(Pic: Manon Strauss Evrard)Outstanding soprano for KZN Philharmonic’s programme of opera music. (Review by Michael Green)
It was not a symphony concert, but the programme of operatic music drew a good-sized audience to the Durban City Hall to hear the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and an outstanding soprano.
The orchestra was conducted by Giorgio Croci, a visitor from Italy who has wide experience of opera, and the singer was the young and rising French star, Manon Strauss Evrard (she was prophetically named; Manon is the heroine of two famous operas, by Massenet and Puccini, and Strauss is the name of two composers of opera, Johann and Richard).
She undertook a programme that was, to put it mildly, taxing: six celebrated, extended arias that make great demands on the singer’s technical and interpretative abilities. Manon Strauss Evrard emerged triumphant from it all. She is a young person, very good–looking, tall, black hair, and she came on to the stage dressed in a silver, tiered, backless creation, creating a minor sensation before she had sung a note. It was not all show. Her qualities as a singer were immediately apparent as she began with an aria from Vicenzo Bellini’s I Puritani. She has a lovely, full-bodied voice and an excellent technique, a wide range of dynamics, from pianissimo to fortissimo, and powerful and accurate top notes.
Manon has an uninhibited, almost flamboyant, stage manner, with many hand gestures, body movements, smiles and (figurative) tears. This actually contributed to her performance; we almost had the illusion that we were watching opera. With a style and quality like this it is easy to understand why she is making rapid progress in the wider world, such as the Met in New York.
The Bellini was a delight, as indeed all his music is. Bellini - Italian of course - died in 1835 aged only 34. Then came an aria by Donizetti, one of the most gifted of all opera composers. This was an aria from Lucia di Lammermoor and it calls for a varied emotional range from the singer. Here again she handled the problems with great success. Manon’s accomplished, confident and versatile singing was amply displayed in arias by Verdi, Massenet and Gounod, and she was rewarded with prolonged applause from an enthusiastic audience.
On the conductor’s podium Giorgo Croci was a dignified and sympathetic partner, and he induced excellent playing in several orchestral items. Particularly impressive was the opening number, Rossini’s Thieving Magpie overture, containing three examples of the famous Rossini crescendo. A sparkling presentation of a sparkling work, with some very good playing from the woodwind and the big brass, the trombones and the tuba. And the famous prelude to Act 1 of Verdi’s La Traviata produced some beautifully opulent string tone.
A most enjoyable concert, and it was pleasing to see some new faces in the audience. - Michael Green
Robert Petersen, the KZN Philharmonic's education and development officer, died tragically in a car accident on May 15. This concert was dedicated to him in memory of his invaluable contribution to the KZNPO over the past five years.
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