Lady in Red: Isabel Leonard serenades Carnegie Hall

By Courtney Smith, 15 November 2015

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“slipping into characterizations as diverse as an impoverished bullfighter or a jealous gypsy”

Reviewed at Carnegie Hall: Zankel, New York City on 12 November 2015

García Lorca, Canciones españolas antiguas (excerpts)

Granados, 12 Danzas Españolas: Andaluza, Op.37 no.5

Albéniz, Suite española: Asturias (leyenda)

Danielpour, Of Love and Longing (world première)

Rodrigo, Aranjuez ma pensée

Montsalvatge, Cinco canciones negras

Falla, Siete canciones populares españolas

Lara, Granada

Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-soprano

Sharon Isbin, Guitar

Austin Scarlett, Costume Designer

Met Orchestra brings a long neglected symphony back to life

Susan Stempleski, 4th February

William Levi Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, overlooked for decades, heads an all-American program of 20th-century works in New York.

****1

Energetic cast brightens up the Met’s tired-looking Barbiere

Susan Stempleski, 15th April

Bartlett Sher’s 2006 production of Rossini’s tuneful masterpiece is showing its age, but a superb cast and conductor keep the comedy moving.

****1

A French feast for the ears from Denève and the New World Symphony

Phillip Nones, 21st January

In Miami, Isabel Leonard bewitches in Ravel’s Shéhérazade, while Stéphane Denève and the New World Symphony conjure up atmospherics galore in Roussel and Schmitt ballet scores.

****1

Kasper Holten’s powerful, hi-tech Don Giovanni arrives at LA Opera

Laurence Vittes, 23rd September

Lucas Meachem’s portrayal suggests a paraphrase of what another Hollywood Don Juan, Errol Flynn in 1949, said to his Leporello in excusing his escapades. “My dear friend, there’s a little bit of Don Giovanni in every man, and since I am Don Giovanni, there must be more of it in me!”

*****

The NY Phil pays tribute to Sondheim at Bravo! Vail

Thomas May, 27th July

The New York Phil concluded its six-concert residency at this summer’s Bravo! Vail Festival with a survey of Stephen Sondheim’s legacy stylishly led by Leonard Slatkin.

****1

A singer for the ages: Lise Davidsen a triumphant Ariadne at the Met

Robert Levine, 8th March

The Norwegian soprano is acclaimed at the Met in Richard Strauss' mash-up of commedia dell'arte and tragic opera.

*****

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Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is an American freelance journalist living in Milan, Italy. On classical music and opera, she's written for the BBC Music Magazine, Opera Now, Opera News, Corriere della Sera Style Magazine, Auditorium, Limelight and Classical Singer. She's written in-house for classical music organizations such as The New York Philharmonic and the Royal Opera House's blog. On luxury, fashion and beauty, she's written for The Wall Street Journal, Women's Wear Daily, Grazia.it and W Magazine's Editors' Blog. She's written in-house for brands such as Calvin Klein.

Lady in Red: Isabel Leonard serenades Carnegie Hall with Spanish Folk Songs