Gratuitous Luca Pisaroni Post – Rossini: Stabat Mater

photo copyright (c) Pietro Spagnoli

I don't know about you, but I can never get enough of Luca Pisaroni's smooth warm bass-baritone voice. Here are two movements from Rossini's Stabat Mater. This was recorded in concert last year with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, led by Franz Welser-Möst. 

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Gratuitous Malin Hartelius & Anna Bonitatibus Post – Rossini's Stabat Mater

Because I finally figured a way to embed sound files in my blog posts...

...here is the soprano duet from Rossini's Stabat Mater, with Franz Welser-Most and the Cleveland Orchestra. Heavenly!  

Where in the World are Malin and Luca? In Cleveland. Where Else?

Tristan, getting packed...literally.

Thank goodness Lenny and Tristan keep us up to date on their travels via their Facebook page, because usually they have their Dad along. In case you haven’t been paying attention, their Dad is Luca Pisaroni. They all were in Vienna for Simon Boccanegra last week; and this week, they’ll be in Cleveland.

Insurance Companies Make Medical Decisions, and the INS Makes Artistic Decisions

Apparently one reason we don't see certain musicians performing in the U.S. much, if at all, has to do with the immigration folks who issue travel visas. While googling one of my new favorite tenors, I came across a reference in a blog called The City and the World, to this article from the New York Times, dated March 16, 2010 (bolding is mine): 

Recently the Cleveland Orchestra’s application for Martin Mitterrutzner, an acclaimed young Austrian tenor, was denied for reasons that left the orchestra perplexed: the report from immigration officials said, among other things, that the scheduling of Mr. Mitterrutzner’s performances did not indicate prestige, since he was booked for matinees, not evening performances. After two denials, the orchestra retained a lawyer and got the decision reversed in the nick of time — but only after considerable expense.