Great Performances At The Met: Ernani

Airs Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 12 p.m. on KPBS TV

A scene from Verdi's "Ernani" with Ferruccio Furlanetto as de Silva, Angela Meade as Elvira, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Don Carlo.

Credit: Coutesy of Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Above: A scene from Verdi's "Ernani" with Ferruccio Furlanetto as de Silva, Angela Meade as Elvira, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Don Carlo.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Based on Victor Hugo’s revolutionary play, "Ernani" involves three men--two noble, and one a bandit--who attempt to out-maneuver one another for the hand of the beautiful Elvira. Marco Armiliato conducts Verdi’s thrilling drama of passion, power, and honor, which is seen in Pier Luigi Samaritani’s lavish production.

Angela Meade as Elvira and Marcello Giordani in the title role of Verdi's "Ernani."

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Credit: Courtesy of Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Above: Angela Meade as Elvira and Marcello Giordani in the title role of Verdi's "Ernani."

Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Don Carlo in in Verdi's "Ernani."

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Credit: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Above: Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Don Carlo in in Verdi's "Ernani."

Ferruccio Furlanetto as de Silva in Verdi's "Ernani."

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Credit: Courtesy of Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Above: Ferruccio Furlanetto as de Silva in Verdi's "Ernani."

American soprano Angela Meade, whose victory in the Met’s National Council Auditions was chronicled in the 2008 documentary film "The Audition," takes the role of the noblewoman Elvira in her first GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET appearance. She made an acclaimed Met debut as Elvira in the 2007-08 revival of "Ernani," filling in at the last minute for an ailing Sondra Radvanovsky.

Marcello Giordani, star of the GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET broadcasts of "Turandot," "La Damnation de Faust," "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. This is Hvorostovsky’s sixth Verdi role in his Met repertory, joining the title character in "Simon Boccanegra," Germont in "La Traviata," Rodrigo in "Don Carlo," Renato in "Un Ballo in Maschera," and di Luna in "Il Trovatore."

Ferruccio Furlanetto is de Silva, a wealthy relative with his own designs on Elvira. De Silva is the second of three roles Furlanetto sings at the Met this season. The versatile artist first sang de Silva at the Met in the 2007-08 revival of "Ernani."

Maestro Armiliato’s numerous Met appearances have included a variety of Verdi works, from the early "Attila" to the repertory staples "Aida," "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," and "Il Trovatore." Earlier this season, he led the Met premiere of "Anna Bolena," seen on GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET.

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Video

Preview: Great Performances At The Met: Ernani

Your browser does not support this object. Content can be viewed at actual source page: http://video.kpbs.org/video/2233625148

Watch GP at the Met: Ernani on PBS. See more from Great Performances.

Above: Angela Meade, Marcello Giodani, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Ferruccio Furlanetto star in Verdi’s "Ernani" airing on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances at the Met.

Video

Angela Meade in "Ernani"

Your browser does not support this object. Content can be viewed at actual source page: http://video.kpbs.org/video/2238356619

Watch Angela Meade in Ernani on PBS. See more from Great Performances.

Above: Angela Meade sings “Ernani, Ernani involami,” Elvira’s aria from Act I of Verdi’s “Ernani.” Angela Meade, Marcello Giodani, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Ferruccio Furlanetto star in Verdi’s “Ernani” airing on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances at the Met.

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