Lesley Garrett reviews 2008

xcept · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject: Lesley Garrett reviews 2008

Smoky, sultry, sensitive -- a diva soprano for all seasons

Lesley Garrett National Concert Hall, Dublin

THERE is no doubting the winning personality of Yorkshire-born diva Lesley Garrett.

Joined by US tenor Paul Austin Kelly and the RTE Concert Orchestra/David Brophy at the National Concert Hall and Limerick's University Concert Hall this week, the soprano sounds as vibrant as ever.

In the first of RTE's 'Signature Series', Ms Garrett acts as her own MC, introduces the music with infectious candour, regales her audience with anecdotes, and has four changes of frock.

Delibes's 'Les Filles De Cadix' finds her a little smoky in sultry Spain but Puccini's Florentine 'O Mio Babbino Caro' blows in sensitive feeling. Cilea's Parisian 'Io Son L'umile Ancella' has abundant expression.

The final duet from Verdi's 'La Traviata' finds Ms Garrett's consumptive Violetta none too fragile when partnered heroically by Mr Kelly. But the Act I 'Brindisi' brings vivacious abandon.

The film and musical second half, with rather bloated orchestrations, has the singers' projection more strongly "miked".

There is homage to Catherine Grayson in the ballad 'Love Is Where You Find It' and to Doris Day in 'When I Fall In Love'.

The musicals offer 'Carousel' and 'Kismet' through the emotional 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and 'This Is My Beloved', and Mr Kelly returns as the Caliph Of Baghdad to Ms Garrett's Marsinah for an ecstatic 'Strangers In Paradise'.

On his own, Mr Kelly is lyrically refined in Donizetti's 'Una Furtiva Lagrima' but less successful in 'The Song Is You' by Kern/Hammerstein. Still, the evening provides pleasure.

SourceL The Independent.ie

Margaret. · Joined: Jan 05, 2006 Posts: 371

Great, well done Lesley Very Happy