Review by Henning Høholt

PARIS:  Presenting Airs by Händel, Gluck, Monteverdi, Hasse, Haydn, Giacomelli
. Review by Henning Høholt PARIS: The international and outstanding mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, together with Il Complesso Barocco splendid led by the brilliant first violinist and conductor Dmitry Sinkovsky presented at Théâtre des Champs Élysées the brilliant program:

–

Starting with Cesti: Orontea, « Intorno all’idol mio » (Orontea, Reine d’Egypte). Scarlatti, Tolomeo ed Alessandro, Sinfonia

.  Monteverdi, L’Incoronazione di Poppea, « Disprezzata regina » (Ottavia, Impératrice de Rome). Giacomelli, Merope, « Sposa, son disprezzata » (Irene, Princesse de Trébizonde). Vivaldi, Concerto pour violon et cordes RV 242 « pour Pisendel ». Orlandini, Berenice, « Da torbida procella » (Berenice, Reine de Palestine). Hasse, Antonio e Cleopatra, « Morte col fiero aspetto » (Cleopatra, Reine d’Egypte). Haendel, Giulio Cesare, « Piangero la sorte mia » (Cleopatra, Reine d’Egypte) Radamisto, Passacaglia. Porta, Ifigenia in Aulide, « Madre diletta, abbracciami » (Iphigenia, Princesse de Mycénée). Gluck, Armide, Musique de ballet : Air gracieux, Air sicilien. Haendel, Alessandro, « Brilla nell’alma » (Rossana, Princesse de Perse).

–

It became a fascinating meeting with an outstanding soloist and ensemble of highest possible quality. I have enjoyed the famouse Cecilia Bartoly several times, with great pleasure. Joyce DiDonato represents the new generation, and i am proud to say that DiDonato  is even better.

–

She is a fresh young woman with a beautiful, amazing and fascinating voice, it seems with absolutely no problems anywhere.

.

For a stage performance, DiDonato too have the understanding of how importent it is to be visual entertaining, but still in a very high class.

–

Her wonderful outfit for the  DRAMA QUEENS evening a dramatic red (chinese silk?) outfit, whit could be changed in at least four variations by using a large schale, adding long arms with a tip on the shoulders and adding Marie Antoinette hips, was a pleasant dream
. With matching colour lipstick. Still that it looked difficult for her to walk on the too highhealed shoes. – Which reminds me of the late star soprano Ingrid Bjoner, who allways told that “good shoes is of the greatest importence”. A small detail in the orchestra outfit was the red socks for the male musicians!!!

–

Her charming small concersation in French was good, and generously whe and the ensemble gave a lot of encores, so the concert became much longer than planed
. The audience loved her and her ensemble. Dmitry Sinkovsky played virtuosely the solopart in the Vivaldi Concerto pour violon et cordes RV 242 « pour Pisendel », in addition to several smal soloparts.

I was furthermore very pleased to enjoy the deliciouse baroque sound in the orchestra,

Il Complesso Barocco –

Founded in Amsterdam in 1979 by Alan Curtis

which with patience and a lot of beautiful feeling in the slow and rubato parts, and some times very flying (but well controled)  tempi in the faster parts.  A good solocello was also a plus, and the bassoon following the bass, gave a good basic
.

–