Displaying items by tag: Ardis Krainik Theater

Lyric Opera of Chicago
ANNA NETREBKO in Recital
“Day and Night”
MALCOLM MARTINEAU, piano

Once or twice in a lifetime, an artist will arise who is the Diva Assoluta of her generation. Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas come to mind. If you are extremely lucky, in the right place at the right time, you may get to hear that artist. Sunday afternoon the stars aligned for a Chicago audience when Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko made a rare visit to Chicago, not as the leading lady in an opera, but in solo recital. Sadly, we don’t get to see her often in Chicago, yet this recital provided a welcome opportunity to bask in the glow of her immensely bounteous talent. The Ardis Krainik Theater was filled to capacity to see this remarkable artist in a program entitled “Day and Night”, with Malcom Martineau at the piano and assisting artists Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano, and Robert Hanford, violin.

“Day and Night” is a simple premise, but it allowed for a very entertaining and clever program. Rather than group songs by composer, language, or era, the selections followed the theme as though they were ideas and thoughts in a wonderful conversation with a good friend over a bottle of fine wine. The first part of the program featured songs of day: flowers, hope, light and the lark. And love, first and foremost, love. The second half, of course, included songs of evening: lullabies, the moon, and dreams. And love, always, love. Ms. Netrebko lovingly presented songs and arias in five languages, starting in her native Russian.

Sweeping onto the stage, she wore a white satin gown, off one shoulder with a voluminous shimmering white satin skirt bearing a simple large pastel abstract floral image. Carrying an armful of blossoms, she launched into three songs by Sergei Rachmaninoff, “Siren” (“Lilacs” in English), “U moego okna” (“Before my window”), and “Zjdes horosho” (“How lovely it is here”). These songs are technically problematical, demanding a full dramatic sound in the singer’s lower range and soaring high notes, but Netrebko sang with ease throughout her range, with meltingly lovely pianissimos, and in “U moego okna” a sustained high note of such exquisite, shimmering beauty that it left us gasping for breath. It takes an artist of great courage, skill, and integrity to open a program with pieces requiring such technical and artistic mastery, yet Netrebko sang them flawlessly. In contrast, Pavarotti often opened with simple Italian songs, like “Caro, Mio ben” to help him warm up and feel comfortable with the audience. We were grateful for the supertitles above the stage that projected the English translations, but with Netreblo’s glorious, rich voice and astonishing stage presence, it was hard to take our eyes off of her. However, we really didn’t need to glance at them, clearly demonstrating that when a singer is truly committed to the words and the intent of the composer, the meaning of each song will manifest itself in the language of music.

We have been taught to expect that in recital, each selection should be like a miniature portrait with all the detail and beauty of a larger work, as if each song held the import of a full-length opera. Not many singers are capable of achieving this, but Ms. Netrebko made each selection a masterwork on a grand scale. There is nothing miniature in these songs for her. She inhabited each piece and told their stories with the unfailing honest commitment, distinct color, mood and meaning that she brings to all her major roles in grand opera. Unlike so many recitalists who seem nailed to the floor in the crook of the piano, Ms. Netrebko took the whole stage, never meandering aimlessly, but in well thought out, yet seemingly spontaneous dramatic expressions of the story she was telling.

Throughout the afternoon, from her brilliant top to her darkly shaded lower voice, her voice was seamless and splendid. Following the Rachmaninoff, was an appropriately full voiced rendition or “The lark sings louder” by Rimsky-Korsakov. She was then joined by Robert Hanford, Concertmaster of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in “Morgen”, by Richard Strauss. Hanford played sublimely with such sweet tone in such perfect tune that the world seemed for a moment to be at peace. In the hands of a lesser artist, “Morgen” can often be dull and dreary, but Netrebko’s reading of the text was transcendent. In a remarkable moment of stagecraft and inherent theatricality, Netrebko used the entire long, slow introduction to “Morgen” to transfix us with nothing more than a simple long turn from upstage to sing to directly to Mr. Hanford as the object of the poet’s infatuation.

