Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Opera stars Yusif Eyvazov and Anna Netrebko solemnly opened the traditional Vienna Opera Ball on February 28.

People's Artist of Azerbaijan Yusif Eyvazov performed "Nessun dorma" aria of Calaf from opera "Turandot" by Giacomo Puccini, Trend Life reported.

Anna Netrebko pleased the audiences with "Il bacio" by Luigi Arditi

In the end, Anna Netrebko sang a duet with Yusif Eyvazov. The world-famous opera singers performed "O soave fanciulla" from the opera "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini.

The dance program opened with a festive outing and polonaise performed by the debutants of the ball consisting of 144 couples, whose age ranges from 17 to 24 years. The concert part continued with the waltz of Johann Strauss (son) "The Beautiful Blue Danube."

The music at the ball was performed by the orchestra of the Vienna Opera with 150 musicians.

The opening waltz traditionally ended with the sounds of the "Danube Waltz" and with a joint exclamation by all the State Opera artists: "Alles Walzer!" as an invitation to the ball guests to dance.

The Vienna Opera Ball is an annual Austrian society event which takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera in Vienna, Austria on Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday.

Together with the New Year Concert, the ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season.

The tradition of the ball goes back to 1814 during the time when the crowned heads of Europe and the aristocracy searched for entertainment after the Napoleonic wars.

About 5,500 guests annually gather at the event, among them are figures of culture, business, politics and sports.

The Vienna ball season starts on November 11 and reaches its peak in January and February.

More than 400 balls are held with the participation of several thousands guests.

Yusif Eyvazov is a Grand Prix winner of international competitions, whose name is included in the book "The Best Tenors of the World".

He made a series of important debuts. He starred as Canio in LA Opera's production of Pagliacci conducted by Plácido Domingo, made his first appearances at the Metropolitan Opera and the Vienna State Opera singing Calaf in Turandot, and debuted at both the Paris Opera and the Staatsoper Berlin as Manrico in Il Trovatore.

Yusif Eyvazov performed at the Mariinsky Theater for the first time, in the title role of Otello with Valery Gergiev. His Salzburg Festival debut took place as Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut. On the concert stage he appeared in Parma under the baton of Marco Boemi with a program featuring works by Verdi and Puccini, in concert with Riccardo Muti.

In 2017, he undertook a major concert tour throughout Asia alongside Anna Netrebko.

At the beginning of 2018 Eyvazov performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater: in January- Renato de Grieux in "Manon Lescaut" with Anna Netrebko, in February he sang for the first time the part of Herman in the new production of "The Queen of Spades", P.I. Tchaikovsky, and Don Carlo, D. Verdi, in March.

On December 7, Yusif successfully opened the season at La Scala by performing the part of André Chénier in the opera of Umberto Giordano. As a result of the close cooperation with the musical director of the production, Riccardo Chailly, Yusif debut on the Milan stage was named one of his best performances in the last few years by the critics.

Anna Netrebko has been identified by the journal Musical America as "a genuine superstar for the 21st century" and was named 'Musician of the Year' in 2008.

The Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation. Time magazine placed her on its Time 100 list in 2007.

Netrebko was named the best singer in 2017 at the International Opera Awards in London. In July 2017, Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko took the lead in the list of Russian top-earning musicians, according to Forbes Magazine.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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