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ISOLDE a TRIUMPH for URMANA at BASTILLE



Violeta Urmana star as Isolde at Bastille.

Applaus after Tristan and Isolde at Opera Bastille, 17.4.14. Foto Henning Høholt

Review by Henning Høholt and Tomas Bagackas Høholt. Photos: Charles Duprat.

PARIS/FRANCE: Isolde became a triumph for Violeta Urmana. The extraordinary soprano, who we are used to enjoy in the leading roles in the Italian repertoire has now moved in to the Wagner repertoire. Her Isolde at Opera de Bastille, conducted by Philippe Jordan was a triumph for the outstanding singer.

Violeta Urmana as Isolde, fra Teatro Real, Madrid. Foto Javier – Kopi

One thing is that Ms. Urmana has the brilliant beautiful shining voice, who allways manage to be majestic on top of the orchestra, even when all approximately hundred musicians are giving all they can. On the contrary she is also having the intimity, that, specially in the last part of second act in her long duet with Tristan is necessarily to make this love part of the opera intime and coming close to the audience, in this she performed the most wonderful piano and pianissimo with many great touching details

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. Furthermore her movements on stage, and spesialfly her arm´ language is elegant, and makes that we trust in her. Violeta Urmana is at her very best as Isolde.

Ms. Urmana describe it her self to Kulturkompasset: “The first act is a marathon equal to one Aida, but the second is not less and it’s one more Aida. And when you are tired, you get to sing the end...”

Violeta Urmana (right) with Brangäne, Janina Baechle. Behind Bill Viola´s  video from the coast of Cornwall, Photo: Charles Duprat.

After her performances at Teatro Real in Madrid  The New York Times described Urmana’s Isolde thus: “Ms. Urmana, an acclaimed Isolde, sang the narrative and curse with rich, textured sound, deep expressivity and chilling top notes”. In Le Figaro in Paris, their critic Christian Merlin follows up: “Violeta Urmana drilled our ears in the Italien repertory and we thought she was finished ; blatant refutation with her Isolde, more irascible than sensual, but with such shades (nuances) and vocal posture whose we did not consider her capable any more.” Furterhmore last Friday , at France Musique, they (Christian Merlin + Richard Martet + Pierre Flinois) (all famouse French Critics)  were all enthousiat about her performance. 

Ms. Urmana was closely followed up by Janina Baechleas Brangäne. A beautiful mezzo voice with many delicious details, that specially came clear to us, when she during her watching in the second act was singing from the left balcony.  A pleasant meeting.

King Marke (right) is declairing his love for Tristan (center), (left) Isolde, Melot (behind) . Bill Viola´s video. Photo Charles Duprat.

Robert Dean Smith sings a solid Tristan, every thing is there. Unfortunately, for me, still all the tunes are there, and also during the time with good charactere, it is, to me, never really beautiful. The best part was the second part of the second act, the duet with Isolde, before King Marke enters the stage
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Franz-Josef Selig is a hit as King Marke, his long monologue ending second act was extraordinary beautiful.

In the other roles we enjoyed Jochen Schmeckenbecher as Kurvenal, Raimund Holte, Melot. Dietmar Kerschbaum as A young seeman, and Piotr Kumon as the Steuermann.

Robert Dean Smith (Tristan) in front of Bill Viola´s video during his long monologue in 2nd. act. Foto Charles Duprat.

Peter Sellars staging is good. The staging is telling a great story. I specially liked that he is not trying to hide that King Marke loves Tristan, it is good that this detail is being so clearly visibel, and even that Marke kisses Tristan warmly. In these days, where homosexuality still is difficult and in some countries not yet is accepted. And in countries, like for exempel Ms. Urmanas homecountry, the beautiful Lithuania, where homophobia is strong. But also where  Homosexuality is strongly alive.  To underline that it allready existed centuries ago is a strong sign. And is a sign that we shall not hide away. I don´t regret that I mention this importent detail, but this is a bout the realities in the life in 2014.  The audience was deeply touched.

Bill Viola´s video creation, which starts immediately with showing the sea and the wawes around Cornwall, is following the history with another side of views, a view which opens up for the audience´s creative fantasy, to understand what is behind.  On stage Mr. Viola has conceived a world of parallel images: a world beyond life. The photographing is extraordinary well, presenting many artistic ways of photographing and opens up for many thoughts about Tristan and Isolde.  James F. Ingalls light is good following up the staging idea, and in this the light from the video, so that it is having an understanding contact between these two parts.

Tristan , Robert Dean Smith (left) and Isolde, Violeta Urmana. Bill Viola´s video is behind

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. Photo Charles Duprat

The orchestra and choir from the Paris Opera is functioning very well under the leading of their musicchief Philippe Jordan. Many beautiful details, many brilliant soloparts, of course speicilly the English Horn, played by Christophe Grindel. brilliant and very musically. Some times, when needed this orchestra is showing a fantastic transparancy in its sound.

Isolde (Violeta Urmana) is waiting for a secret meeting with Tristan, Brangäne (Janina Baechle) is watching, in the forest at Cornwall, 2nd. act, behind Bill Violas video, photo Charles Duprat

 Please enjoy interview with music chief Philippe Jordan at http://www.operadeparis.fr/en/_modals/colorbox_video/1063

Robert Dean Smith (Tristan), Violeta Urmana (Isolde)(standing) et Janina Baechle (Brangäne) (left). Foto Charles Duprat

 

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