Anna Netrebko: Anna Netrebko, Salle Gaveau, Paris 3. May 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

Anna Netrebko, Salle Gaveau, Paris 3. May 2012

Tonight Anna Netrebko and Elena Bashkirova at the piano have given a recital of Russian songs by Tchaikovsky and Rimski-Korsakov at the Salle Gaveau, Paris.

REPORTS
This is the report kindly written by Herbert for the Blog

Although Anna’s performances are always on a constant top level, there are some evenings like yesterday at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, which are more than extraordinary. Her recital of Russian songs of Rimski-Korsakov and Tchaikovski, accompanied by pianist Elena Bashkirova, was unique and unforgettable. I heard the same programme, when she sang it for the first (?) time in Mannheim, and meanwhile she has increased her expressivity in such a way that it is simply unbelievable. She does not only sing and interpret these songs, she LIVES them on stage. I don’t understand the Russian language, but it was absolutely clear what each song was about – love, joy, hope, anxiety, despair, death, …

The Salle Gaveau is a comfortable, old-fashioned and prestigious concert hall, built in 1907, mainly for piano and chamber music. Today it has about 1000 seats, which were completely sold out yesterday. There were many Russian people in the audience. The audience had “two faces”. Some people were very undisciplined, at least at the beginning. They took many photos with flash even during the concert, and a small group applauded after each song, until there was a loud “Shhhhhhhhhh!!!”. Anna was grateful for this “help”, and after the interval everybody kept quiet, so the breathless intensity and tension could explode after each cycle.

I’m afraid this old building was in danger to collapse because of Anna’s overwhelming voice and because of the rhythmical hand-clapping, the cheers and the foot-stamping of the audience which got completely out-of control at the end. Anna is used to applause, but yesterday even she couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her. Daniel Barenboim was sitting in row 5, and when she recognized him, she winked at him and blew him a kiss.

My favourite songs were – oh there were so many. But if I have to name two, it would be two songs by Tchaikovski, “Otcego?” (“Why?”) and “Serenada” (“Sérénade”). The first is a song of questions and of growing intensity and despair – Why are the roses so pale? Why does the bird in the sky sing so sad? Why am I more cheerless and more sick each day? And then the final question, which answers all the other questions: Why, oh tell me, have you left and forgotten me? Even Anna herself was touched and deeply moved after the last tone.

The other song, “Serenada”, is quite different, a light-hearted, melodical song, which Anna underlined by many funny gestures like a perfect actress, which made the audience laugh – well, she IS a perfect actress, of course!

At the end, she and Elena Bashkirova had to add four encores – or were it five? – among them a “gipsy lullaby” by Dvorak and two lieder by Strauss; I think she has never sung “Cäcilia” with such a power and so much energy like yesterday!

When she asked the audience what she should sing next, somebody shouted “Manon”, but Anna answered: “No sorry, that’s another four hours”. The next suggestion was “Iolanta”, and Anna replied: “Yes, but in November!”.

After the show many people were standing outside the building and were discussing this, yes, really unforgettable evening.

After some time Anna left the building through a side-door, and three young Russian girls ran to her to take pictures with her. Anna was beaming with joy and satisfaction, she talked with her “fellow countrywomen”, kissed them and was as amazing as she was on stage.