Verissimo Vittorio Grigolo

• Arrigo Boito (1842 - 1918): Mefistofele, Act I, Scene 2:
• 1 Boito: Mefistofele, Act I, Scene 2: Dai campi, dai prati 02:05
• Pietro Mascagni (1863 - 1945): Iris, Act I:
• 2 Mascagni: Iris, Act I: Apri la tua finestra! 02:23
• Amilcare Ponchielli (1834 - 1886): La Gioconda, Act II, Scene 4:
• 3 Ponchielli: La Gioconda, Act II, Scene 4: Cielo e mar! 04:51
• Francesco Cilea (1866 - 1950): Adriana Lecouvreur Act II, Scene 2:
• 4 Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur Act II, Scene 2: L'anima ho stanca 01:51
• Adriana Lecouvreur Act I, Scene 5:
• 5 Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur Act I, Scene 5: La dolcissima effigie 02:12
• Umberto Giordano (1867 - 1948): Andrea Chénier, Act IV:
• 6 Giordano: Andrea Chénier, Act IV: Come un bel dì di maggio 03:04
• Andrea Chénier, Act I:
• 7 Giordano: Andrea Chénier, Act I: Colpito qui m'avete ... Un dì all'azzurro spazio 05:16
• Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana, Scene 11:
• 8 Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana, Scene 11: Mamma, quel vino è generoso 03:44
• Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924): Il tabarro:
• 9 Puccini: Il tabarro: Hai ben ragione 02:39
• La fanciulla del West, Act III:
• 10 Puccini: La fanciulla del West, Act III: Ch'ella mi creda libero 01:53
• Madama Butterfly, Act III:
• 11 Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Act III: Addio, fiorito asil 01:56
• Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857 - 1919): Pagliacci, Act I, Scene 3:
• 12 Leoncavallo: Pagliacci, Act I, Scene 3: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba 03:39
• Giacomo Puccin: Turandot, Act I:
• 13 Puccini: Turandot, Act I: Non piangere, Liù! 02:20
• Turandot, Act III:
• 14 Puccini: Turandot, Act III: Nessun dorma! 02:59
• Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana:
• 15 Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana: Ave Maria 03:36
• Total Runtime 44:28

Info for Verissimo

Subtle elegance: "Verissimo" is the new album by internationally celebrated Italian tenor Vittorio Grigòlo. His countless admirers have eagerly awaited the repertoire he performs in this program, which includes many of the most popular tenor arias in Italian opera. Grigòlo is joined by distinguished conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

Verissimo, meaning “very true” in Italian offers a play on the word “verismo,” the lyrical and passionate operatic style that blossomed in the late 19th century. The works of the composers represented on this album – from the dawn of the style with Ponchielli’s La Gioconda to its full flowering with Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni and their contemporaries – require a freedom of expression, a truthfulness to communicate high-powered, elemental emotions. Grigòlo has undeniably kept this in mind in the preparation of this album. He explains “I wanted to call it Verissimo because, in a way, this music is so absolutely true. The feelings go straight through you – they’re not calculated. Everything happens so quickly in verismo, as in real life.”

Vittorio Grigolo, tenor
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Pier Giorgio Morandi, conductor

Vittorio Grigòlo
Born in Arezzo, Italy, Vittorio Grigolo is the quintessential Italian tenor. He began his vocal career 26 years ago as a soloist in the Sistine Chapel Choir and at 39, he is considered one of the finest tenors of his generation. He has performed principal tenor roles in the world’s most prestigious opera houses and his exceptional vocal and dramatic talents have been widely praised since his 2010 debut at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as the Chevalier des Grieux Vittorio’s repertoire includes the leading roles from Italian and French opera such as: Traviata, Boheme, Rigoletto, Elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Faust, Roméo et Juliette, Manon, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Werther and many others and he performs around the world under the batons of Chailly, Mehta, Muti, Myung-Whun Chung, Dudamel, Pappano and Maazel to name but a few. With a gold and platinum-selling debut album, a Grammy-nominated recording of Bernstein’s West Side Story and his albums with Sony Classical “The Italian Tenor” (#1 US Billboard Classical Album chart), “Arrivederci” (2011) and “Ave Maria” (2013), Vittorio is already established as a successful recording artist. His latest album “The Romantic Hero” is a collection of Vittorio’s favorite French opera arias.” Vittorio brings the same passion and energy into his live concert performances. His solo recital at The Metropolitan Opera was reviewed as “a truly unforgettable evening.” (Latinos Post) with his voice described as “an attractive, ardent and supple instrument that he wielded to passionate effect.” (New York Times). His big screen appearances include Andrea Andermann’s 2010 highly acclaimed, worldwide live broadcast of Rigoletto from Mantua where Vittorio performed the leading tenor role of The Duke of Mantua alongside Plácido Domingo’s portrayal of Rigoletto and just recently the live HD broadcasts of La Boheme from both The Metropolitan Opera, New York and The Royal Opera, London, to 66 countries around the world. Vittorio has been honoured with awards that include the “European Border Breakers award” for his first solo album “In the Hands of love” (Polydor) and France’s 2010 Diapason” Decouverte de L’Année” (Discovery of the Year) award in recognition of his album “The Italian Tenor”. Also, “Best Tenor “category in L’Opera Magazine’s 2011 Opera awards, for his performance as “Des Grieux” in Manon at London’s Royal Opera House (2010) and the prestigious ECHO Klassik Newcomer of the year award in 2011. The Caruso Award 2015 was given to Vittorio by the City of Sorrento for his contribution towards spreading the Italian culture around the world. Also in 2015 Vittorio was awarded the Tiberini d’Oro” in recognition of his successful career in opera. In 2016 Vittorio was given the Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award by The Atlantic Council for his contribution towards strengthening of the transatlantic relationship Recent performances were given critical acclaim. Werther at The Metropolitan Opera, New York – “When Mr. Grigolo sings the role, you believe it…..he may be the most galvanically convincing singer in the world today” (New York times). About Hoffmann at Los Angeles Opera – “His voice is at its prime, unwavering throughout a nearly four-hour opera” (Los Angeles Times), “a gloriously strong but smooth voice that never wavered once” (Stage and Cinema)

Booklet for Verissimo