Ecstatic Living Room

Reviews coming soon.

On September 26, 2011, just days before his 30th birthday, Philadelphia-born Stephen Costello sings the tenor lead in the season-opening performance of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at the Metropolitan Opera. It’s the first time the company has ever staged the work, and it features Anna Netrebko in the title role. It’s also the second time Costello has sung an opening night at the Met, a feat that he first achieved in 2007 when, at 26, he made his debut there and was quickly invited back to perform again later that season.

Since that time, Costello has gone from strength to strength, winning the prestigious Richard Tucker Award in 2009, and performing in many high-profile productions, including Verdi’s Otello with Riccardo Muti at the Salzburg Festival (available on DVD) and creating the role of Greenhorn (Ishmael) in the Dallas Opera’s acclaimed world-premiere production of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Moby Dick. Among the highlights for his current season are his company role debut as Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Rodolfo – with his wife, soprano Ailyn Pérez, as Mimì – in the Los Angeles Opera’s production of Puccini’s La bohème.

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Photo Credit: Mike Sharkey

Nathan Gunn is a man of many talents and passions, as his responses to our “20 Questions” reveal. His compelling stage presence and musical versatility have given him star billing in a plethora of operas around the world, ranging from contemporary and 20th-century works to Mozart’s masterpieces (from December 21 through January 6 he reprises his acclaimed Papageno in the Met’s English-language family version of The Magic Flute). Singing with orchestras and in recital, the Grammy-winning baritone takes on some of the great concert and song repertoire, and also makes frequent excursions into musical theater fare, including, most recently, celebrated semi-staged performances of Camelot with the New York Philharmonic and Showboat at Carnegie Hall, as well as a Sondheim 80th birthday gala (also with the NY Phil) that recently came out on DVD. An avid sportsman and enthusiastic reader, Gunn’s charisma – yes, you saw him in People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” issue in 2008 – is undeniable. He’s also a dedicated family man who stays close to his mid-western roots.

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Xuefei Yang is an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist, performing for audiences across the globe. Her talent was recognized early – at the age of 14 she made her Spanish debut in Madrid, with the composer Joaquin Rodrigo attending her concert. She is the first Chinese guitarist to become a professional musician on the international music scene. She performs in the world’s major concert halls, plays concertos with the world’s leading orchestras and has an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics. Her first EMI CD, Romance De Amor achieved a gold disc, and her second, 40 Degrees North, was recognized in China as the best classical CD of 2009, and CD of the month in Gramophone.

Xuefei has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including a successful performance at the BBC Proms, and an interview for “Woman’s Hour” on BBC Radio 4. In 2009 Xuefei performed at the Brit Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Xuefei was the subject of a documentary by CCTV in China.

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Italian-born Giuseppe Filianoti has won acclaim around the world for his superb performances in the Bel Canto repertoire. The well-read family man appears May 12-25 as Nemorino (opposite Diana Damrau) in Laurent Pelly’s staging of L’Elisir d’Amoreat Covent Garden.
His beautifully sonorous voice has been heard on all the great opera stages including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Milan’s La Scala and London’s Royal Opera House. Describing his performance in January 2009 in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Met, the New York Times praised his “virile, bright voice with Italianate ping in his upper range” and “limber and youthful appearance.”

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