Pretty Yende: Diamond in the rough

By Ako Imamura, 15 October 2014

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Carnegie Hall: Weill, New York City on 13 October 2014

Rossini, Les Soirées musicales: La promessa

Bellini, Vanne, o rosa fortunata

Donizetti, L'amor funesto

Debussy, Beau soir

Debussy, Fleur des blés

Debussy, Suite bergamasque: Clair de lune

Debussy, La Mandoline

Debussy, Apparition

Meyerbeer, Les Huguenots: O beau pays de la Touraine

Liszt, Tre sonetti di Petrarca, S 270

Works by Giménez

Bellini, La sonnambula: Ah! non credea mirarti

Pretty Yende, Soprano

Kamal Khan, Conductor

Dudamel and Catalan choirs dazzle in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis

Néstor Castiglione, 20th February

In Los Angeles, Gustavo Dudamel conducts Beethoven's Missa solemnis for the first time... and it proves worth the wait.

*****

In Mears’ bleak Royal Opera Semele, Pretty Yende stands out

David Karlin, 30th June

Superb Handelian singing and intense character acting light up Handel’s Semele, staged as a stark, uncompromising indictment of the rich and powerful.

****1

Bernheim heads a powerhouse cast in the Met’s Hoffmann revival

Susan Stempleski, 24th September

After a heavily promoted but underwhelming opening night, the company gets the new season back on track with plenty of star power in Offenbach’s final masterpiece.

****1

Second episode in Jetske Mijnssen's Tudor trilogy opens in Naples

Lorenzo Fiorito, 20th June

This production focuses on the psychological and human aspects of the central characters, rather than on their political conflict, with Elizabeth playing a pivotal role.

***11

Amartuvshin Enkhbat’s Rigoletto conquers Covent Garden

David Karlin, 12th October

It's been a long wait since Cardiff Singer 2015, but the Mongolian baritone gives an outstanding vocal portrayal of Verdi’s doomed jester at the Royal Opera House.

****1

Pretty Yende tackles art song in Gstaad

David Karlin, 4th January

The South African soprano wows the audience with astonishing vocal and dramatic qualities – but do they stretch to a programme of art song?

***11

More reviews...

Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Diamond in the rough: Pretty Yende charms at Carnegie Hall