Monday, February 28, 2011

Welcome to the Erwanna Fan Club

Hollywood fans have fondly melded star couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie into Brangelina. Opera enthusiasts now have a dream team to follow as well: the stunning and talented Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott. Or shall we say, Erwanna?
The New York Observer called the Russian diva "Audrey Hepburn with a voice", and the San Francisco Chronicle praised "a singer who has it all: imagination, insight, and wit". The bass from Uruguay is admired for his "combination of blazingly charismatic presence and imposing, wide-ranging, multicoloured sound."

The opera stars are considerably less harried by the paparazzi than their Hollywood counterparts. But their lifestyle is no less burdened by travel and heavy schedules. Of course, fans are the beneficiaries of their hard-working ethos. Anna Netrebko performs music of Pergolesi at Geneva's Victoria Hall in April, and Erwin Schrott can be seen and heard as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at Paris' Opéra de la Bastille in May, and as Escamillo in Carmen at Barcelona's Gran Theatre del Liceu in July.

And your interest in the stars goes beyond just wanting to see them on stage, try visiting annanetrebko.com, where you can ask the diva questions about anything from how to become a successful musician to what cosmetic products she recommends.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Dreams of Spain

February is the shortest month in the year. And yet, in many northern regions, it can feel like longest. Early spring flowers poke up through the soil, only to find that the sky is just as grey and the air just as chilly as they have been since November. A few birds twitter optimistically in the morning, but they soon think better of it and wonder why they didn't stay in their southern holidays a little longer.

Here in Berlin, we are warming ourselves with dreams of Spain. Mid-February in Madrid and Barcelona calls for a light jacket, and it's t-shirt weather on the Canary Islands. With a 10% discount on all Spain concerts, Classictic invites you to escape to warmer climes, or to think ahead to your spring or summer travels in the sun.

Once you have spent the day stolling in the sun or walking the halls of the Prado or Reina Sofia museums in Madrid, treat yourself to a world-class performance at one of Madrid's concert halls. Or, wander among the extraordinary architectural creations of Antoni Gaudi, then don your evening attire and visit a concert in Barcelona.

If the mainland is not enough of an escape for you, Gran Canaria and Mallorca offer the extraordinary combination of island getaway and top classical music and opera performances.

Choose from the many Spain concerts on Classictic.com, then enter the Promotional Code CLASSIC-SPAIN in the payment window. Your 10% discount will be reflected in the sum.

Classictic wishes you sunny thoughts and a wonderful concert experience in Spain!