Michael Spyres, the versatile baritenor, presents an extraordinary collection of arias in his album "Baritenor," released on September 24, 2021, under Warner Classics. This album is a testament to Spyres' remarkable vocal range and interpretive prowess, showcasing his ability to navigate the intricate demands of both baritone and tenor roles with equal finesse.
Spanning a diverse repertoire from Mozart to Korngold, "Baritenor" offers a captivating journey through some of the most celebrated and challenging arias in the operatic canon. The album opens with Mozart's "Fuor del mar" from "Idomeneo" and includes iconic pieces such as "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" and "Vesti la giubba" from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." Spyres' renditions are marked by their technical precision, emotional depth, and a unique vocal color that sets him apart.
The album also features lesser-known gems, such as Méhul's "Oh, Dieux! Ecoutez ma prière" from "Ariodant" and Thomas' "C'est en croyant revoir" from "Hamlet," demonstrating Spyres' commitment to exploring the full breadth of the operatic repertoire. His performance of Wagner's "Aux bords lointains" from "Lohengrin" and Orff's "Dies nox et omnia" from "Carmina Burana" showcases his ability to tackle the most demanding and diverse roles with ease.
With a duration of 1 hour and 24 minutes, "Baritenor" is a comprehensive showcase of Michael Spyres' artistry, offering a rich and varied listening experience. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album is sure to impress and inspire.
Mozart: Idomeneo, K. 366, Act II: "Fuor del mar" (Idomeneo)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act III: "Hai gia vinto la causa?" (Il Conte d'Almaviva)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act II: "Deh, vieni al la finestra" (Don Giovanni)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Méhul: Ariodant, Act III: "Oh, Dieux! Ecoutez ma prière" (Edgard)Étienne Nicolas Méhul, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Spontini: La Vestale, Act III: "Qu’ai-je vu! Quels apprêts" (Licinius)Gaspare Spontini, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Act I: "Largo al factotum" (Figaro)Gioachino Rossini, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Rossini: Otello, Act I: "Ah si, per voi già sento" - "Premio maggior di questo" - "Amor, dirada il nembo" (Otello, Iago, Chorus)Gioachino Rossini, Michael Spyres, Choeur de l'Opéra national du Rhin, Sangbae Choï, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Adam: Le Postillon de Lonjumeau, Act I: "Mes amis, écoutez l'histoire" (Chapelou, Chorus)Adolphe Adam, Michael Spyres, Choeur de l'Opéra national du Rhin, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Donizetti: La fille du régiment, Act 1: "Ah ! Mes amis, quel jour de fête!" - "Pour mon âme" (Tonio, Chœur)Gaetano Donizetti, Michael Spyres, Choeur de l'Opéra national du Rhin, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Verdi: Il trovatore, Act II: "Tutto è deserto" - "Il balen del suo sorriso" (Il Conte di Luna)Giuseppe Verdi, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Thomas: Hamlet, Act II: "C'est en croyant revoir" - "Oh, vin! Dissipe la tristesse" (Hamlet, Marcellus, Horatio, Chorus)Ambroise Thomas, Michael Spyres, Choeur de l'Opéra national du Rhin, Fabien Gaschy, Nicolas Kuhn, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Act I: "Va! pour Kleinzach" (Hoffmann, Nathanaël, Chorus)Jacques Offenbach, Michael Spyres, Choeur de l'Opéra national du Rhin, Mario Montalbano, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Wagner: Lohengrin, Act III: "Aux bords lointains" (Lohengrin)Richard Wagner, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci, Prologue: "Si può? Signore! Signori!" (Tonio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Lehar: Die lustige Witwe, Act I: "O Vaterland du machst bei Tag" - "Da geh ich zu Maxim" (Danilo)Franz Lehár, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Ravel: L'heure espagnole, M. 52: "Voilà, ce que j'appelle une femme charmante" (Ramiro)Maurice Ravel, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Orff: Carmina Burana, Pt. 4 “Cour d'amours”: Dies nox et omniaCarl Orff, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg
Korngold: Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act I: Lied. "Glück, das mir verblieb" (Marietta)Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Michael Spyres, Marko Letonja, Orchestre Philharmonique De Strasbourg