|
On Friday 11th June, I went to see Dmitri Hvorostovsky (top left) at a song recital at the Wigmore Hall. He was performing a concert dedicated to the great Russian mezzo-soprano Irina Konstantinova Arkhipova (below left), who died on February 11th 2010, a month after her 85th birthday.
Arkhipova will be remembered not just for her beautiful, youthful voice and magnificently long career, but also as a teacher and talent spotter. Almost all big name Russian performers, such as Hvorostovsky, Borodina, Guleghina and Netrebko, were taught by her. She even, in the late 1980's, headed the International Union of Music. I was expecting much from Hvorostovsky, as I had enjoyed his previous concert with Anna Netrebko at the South Bank, and was interested to see how his voice would work with the acousics of the Wigmore Hall. He did not disappoint! He and his pianist, Ivari Ilja, took us on a mesmerising journey through two of the great Russian composers: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergi Rachmaninov. Many of the opera 'critics' are always ready to point out that Hvorostovsky's voice is not in the 'Heldenbaritone' league, being a smaller voice than someone like, for instance, Bryn Terfel. At the Wigmore Hall, this was not evident, as the size and the acoustic of the Hall allowed his voice to reverberate with considerable force. My favourites were: 'Again, as before, I am alone', 'No, only the lonely heart', and 'In the silence of the secret night'. The first of these rises to a magnificent G sharp in the third verse, which was secure, well placed and dramatic. The second was a beautiful rendition of this well known song, sometimes known as 'None but the lonely heart'. The third, however, was my favourite. The last note was held so long, and with perfect control, that there was an audible gasp from the audience at its end. All in all, another triumph for Dmitri, and another well chosen arist by the Wigmore Hall. The program was as follows: Tchaikovsky Again, as before, I am alone The nightingale The heroic deed I opened the window Don Juan's Serenade Rachmaninov A dream As fair as the day in blaze of noon Do not sing for me, fair maiden Oh no, I beg you, do not leave! Interval Tchaikovsky Reconciliation A tear trembles No, only the lonely heart The fearful moment Rachmaninov When yesterday we met In the silence of the secret night He has taken all from me An excerpt from Musset - Loneliness Christ is risen
0 Comments
In keeping with the musical theme, I also went to see Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky at the Royal Festival Hall.
It was an interesting night, with dancing and dress-changes from Anna, and the tightest trousers on earth from Dmitri. The singing was first class, with Netrebko’s high notes soaring across the auditorium, and Dmitri’s dark baritone enchanting the crowd. What caught my eye was the number of young people, and the number of non opera-goers, that were there. Perhaps the glamour of the two soloists drew in a more mixed crowd for the occasion? Who knows – but it was nice to see more people engage with the Opera world. The Orchestra was fantastic, and the lead cellist seemed to be having a great time! Overall, a slick, well-produced show, full of both glamour and substance, and two encores. I’m glad I went. My personal favourites for the evening were: Dvořák’s Song to the Moon (video made by pavelrysavy, see his YouTube channel here) Wagner’s Abenstern (video made by jesterimb, see his YouTube channel here) Verdi’s Overture from La forza del destino (video made by pozzil. see pozzil's YouTube channel here) The full program is listed below: William Tell Overture – Rossini ‘Abendstern’ (Wolfram’s Aria from Tannhäuser) – Wagner Cäcilie – Strauss Rákóczy March (from La damnation de Faust) – Berlioz ‘Avant de quitter ces lieux’ (from Faust) – Gounod ‘Jewel Song’ (from Faust) – Gounod Intermezzo (from I Pagliacci) – Leoncavallo ‘Nedda! Silvio, a quest’ora’ (from I Pagliacci) – Leoncavallo La Forza del destino Overture – Verdi Il bacio – Ardiyi‘Cortigiani vil razza’ (from Rigoletto) – Verdi Song to the Moon (from Rusalka) – Dvořák Yeletsky’s Aria (from La Pique Dame) – Tchaikovsky Polonaise (from Eugene Onegin) – Tchaikovsky Closing Duet (from Eugene Onegin) – Tchaikovsky |
Categories
All
Archives
September 2014
|
RSS Feed
MOST VIEWED POSTS
The "Maggot from Italy's Tomb?" The "Black Widow" of St Bartholomew? Or one of the finest examples of power politics and survival ever seen? Well, I would have to say yes to all of the above, and more! Catherine was one of the most complex characters in a time of massive internal strife in France, with enemies both within (Guise, D'Albret) and abroad (Philip II of Spain).
|
Born in Kent Town, Adelaide, Australia, Mark Oliphant was a Physicist, who received the prestigious Hughes Medal (other recipients include Alexander Graham Bell, Enrico Fermi, Stephen Hawking, and Andre Geim). He was also a life-long vegetarian after seeing a pig slaughtered at a farm as a child.
|
The third movement of Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major is one of my favourite pieces of music. It is a truly joyous piece, and one which I find uplifting. The first performance I heard was by 13-year-old Han-na Chang, who took my breath away with her skill, musicianship and dynamism.
|
New research from Dutch scientists has revitalised the search for the elusive Majorana Fermion. The Majorana Fermion was first predicted about 75 years ago by Italian scientist Ettore Majorana, one of the Via Paspernera Boys - a group of scientists named after the street where their lab was located.
|
Water. Without it, we would not exist. Covering nearly 71% of the world’s surface, it is one of the key building blocks of life on Earth. We think we know all about it, how it works, and what it does. But Gerald Pollack, Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, is sure we don’t!
|
Franco Fagioli is an Argentinian Countertenor "who seems to redefine the capabilities of the countertenor voice." He has won great acclaim for his performance in the role of Arbace in the recent all-male production of Vinci's Artaserse, and will soon be releasing an album celebrating the star castrato Caffarelli.
|
© James Edward Hughes 2013