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Sonia Ganassi, 'The  Gluck Concert' :  Orchestre de L’Academia del Gran Teatre del Liceu. Conductor,  Michele Mariotti, Gran Teatre del Liceu deBarcelona.

1.10.2007 (JMI)

Barcelona’s Liceu has programmed some interesting concerts and recitals this season, opening the series with the Italian mezzo soprano Sonia Ganassi, whose very unusual concert was completely dedicated to operas by Gluck. In fact, the concert carried the title 'The Gluck Concert.'

Whether the program was decided by the artist or the theatre is uncertain, but it certainly affected the audience response. There are not many opportunities to attend such a concert in Spain, and while it might be particularly appreciated by confirmed baroque opera lovers, the relative unfamiliarity of the music by much of the audience, the lack of bravura pieces and the absence of pyrotechnics explained to a great extent the rather cool reception: it had hardly warmed up enough at the end of the concert to get encores from the artist. There was only one, and that was a reprise.

Sonia Ganassi is a high mezzo soprano with a beautiful voice,  who sings with great expressiveness. Her middle range works particularly well, which is so important in Gluck operas. Though a little short perhaps on the lower notes, Ms Ganassi's  high register is easy and bright. Few negative  comments at all  can be made of this artist, apart perhaps than the program choice in this instance.

She began with a fine interpretation of the recitative and aria from Alceste in the italian version, although the public received it coolly. Next, she sang Alceste’s aria “Fatal Divinitá” better known in its French version “Divinité de Stynx”. She coped with all of the aria's difficulties of the aria in just the right fashion and continued with  Iphigenie en Aulide, singing both of Clytemnestra's  recitatives and arias with a particularly  beautiful mezza voce.

In the second half, Sonia Ganassi sang with equal delicacy and taste the recitative and aria from Armide  and ended the concert with  Iphigenie en Tauride , offering the aria “O, malhereuse Iphigenie” and therecitative and aria from Act IV.  Everything was sung completely correctly, but once again without raising much audience enthusiasm.

As I mentioned before there was only one bis, the recitative and aria of Clytemnestre from Iphigenie en Aulide, that closed the first half of the concert.

Sonia Ganassi was accompanied by the very young and promising Orchestre de la Academia del Gran Teatro del Liceu.  The equally young Maestro Michele Mariotti made a very positive impression both in supporting MS Ganassi and in  interpreting overtures and ballet music by Gluck. I am sure we will hear more of him.

José M. Irurzun
 

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