press

Running time: Approximately 210 minutes, including two intermissions

Host: Joyce DiDonato

Tickets for Ernani are $15 for adults and $11 for students. $2 off for Orcas Center Members and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling  376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon- 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2011 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.