Delos Diary

Years ago there was a popular play which made the rounds of regional theatres called "Springtime for Henry."
This coming year, 2005, will see a period during April and May which opera lovers may dub "Springtime for Dmitri."
Between Thursday April 21 and Saturday May 21, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Delos' Russian baritone par excellence, will appear at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in eight performances of Gounod's Faust. The opera is being given a new production to be conducted by James Levine. Other celebrated singers in the cast include Soile Isokoski, Roberto Alagna and René Pape.
Hvorostovsky will portray Valentin, Marguerite's soldier-brother who gets to sing one of Gounod's most renowned arias. He also will be a guest artist at a Met Gala Concert honoring Mirella Freni on Sunday May 15th. Sharing this event, conducted by James Levine, will be mezzo Frederica von Stade and tenor Salvatore Licitra.
Hopefully by this time, Hvorostovsky's newest Delos CD Moscow Nights will have been released. Although the songs recorded on this CD are primarily popular, their lyricism and melodic beauty bear favorable comparison with many operatic favorites.
Hvorostovsky brings the same attention to musical detail and his signature dramatic involvement to the selections in Moscow Nights which he gives to his operatic offerings. Supported by the loving accompaniments of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra conducted by Constantine Orbelian, Hvorostovsky's newest release should get the spring season off to a rousing start.