News: Nov 29 2015
This winter Nicolas Testé returns to The Metropolitan Opera, as Nourabad in a new production of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles, December 31 and January 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 23, 27 & 30, 2016. Diana Damrau sings Leïla, Matthew Polenzani is Nadir, and Mariusz Kwiecien is Zurga in this Penny Woodcock production, with the opera gracing the Met stage for the first time in company history. Maestro Gianandrea Noseda leads the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus for this new staging, which will also receive a Live in HD broadcast into theaters worldwide, on January 16.
Press: Nov 17 2015 | Diana Delgado | am.mx.com
"The audience gasped and tirelessly applauded the artists, thankful for the gift of an unforgettable musical evening..."
“The lights dimmed and the spectacular Diana Damrau appeared on stage, dressed in a green 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.
Press: Jan 01 2016 | Christopher Corwin | Parterre.com
". . . Nicolas Testé shone as the handsome, implacable high priest Nourabad. His lean, forceful bass-baritone rang out with such security and idiomatic French style . . ."
Anthony Tommasini | The New York Times
“. . . a dream cast . . . delivers in this sensitive and insightful production . . . Leila is a virgin priestess who must keep her vows on pain of death, an edict enforced by the high priest Nourabad (Nicolas Testé, a fine bass-baritone), who accompanies her.”
Eli Jacobson | Gay City News
“Native Frenchman Nicolas Testé . . . imbued the priest Nourabad with a mellow soft-grained bass-baritone and a handsome brooding presence.”
Susan Brodie | Classical Voice North America
“In the small part of Nourabad, the priest who accompanies Leila, the suave bass Nicolas Testé gave a lesson in French style.”
George Grella | New York Classical Review
“Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé delivered a solid portrayal of the officious hight priest Nourabad.”
Richard Sasanow | BroadwayWorld
“The last of the principals was bass-baritone Nicolas Teste as the heavy of the piece, Nourabad, the high priest, who does his best to break Leila’s spirit in the name of Brahma. His resonant voice made me wish he had more singing in the piece.”
Martin Bernheimer | FT.com
“Nicolas Testé exudes stern authority as the nasty priest of Brahma.”
David Salazar | Latin Post
“Props also go to the remaining cast and chorus members, most notably Nicolas Testé who made his Nourabad a fierce and somewhat menacing figure.”
Heidi Waleson | Wall Street Journal
“Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé ably completed the cast as Nourabad . . .”
Wilborn Hampton | The Huffington Post
“It has taken the Met Opera 100 years to get Bizet’s Les Pecheurs de Perles back on the stage, but the new production the company unveiled in a gala New Year’s Eve premiere is such a spectacular success, beautifully sung and acted by a splendid cast and chorus, it should secure the opera a place in the repertory for years to come . . . The French bass Nicolas Teste rounds out the cast as Nourabad, the high priest who brings Leila to the village.”
Robert Levine | Bachtrack
“In the small but sonorous role of Nourabad, the high priest, Nicolas Testé was indeed sonorous.”
Barry Bassis | The Epoch Times
“The cast is outstanding . . . bass-baritone Nicolas Testé is Nourabad. They are all credible actors and outstanding singers.”