Tokyo Performances

Cecilia Bartoli and Myung-Whun Chung

On March 21 I attended a recital by Cecilia Bartoli accompanied by Myung-Whun Chung on the piano. As with any event of this nature, I speculate about the audience members who have paid $400 for the top price tickets. Who are they? Fervent music lovers? People who want to be seen at the right places? It’s hard to say, particularly when there seemed to be several young couples with two or three children in tow. I’m not sure what thrills a recital of this type holds for a six-year-old, but at least the children were unobtrusive. Perhaps the majority of the audience was like me, the recipient of a comp ticket from a student of mine who happens to be Chung’s niece. In any event, a full house multiplied by $400 a ticket – yow!

Cecilia Bartoli’s repertoire seems to end in mid-19th century, where my interests really begin. And yet, she is an artist of such finesse and sensitivity that I was captivated from the first moment through the encores. What a great, full, beautiful voice! What artistry! I kept thinking throughout how mediocre the voices I have been hearing the past few years are in comparison to a truly great voice.

The highlights of the recital included a set of songs by Bellini and Delibes’ “Les filles de Cadix”. Shading and nuance, lustrous fullness, expressivity – phrases of that sort still run through my mind as I attempt to relive a magical evening. There was a slight thinness in a couple very high notes, but her range is impressive. And my student said the next today that when she spoke to her backstage, Miss Bartoli said she hadn’t been feeling well. So, if she sings that well on an off-night, she must be magnificent when she’s really on.

I totally enjoyed the event – although on basic principles I never would have spent that amount of money. And I liked that she did a crossover tune “Non ti scordar di me” as an encore. I understand her fame.

posted by Larry Wells @ 1:02 PM