Netrebko sang to us all afternoon with an unlimited generosity of tone and spirit, filling the opera house with gorgeous vocalism infused with such immense humanity that it seemed as though each of us was the only person there. One wants to put her on a pedestal to worship her and at the same time, cuddle up with her under a blanket to have cocoa and share intimate secrets.

Debussy’s “Il pleure dans mon couer” followed, and ever so subtly a gentleman opened an umbrella in the left front corner of the house. It didn’t distract, it just underlined the idea of the falling rain. It was a little surreal, reminiscent of Magritte, but it added unique dramatic visual interest.

“Depuis le jour” from Charpentier’s opera, Louise, was next and it would be hard to imagine that anyone ever sang it with more beauty and tenderness. Ms. Netrebko inhabited this aria and let it flow in rapturous ecstasy and exquisite delicacy. She was radiant in two songs by Tchaikovsky, “It happened in the early spring” and “Tell me, what is in the shadow of the branches”.

For the final two selections of the first part, “Go not, happy day”, by Frank Bridge and Leoncavallo’s popular “Mattinata”, Ms. Netrebko eschewed the proverbial invasive and impersonal music stand, a la Pavarotti, and casually strolled over behind the piano to be in position to check the music, in case the words escaped her. But she made it seem perfectly natural, as if she was singing at home for friends in an intimate soiree and wanted to make sure that they didn’t go away without hearing a couple of her favorite songs.

After intermission, the stage turned from the golden color of the day to a violet color of early evening. Ms. Netrebko changed into a black gown with a dazzling sequined spider web design - so dazzling that you could see it reflected in the glossy black of the Steinway piano the few times she stood in front of it.

Ms. Netrebko opened the second part with Lisa and Polina’s sensuously lovely duet, “Uzh vecher” (“It is evening”), from Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades. Jennifer Johnson Cano’s strong, warm mezzo soprano voice is a perfect match with Ms. Netrebko’s dusky soprano. More Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsokov and Rachmaninoff songs followed, as well as an unlikely, yet lovely “Apres un rêve” by Faure, and a heart-melting “Songs my Mother taught me” by Dvorak. The highlight, if anything could be better than all the excellence so far, may have been three more songs by Strauss, “Die Nacht”, “Wiegenlied” and “Ständchen”. In part, we may have enjoyed the Strauss so much because of the promise the songs held for the future to hear Ms. Netrebko’s interpretation of the role of Marchalin in Der Rosenkavelier. Yet, equally astonishing was her rendition of Baby Doe’s aria, “Gold is a fine thing” from Douglas Moore’s opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe, in which her characterization of the actual person made history make sense. Then, as if the evening’s fare wasn’t already rich enough, Ms. Johnson Cano returned for a sensuous Barcarolle from Les Contes d’Hoffman”. Yummy, Plummy, with whipped cream!

Mr. Martineau played the challenging piano accompaniments flawlessly, with an incandescent touch. His delicate and elegant pianism added much to the ethereal qualities inherent in these songs. One might occasionally have wished for a bigger sound, particularly in the opera selections, but that would be a mere quibble given the overall distinction with which he played.

The fitting final offering of the printed program was “Den’ li carit” (“Whether day dawns”), by Tchaikovsky. “Whether night or day reigns… it is always you”, tied the program together nicely, but it seemed that this extraordinary artist was actually thanking us for being her audience. In truth, we are beyond blessed to have a singer with so much artistry and humanity, and such a complete mastery of vocalism stand before us, sharing so generously her grace, charm, and complete love for her art. In a rare true standing ovation, the crowd rose to its feet as one, and the rousing bravos and cheers demanding an encore were the most robust we’ve seen in the Civic Opera House. Ms. Netrebko and Mr. Martineau obliged, returning for a spectacular “Il Bacio” by Arditi, with her trademark sparkling coloratura. After another extended ovation, we were treated to an expansive, full throated second encore, “Cäcilie” by Strauss.

Let us hope that Ms. Netrebko can return to Chicago soon. She is “Diva Assoluta” - the queen of the goddesses.