News: Oct 18 2015
Nicolas Testé and his wife, soprano Diana Damrau, will present two Gala Concerts in Mexico this November. The events highlight much loved selections from Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi, I puritani, and La sonnambula, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi’s La traviata, I masnadieri, Il trovatore, and Luisa Miller, and Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. The first concert on November 5 occurs at Mexico City’s Sala Nezahualcóyotl, with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería and Maestro Srba Dinic. On November 14 they travel to León’s Teatro del Bicentenario, in performance with the venue’s orchestra under Dinic’s baton. Please note that availability is becoming limited in several seating areas for these concerts.
Press: Oct 11 2015 | Georgia Rowe | Opera News
"Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé made an indelible company debut, creating a Raimondo of generous vocal resources and considerable timbral allure."
Allan Ulrich | The Financial Times
“. . . debuting Nicolas Testé made sonorous sounds as resident cleric Raimondo.”
Joshua Kosman | SFGate
“ . . . the French bass-baritone Nicolas Testé made a sonorous company debut as the cleric Raimondo . . .”
Ilana Walder-Biesanz | San Francisco Classical Voice
“Nicolas Testé impressed as the chaplain Raimondo with his full, gravelly sound.”
James Ambroff-Tahan | SFExaminer
“Bass-baritone Nicolas Teste had the vocal depth and strong stage presence to make for an excellent Raimondo . . .”
Georgia Rowe | San Jose Mercury News
“This revival featured several winning vocal performances . . . bass-baritone Nicolas Teste, making his San Francisco Opera debut, made a potent impression as the family chaplain, Raimondo . . .”
James Roy MacBean | The Berkeley Daily Planet
“Mention must be made of bass-baritone Nicolas Testé’s superbly robust singing as Raimondo, here portrayed as a spiritual advisor to Enrico Ashton.”
Philip Campbell | The Bay Area Reporter
“French bass-baritone Nicolas Teste makes his SFO debut as the chaplain Raimondo. He is no stranger to the role, and his rich voice and believable acting make a strong impression. His physical gear is actually pretty cool, and he has enough stage presence to wear it . . .”
Stephen Smoliar | Examiner.com
“Among the other vocalists Testé made his SFO debut as Raimondo . . . Testé did far more than adequate justice to Donizetti’s writing and then negotiated the narrative thread to the best of his abilities.”
News: Nov 17 2015
am.mx.com | Diana Delgado
“The lights dimmed and the spectacular Diana Damrau appeared on stage, dressed in a green and coral dress, accompanied by her husband, French baritone Nicolas Testé . . .
They greeted the audience and although it was an evening of celebration, it was also one of sorrow and solidarity with the victims of the attacks in Paris; The evening was dedicated to them. Shocked, Testé and Damrau could not speak and asked for a minute of silence to a standing audience. Thus began the unforgettable evening.
So were presented with Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti and Gioachino Rossini; bel canto that rocked the audience, who witnessed the madness caused by a frustrated love with the interpretation of one of the venerated masterpieces of all time, “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Donizetti.
Then came the French touch of operatic recital with works by Charles Gounod and Jules Massenet, when attendees were already more than satisfied . . .
But the audience was grateful and asked more with their applause, so a smiling Diana Damrau returned to interpret the aria “O mio babbino caro” and Nicholas Testé sang “Vecchia zimarra felt” by Puccini . . .
The audience gasped and tirelessly applauded the artists, thankful for the gift of an unforgettable musical evening.”
La gala de ópera con Diana Damrau y Nicolas Testé no solo se oyó, casi pudo tocarse y se sintió muy adentro.
La cita para iniciar los festejos por el quinto aniversario del Teatro del Bicentenario del Forum Cultural Guanajuato era a las 9 de la noche, y dado el movimiento del fin de semana en la ciudad, los asistentes fueron llegando desde temprano.
Familias, parejas y muchos jóvenes acudieron al segundo concierto de la soprano alemana en el País. También el alcalde Héctor López Santillana estuvo presente.
Las luces se atenuaron y apareció en el escenario una espectacular Diana Damrau, ataviada en un vestido verde coral, acompañada de su esposo, el barítono francés Nicolas Testé y el director Srba Dinic.
Saludaron al público y aunque fue una velada de festejo, también de dolor y solidaridad con las víctimas de los ataques en París; la noche les fue dedicada.
Conmocionado Testé no pudo hablar y Damrau pidió un minuto de silencio a un público que se puso de pie. Así empezó la inolvidable velada.
Entonces se hicieron presentes Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti y Gioachino Rossini; el bel canto cimbró a los asistentes, que fueron testigos de la locura causada por un amor frustrado con la interpretación de una de las consideradas obras maestras de la época, “Lucia di Lammermoor”, de Donizetti.
Luego llegó el toque francés del recital operístico con las obras de Charles Gounod y Jules Massenet, para entonces los asistentes ya estaban más que encantados.
La voz de Damrau y su interpretación enmarcada por dos hermosos vestidos más, uno negro y otro azul con el que cerró la velada, aunados al talento de los músicos de la Orquesta del Teatro Bicentenario, mantuvieron las miradas de los asistentes en el escenario.
Tras el intermedio llegó un fragmento de la ópera “Norma”, con música de Bellini, y finalmente piezas de Giuseppe Verdi completaron la presentación llena de emociones y sentimientos.
Pero el público agradecía y pedía más con sus aplausos, por lo que una sonriente Diana Damrau regresó para interpretar el aria “O mio babbino caro” y Nicolás Testé obsequió “Vecchia zimarra senti” de Puccini.
Pero la montaña rusa de emociones culminó de manera espectacular con “I could have danced all night” del musical “Mi bella dama”.
El público sin aliento y sin cansarse de aplaudir agradeció a los artistas el regalo de una noche musical inolvidable.