Academy of St Martin in the Fields at the Barbican
17th July 2008
Danielle de Niese, is not only, a soprano, of significant, promise, she is, what is known, in the modern world, as a sex symbol. Her image, adorns, every programme, and poster, advertising, the 2008, Mostly Mozart, festival, but, I believe, she sings only, in this concert, and only, altogether, three operatic arias, and one, concert aria. Much as it is not, within me, to deny, the beauty of the radiant, Danielle, I can’t help, feeling, that the handsome face, of the sensational young flautist, Adam Walker, should instead, have denoted, this series, of concerts. Danielle, is, truly, rather beautiful, but, most certainly not, my type. Adam, who is only twenty, is far more, the sort of person, I can imagine, having fantasies about. But perhaps, I would like to fantasise, about being, Danielle. I would love to be, so ethereally, beautiful.
The first item, on the minimal programme, was not by Mozart, in fact, the whole first half, was not by Mozart, in its entirity. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, which is hardly, I must say, a snappy title, that sits easily, in the memory, gave, nevertheless, a performance, of vitality, and potency, of the Symphony No. 70 (it is difficult, to comprehend, that any composer, even so great, a genius, as Haydn, could find the time, and the inclination, to compose, so many).
After that, Danielle de Niese, wearing a dress of extravagant ruffles, that looked more like a wedding garment than concert attire, entered the stage. She sang, three arias, from Handel’s operas, firstly, Endless Pleasure, from Semele, then, Lascia ch'io pianga, from Rinaldo, then, a reversion, to Semele, with Myself I Shall Adore. Danielle’s voice, is luminessant, and, she is, an actress, of considerably, ability, but, tragically, I feel, that, dramatic, embellishes, are inappropriate, in the concert hall, and she looked, truthfully, rather ridiculous, in her declamations, and gestures. She would, be outstanding, in a staged performance, but, this was not, staged. Vocally, she sang, with supreme beauty, after, a slightly uncertain, beginning, to capture the very hearts, of all, who surveyed, her.
After the interval, we witnessed, the delights, of the stratospherically, gifted, Adam Walker, whose flute teacher, at least, in the early days, of his development, was, none other, than Adam himself, what a miraculous achievement! His playing, was bewitchingly winsome, it reminded me, so exilleratingly, of the melody, in Die Zauberflote, where Tamino, sings, how strong is not, the magic tone, oh sweet flute. He was joined, in Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto, by a harpist, Sally Pryce. I thought Sally was magnificent, but the gentleness, of her tender strings, could not penetrate, so easily as Michael, the tumult of the orchestra, it was not a balance, of equality. I abhor, as a rule, microphones, but this imbalance, was such a tragedy, perhaps a place, might be found, for these electronic devices.
After the interval, Danielle returned, to sing, the ravishing, Exultate Jubilate. I confess, I almost applauded, once the famous part, came to its conclusion, as I had, quite forgotten, there was more to be sung! This was, prettily, performed, but I don’t know, how well, she understood, the heart, of the music. It seemed, rather, as though, the piece was about her, rather than, the central message.
Violetta
primi-divi at hotmail.co.uk