Maria Guleghina, soprano
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Arkady Beryn, conductor
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Un Ballo in Maschera - "Ecco l'orrido campo" (Act 2, Amerlia) - with orchestral prelude
La Forza del Destino - Ouverture
La Forza del Destino - "Pace, pace mio Dio" (Act 4, Leonora)
La Traviata - Ouverture
Macbeth - Nel di della vittoria (Act 1, Lady Macbeth
PAUSE
Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945)
Cavalleria Rusticana - "Voi lo sapete, o mamma" (Santuzza)
Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo
Umberto Giordano (1867-1948)
Andrea Chenier - "La mamma morta" (Act 3, Maddalena)
Giuseppe Puccini (1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut - Intermezzo
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Don Pasquale - Ouverture
Giuseppe Puccini (1858-1924)
Tosca - "Vissi d'arte" (Act 2, Tosca)
Encore:
Giuseppe Puccini (1858-1924)
Gianni Schicchi - "O mio babbino caro"
The tenor has bronchitis so what does a Prima Donna do? She sits with the conductor and creates a new programme and she does not fail her audience!
Maria Guleghina did not only sing like a goddess she acted out every one of this different women in so very different circumstances.
Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera: In the end of the orchestral prelude and in walks Maria Guleghina and soon she is Amelia and she is the a horrid place, scared but brave she soldiers on to pluck the plant she needs to stop her unwanted feelings. Maria Guleghina makes us see and experience this operatic scene in the concert hall.
Leonora in La Forza del Destino: Next time we see Maria Guleghina she is Leonora and she imploring God for peace but peace does not come, strangers do. Again she makes us see and feel the scene in all its glory like in the perfect production.
Lady Macbeth in Macbeth: Maria Guleghina is the perfect Lady Macbeth and we see it all even in this concert hall. The Lady has decided and the king will die while staying at Macbeths. Macbeth will be king as foretold. This lady is ready to whip up all the spirits of hell. Very well sung and acted, and afterwards the graceful Diva comes and blows kisses to her fans.
Pause
Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana: Santuzza is in trouble and just have to tell the mother of her lover Turridu about it all. Turridu has run back to Lola even if Lola is now married and Santuzza is excommucated. Maria Guleghina communicates so deeply that we feel it all. Poor Santuzza!
Maddalena in Andrea Chenier: Maddalena is telling Gerard how her mother died and how the revolution changed her life. An aristocrat saved by Bersi. Again Maria Guleghina is the perfect Maddalena and acting her heart out plus the divine singing.
Tosca: Maria Guleghina sings Vissi d'arte and as Tosca she can be herself an opera singer who must juggle Love and Art. She has poured every bit of her self all evening and is now tired since she was not 100% well at the beginning. Still even with one slip it was an amazing Vissi d'arte.
Applause, never ending applause.
Then, the ENCORE: O mio babbino caro. Naturally this is an artist that can be like a teenage daughter pestering her father at the same time she is totally charming, adorable. And with this gift the concert ended, and the Diva could finally have herself a Summer Holiday and heal from her bout of brochitis or something.
The audience went happily in the night.
For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
