New Classical Tracks: Music of passion, for two

The heart of any good opera is the intertwining of two high-flying voices. What we anticipate are those tearful, heart-wrenching duets between soprano and tenor. Enter Russian soprano Anna Netrebko and Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon. The on-stage relationship between these two opera darlings is already legendary. The Los Angeles Times said it best: "They're not only beautiful young lovers, but believable -- something rare." "Duets" is a new collection of some of the operatic love duets these two have performed together on stage, and a few duets that are rarely heard.

"When the opera shows you two young lovers on stage who are ready to die for each other, the audience has to feel their passion," Rolando Villazon explains. That passion is easy to feel while listening to Netrebko and Villazon on this new recording. In Puccini's "La Boheme," it's love at first sight for Mimi and Rodolfo. At the end of the first act they're immersed in the euphoria of new love as they sing "O soave fanciulla." Netrebko and Villazon sang this opera together for the first time in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre. Nebrebko knows that theatre well, and even she was surprised at the response this duet received by that audience. "There was endless applause, like I'd never seen before. It was fantastic," she recalls. Their performance on this CD is equally riveting.

The Duke and Gilda from Verdi's "Rigoletto," are roles that seem to be made for Netrebko and Villazon. Netrebko sings with tender vulnerability as she finds herself falling for the womanizing Duke. Villazon's voice is powerful, yet alluring. It's hard to resist his dashing advances. You'll be charmed by him, too. The final high D flat is stunning.

As a gift to one another, Netrebko and Villazon sing in each other's native language on "Duets." Netrebko chose a duet from Tchaikovsky's last opera "Iolanta." This opera is set in 15th-century Provence. It's the love story of a Burgundian knight and the blind daughter of the King. Before they can marry she must regain her eyesight. After singing of the holy virtues of light, she is able to see, and they're allowed to marry. Even for a Russian speaker, Netrebko admitted, this duet is challenging. She was incredibly proud of Rolando Villazon's Russian, his style, and his singing.

To close out this collection, Netrebko joins Villazon in a duet from Federico Torroba's "Luisa Fernanda." The work is a zarzuela, a Spanish form of musical theatre which mixes song, dance, and speech. After hearing Placido Domingo sing this duet in Spain, Villazon knew this was the perfect choice for this recording. He was right. Whatever language he and Netrebko are singing, their passionate interpretation gives the music a universal appeal.

Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko were set to reunite at the Metropolitan Opera for a revival of Gound's "Romeo and Juliet" this December. On his doctor's advice, Villazon has canceled all of his appearances for the next two to three months. While the Met cancellation is a disappointment, you can still hear these two sing their duet from "Romeo and Juliet." It appears on this new CD. These two instinctively know how to complement one another with their effortless phrasing, and their impeccable use of a broad dynamic range.

The newly appointed Music Director of the San Francisco Opera, Italian conductor Nicola Luisotti conducts the Dresden State Orchestra on this new release. Add this top-notch ensemble into the mix with the stellar performances of Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko, and you have a recipe for many hours of enjoyable listening.

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