Dreams of Naples.🇮🇹
Lots of good meals, excellent drinks, no shortage of debauchery, and truly amazing people to share it all with. Two productions I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of, celebrated perhaps a little too well by the end.😅
Special thanks to ibuprofen💊 for getting me through my travels the day after the final performance — and consequently the biggest celebration — of the trip.🥃🪩
Well… despite all my protesting, kicking, and screaming, I ultimately couldn’t resist one final run of my favorite production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia for my house debut at @teatro_real in the 2026/2027 season. Time to dust off the coloratura and put the gym clothes back on for La Palestra di Siviglia (as I lovingly call Damiano Michieletto’s wonderfully athletic production). Long time no see, Count Almaviva… 😅
I’ll be singing on July 3, 6, 11, 13, 16 & 18 alongside an extraordinary cast: @marinaviottimezzo as Rosina, @andrzej.filonczyk as Figaro, @kiriamisha as Bartolo, Roberto Tagliavini as Don Basilio, Josep Ramón Olivé as Fiorello, and María José Moreno as Berta, under the baton of @giacomosagripanticonductor .
Couldn’t think of a better way to make my house debut in one of my bucket-list theatres than by revisiting my old #frenemy, Almaviva. Time to sharpen the serenades again.💈🎶🤭
📸Anna Cypher
@askonasholt
🔙 Taking you with me backstage at last weekend’s Verdi Messa da Requiem at @santacecilia — this breathtaking masterpiece under the baton of Myung-Whun Chung, alongside Ailyn Pérez, Ekaterina Semenchuk, and Roberto Tagliavini, with the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
Enjoy! 😎🎥
About to go on stage for our third and final Messa da Requiem here in Rome, at @accademiadisantacecilia .
These past performances under the baton of Myung-Whun Chung, with the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (prepared by Andrea Secchi), and alongside my wonderful colleagues @ailynperezsoprano , @ekaterina7semenchuk and Roberto Tagliavini have been truly special.
Thanks to @radio3_rai , I can share a few highlights from the previous concert—and the full recording is still available (link in stories🔗).
Enjoy, and toi toi toi to my colleagues for tonight’s final performance!
Last night's opening performance of the Verdi Requiem was magical ✨ I'm blessed to be performing this monumental work alongside such dear friends and colleagues 💖
Tonight's performance beginning at 20:00 CEST / 14:00 ET will be broadcast live on @radio3_rai ! Tune in through the #LinkInStories and also get your tickets! 🎟️📻🎶
Myung-Whun Chung, Conductor
ARTISTS
Ailyn Pérez | Soprano
@ekaterina7semenchuk | Mezzo-Soprano
@renebarbera | Tenor
Roberto Tagliavini | Bass
Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Hair, Makeup, and 📸: @glowbyaffan
🚨REMINDER! If you can’t be with us tonight at the @accademiadisantacecilia , Verdi’s Messa da Requiem will be broadcast live on @radio3_rai .
Under the baton of Myung-Whun Chung, together with the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (chorus master Andrea Secchi), and my wonderful colleagues @ailynperezsoprano , @ekaterina7semenchuk , and Roberto Tagliavini.
📍 Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome • April 24 • 20:00
📻 Live on Rai Radio3 — link in story🔗
Hope you can join us—wherever you are.🎧
Yesterday’s rehearsal at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia… and tonight we begin our three performances of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem.
A look at the Ingemisco — from two points of view. Wait for it.👀😅
PS: I had no idea I move this much.🫨
PS2: This reel was NOT sponsored by Ray-Ban Meta glasses… but definitely should be.😂
Toi toi toi, dear colleagues! And… enjoy listening!
Toi, toi, toi to our dearest @renebarbera for tonight’s Messa da Requiem at Accademia Santa Cecilia.
Wishing a wonderful performance to the entire cast — @ailynperezsoprano , @ekaterina7semenchuk , and Roberto Tagliavini — joined by the Orchestra and Chorus of the @accademiadisantacecilia under the baton of M° Myung-Whun Chung, with the chorus prepared by Andrea Secchi.
We look forward to the next performances on 📆 24 & 26 April, with the April 24 concert broadcast live on @radio3_rai 📻
ℹ️ René Barbera is internationally represented by @askonasholt , and he is a client of iCharm PR Agency.
📸 Anna Cypher
Arrival in Rome 🇮🇹 and straight into the first rehearsals for Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at the @accademiadisantacecilia . First day on stage with Maestro Myung-Whun Chung and wonderful colleagues @ailynperezsoprano , @ekaterina7semenchuk , and Roberto Tagliavini.
📍 Sala Santa Cecilia, Auditorium Parco della Musica
📆 April 23 & 24 at 20:00 | April 26 at 18:00
📻 April 24 live on @radio3_rai
Last day in Napoli, after almost two months… From battling copyright claims with social media (apparently Rodolfo needs clearance now), to a bit of skincare, packing, and finally back where it all matters: @teatrosancarlo , costumes on, one last Bohème… with snow falling on stage!🤪❄️
Curtain down, hugs all around… and off to Paris!✈️
🎥Watch the full reel for the whole journey from backstage to goodbye.
