Concert Review: Cecilia Bartoli with the Orchestra La Scintilla of Zurich Opera

Orpheum Theatre
Sunday October 2, 2005 3:00pm

When Leila Getz the Vancouver Recital Society Artistic Director came on stage to introduce Cecilia she was preparing us for the worst. Apparently Cecilia had cancelled her Toronto appearance. She has spent the last three days in Vancouver recovering from a bad cold. So we should excuse her if she needs to go off-stage to blow her nose or clear her throat. Unfortunately she would not be signing autographs after the concert because she needed to nurse her cold.

So it was with some apprehension that she started into the first piece by Alessandro Scarlatti. It was an up-tempo song with some coloratura scales which gave her a chance to exercise her voice. Her voice sounded fine and clear if a little quiet on the volume. Fortunately for us her cold was not having a major effect on her instrument.

She looked radiant in her off the shoulder seafoam green evening gown with long train. She sparkled with jewels sewn into her dress, jeweled earrings, and jewel encrusted bracelet. (I just noticed that the orchestra she was performing with is called Orchestra La Scintilla of Zurich Opera which means "the spark".)

I think she must have been on the mend because she seemed to sound better as the concert progressed. I really enjoyed the quieter songs in which she and the orchestra exhibited extraordinary volume control. I've never heard an orchestra playing so quietly yet it was still clearly audible in the Orpheum mid-balcony where I was sitting. You could hear a pin drop--the audience was absolutely silent not wanting to break such a beautiful moment.

By the end of the concert she must have recovered or been energized by the amazing performance. The final song by Handel was a fireworks of fast notes which went up and down the scales. She nailed the notes and took us on a rollercoaster ride of a performance. Everyone jumped to their feet in standing ovation. But the fun wasn't over yet. The freshly triumphant Cecilia gave us not just one, not just two, but three encores! BRAVA!