Anna Netrebko – “Verismo” (2016)

Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Review by Alessandra Cognetta

This review is probably unprecedented for our webzine, but since we like breaking boundaries, we are proud to write about an artist that you probably would not expect to find in our archives. Russian soprano Anna Netrebko is an internationally renowned opera singer with a highly successful career. I received one of her earlier albums, “Opera” (2007), as a present a few years ago, when I had just started studying classical singing. It was a beautiful work on the classics, but it showed a potential that still needed to be harnessed wholly. Her new release “Verismo” marks a new stage in Netrebko’s development, digging deeper into the repertoire of Italian opera and showcasing the greater maturity acquired by the singer in terms of skills and experience. Netrebko’s voice is more balanced and controlled, which allows her to project different volumes and voice colours depending on the role. I often hear from singing teachers that strengthening the lower notes strengthens the high notes as well and vice versa. This album is a valuable piece of evidence to support that statement. Netrebko conveys a diverse range of emotions, from Liù’s soft prayer (Turandot: “Signore, ascolta!”), to the heart wrenching “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana” from Catalani’s La Wally. The title of the album justifies the choice of the arias featured in this release. Verismo (from “vero”, the Italian word for “real”) refers, in fact, to a particular Italian literary movement of the late 19th century, from which the homonymous operatic tradition originated under composers such as Mascagni, Puccini and Leoncavallo. Netrebko’s “Verismo” articulates this concept by portraying multi-faceted female heroines with a rich voice, strengthened in its different registers and full of colour and emotion. Netrebko’s voice is supported by the great work of director Antonio Pappano, who brings together the Choir and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome to provide a musical accompaniment that seamlessly blends in with both Netrebko and tenor Yusuf Eyvazov interpretations. “Verismo” is probably one of the most high-quality opera releases of the year, and one of Anna Netrebko’s best works to date. For our readers who have taken an interest in classical music and operatic singing, this album is definitely a great way to delve into the world of opera beyond the widely popular classics and discover some of the most powerful female figures of Italian opera.

Rating – 95/100

Tracklist

1. Adriana Lecouvreur: “Ecco: respiro appena … Io son l’umile ancella”
2. Andrea Chénier: “La mamma morta”
3. Madama Butterfly: “Un bel dì vedremo”
4. Turandot: “Signore, ascolta!”
5. Pagliacci: “Qual fiamma avea nel guardo! … Stridono lassù”
6. La Wally: “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana”
7. Mefistofele: “L’altra notte in fondo al mare”
8. La Gioconda: “Suicidio! In questi fieri momenti”
9. Tosca: “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore”
10. Turandot: “In questa reggia”
11. Manon Lescaut: “In quelle trine morbide”
12. Manon Lescaut: “Tutta su me ti posa”
13. Manon Lescaut: “Manon, senti, amor mio”
14. Manon Lescaut: “Sei tu che piangi?”
15. Manon Lescaut: “Sola perduta, abbandonata”
16. Manon Lescaut: “Fra le tue braccia amore”

Line Up

• Anna Netrebko – Soprano
• Yusif Eyvazov – Tenor
• Antonio Pappano
• Coro and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Links

facebook.com/pages/Anna-Netrebko/10480012626

twitter.com/annanetrebko

annanetrebko.com/en/

Salva

Salva

Salva