Verona, Arena Opera Festival 2022 – Aida (alternative cast) – Connected to the Opera
A single evening, that of July 24, for the debut in the Arena of the young Cuban-American soprano Monica Conesa in Aida from greensin the role of the protagonist. Cecilia Gasdiawho as superintendent and artistic director had the undoubted merit of bringing the big names back to the Arenian seasons, he did not fail to trust promising people, unveiling new talents like this twenty-six year old, with a physique to mannequin and with a stamp that evokes Callasian reminiscences.
Winner in 2021 of the Absolute First Prize at the Fausto Ricci International Opera Singing Competition of Viterbo and, in the same year, of the First Prize and the Audience Award at the Maria Caniglia International Competition of Sulmona, the beautiful and talented Conesa therefore makes her important debut en plein air and in a very complex role. It did not seem like it, but it was too early to cry out for a miracle, although we were aware that her proof reveals undoubted merit.
We note the qualities of a voice that does not struggle to make itself heard in large spaces and shows, in the centers as well as in the grave, timbral mottling of evident Callasian derivation. Yet, on closer inspection, observing with more attention the arc of his rehearsal, which is moreover applauded by the public, it is not difficult to realize that we are dealing with a voice of clear lyrical ancestry, capable of collecting the sounds and bending them to suggestive half voices. Immediately it imposes itself in a nuanced “Return victor” and then, in “O cieli azzurri it emits an acute C not flat but attacked with the intention of bringing out the radiance of a progressively expanded sound with a gradual breath arc. very respectable. The effect is not entirely successful, but it is undeniable that for a novice who in cold blood engages in such a difficult part, moreover guaranteeing an overall seal where the lights of undoubted vocal qualities prevail over the shadows of inexperience, the final result is on the whole interesting and should guarantee her a bright future. For this to happen, however, you will have to play with more caution in the choices of the repertoire and, for example, the announced debut next October, also in Verona, as the protagonist in Gioconda by Ponchielli at the Philharmonic Theater, certainly does not appear to be a cure-all for a vocalism that for now needs to be molded and refined on a more lyrical terrain. For now, let’s just remember his name and propose it to the attention of our readers, in the hope that the blossoming of such a precious voice will have a longer life than a flower.
At his side, this play of Aida in the Arena it rests on the safe shoulders of Jorge de LeónRadamès of solid vocal consistency and with some well-established high notes, as well as Anna Maria Chiuristrong with an accurate phrasing, he confirms his intelligent vision of an Amneris in love rather than moved by the anger of a furious jealousy. Sebastiano Catanese is an Amonasro professional, Rafał Siwek a good Ramfis e Simone Lim a vocally somewhat alternating D.
From the direction of Marco Armiliato he has already referred to these columns and the impressions already expressed are confirmed.
Final success for everyone, with peaks of enthusiasm for Monica Conesa.
Arena Opera Festival 2022
AIDA
Opera in four acts
Booklet of Antonio Ghislanzoni
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
The king Simone Lim
Amneris Anna Maria Chiuri
Aida Monica Conesa
Radamès Jorge de León
Ramfi Rafał Siwek
Amonasro Sebastiano Catanese
A messenger Francesco Pittari
Priestess Yao Bohui
First dancers Anna Sofia Scheller,
Elena Andreoudi, Alessandro Staino
Orchestra, Chorus, Corps de ballet and Technicians of the Verona Arena
Director Marco Armiliato
Choir Master Ulysses Trabacchin
Direction and stage Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Anna Years
Choreography Vladimir Vasiliev
Coordinator of the Corps de Ballet Gaetano Petrosino
Setting up of the Arena di Verona Foundation
Verona, July 24, 2022
Photo: Ennevi
Photo: Ennevi
Photo: Ennevi