Charles Gounod: Romeo & Juliette – Rolando Villazon & Nino Machaidze

The stand-in for Anna Netrebko, Nino Machaidze, was THE new discovery of the Salzburg Festival and the overriding theme of last summer! The relatively unknown soprano, only 25 years old, was simply a sensation. She enchanted the audience and was in no way inferior to the great Villazón in vocal range, emotionality and passionate eroticism. No doubt, the young Georgian soprano has a world career ahead of her! And Rolando Villazón as Roméo convinced even the last skeptic in this production that he is back to his old self after his time out, namely one of the most expressive tenors of his generation. The French-Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin acted on a par with his stars, and his deep understanding of the work and intensity on the podium triggered an enthusiasm that no young conductor has generated for a long time.

FonoForum 06/09: “Rolando Villazón gives as an almost always irresistibly in love and desperate, in the most and desperate Roméo, who loses himself in the most beautiful in the most beautiful love duets, a ravishing Salzburg comeback And there is even a real conductor’s cover: the 33 year old Canadian Yannick Nézet-Seguin recommends himself with his joyful, spirited, and lyrical interpretation lyrical interpretation as a man for more – not only at the Salzach the Salzach.”