The Genius of Women: Jamie Barton at Wigmore Hall

By Kevin W Ng, 01 December 2019

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“Barton’s sumptuous mezzo, radiant across all registers, filled the hall”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 30 November 2019

Warren, Heather

Boulanger, Attente

Beach, 3 Browning Songs: Ah, Love, but a day! Op.44 no.2

Boulanger, Les heures claires: S'il arrive jamais

Haydn, Arianna a Naxos, cantata, Hob XXVIb:2

Larsen, Love after 1950

Ravel, Don Quichotte à Dulcinée: Chanson à boire

Duparc, Phidylé

Strauss R., Cäcilie, Op.27 no.2

Arlen, Film music from Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow (Encore)

Jamie Barton, Mezzo-soprano

Kathleen Kelly, Piano

Ariadne in Naxos: more Rockefeller than Esterhazy

David Browning, 22nd July

The Glimmerglass Festival's updated Ariadne in Naxos contains comedy, character and great singing.

****1

Il trovatore returns to the Met with an impressive young cast

Susan Stempleski, 29th October

Four superstars deliver dramatic moments in this revival of Sir David McVicar’s Goya-inspired staging of Verdi’s melodrama.

****1

Sibelius joyously celebrated at the BBC Proms

Roy Westbrook, 24th August

Jamie Barton sings Mahler's Rückert-Lieder and a UK premiere for Julius Eastman's Second Symphony, a final love letter.

****1

Barton’s Azucena drags Trovatore from the flames

Mark Pullinger, 2nd June

Adele Thomas’ Royal Opera staging channels the Marx Brothers in playing it for laughs, but the musical compensations are many under Sir Antonio Pappano.

***11

Beauty and courage in Tristan und Isolde in Munich

Ako Imamura, 10th April

Bayrischer Staatsoper’s revival of Warlikowski’s static production of Tristan und Isolde featured a sensational role debut of Elena Pankratova as Isolde.

****1

Mass appeal: Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites revived at the Met

Cameron Kelsall, 15th January

John Dexter's production, now among the longest-serving in the company's repertory, remains a marvel of simple, effective storytelling.

****1

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Kevin W Ng

Kevin writes about music and culture, with a focus on opera. Originally trained as a violinist, he has a particular interest in 20th-century music. He is currently based in New York City.