Josep Carreras: "Il Video della Settimana": Josep Carreras and Katia Ricciarelli sing "Ah! Perché qui! Fuggite" from Un Ballo in Maschera

Josep Carreras, in his own words

There is something in life, in my life, that was able to overcome this extraordinary passion I have for singing, and especially lyrical singing. Whenever the Foundation succeed in finding a compatible donor for patients awaiting a transplant, or every time we make progress in scientific research thanks to one of our scholarships, or when leukaemia patients are treated in transplant units or clinics that we have helped to finance, I feel enormously happy. Thanks to my profession, I am privileged to help or, at least, try to help people in need. In 1987, I became ill with leukaemia. During my illness I was lucky enough to have a family who supported me throughout, to have an extraordinary medical team, in addition to the spontaneous support and sympathy of the general public. This allowed me to maintain my morale and it gave me the necessary energy and determination to fight leukaemia. On July 14th 1988, with the support of my family, eminent scientists and business people, I had the opportunity to create the International Foundation for the Fight Against Leukaemia. Our Foundation focuses on four main areas: supporting scientific research, providing infrastructures for healthcare centres and hospitals, and searching for bone marrow and stem cell donors. All this in addition to offering social services for leukaemia patients and their families. The main mission of the Foundation is to support scientific research. The Josep Carreras Foundation for the Fight Against Leukaemia was born to help make Leukaemia a completely curable disease for everyone and in all cases. Our work will not stop until our goal becomes a reality.

Thank you Maria and Pippa for the English translation.

domenica 5 febbraio 2012

"Il Video della Settimana": Josep Carreras and Katia Ricciarelli sing "Ah! Perché qui! Fuggite" from Un Ballo in Maschera

Una domenica in più in compagnia del Video della Settimana.

*Key facts: for a short summary in english, please go at the end of this post.

Questa settimana torna l'opera allo stato puro in questo spazio domenicale, un'opera verdiana tra le mie preferite. Nel leggerne il titolo sarà evidente l'evento che mi ha suggerito questa scelta, probabilmente azzeccata anche per quanto riguarda gli interpreti in questione; nel caso non sia così è sufficiente dare un'occhiata al post precedente.

Vedremo e ascolteremo Josep Carreras insieme a Katia Ricciarelli nel duo dell'atto terzo de Un Ballo in Maschera "Ah! Perché qui! Fuggite", una versione parigina risalente al 1981.

Penso sia superfluo motivare la mia predilezione per Un Ballo in Maschera tra le opere verdiane. Una scelta, per altro, molto combattuta e che prescinde dal profondo legame che Josep ha con questa opera. È ricca di momenti sublimi, equamente distribuiti in tutta la sua durata, e Riccardo è uno tra i miei personaggi preferiti in tutto il panorama operistico, perché non perde di vista la saggezza pur essendo irrimediabilmente innamorato. Un ruolo che calza a pennello a Josep Carreras è che risalta le sue eccezionali doti interpretative. Forse è anche perché Josep riesce a dare vita a Riccardo in questo modo così divino che mi fa inevitabilmente innamorare di questo personaggio verdiano.

Ma è inutile perdersi in chiacchiere: meglio abbandonarsi all'ascolto. Godetevelo!!

Ci rivediamo domenica prossima con un altro video. Buona settimana a tutti!!

Key facts:

◦ Welcome once again for the Video of the Week. Opera is back this Sunday, and probably you'll understand the reason for my choice... if you don't, you should read the previous post. We will listen to Josep Carreras and Katia Ricciarelli in the duet from the 3rd act of a great opera by Verdi, Un Ballo in Maschera. This version dates back to 1981, in Paris.

◦ Any explaination on my particular predilection for this opera would be superflous. Apart from being so rich of sublime moments, equally placed throughout the opera, Riccardo is one of my favourite male characters, because he does not forget wiseness even though he's so in love with Amelia. It is a perfect role for Josep, and it highlights his great interpretative talent. Probably the fact that Josep embodies this character so wonderfully makes m fall in love with this character so deeply. Enjoy

See you next Sunday for another video. Enjoy your week!!