In 2024, “Delirio”: Jessica Pratt’s latest album, came out on which the most famous madness scenes from operas by Vincenzo Bellini and Gaetano Donizetti are recorded. During the following three months, she toured different theaters in Europe and performed the album repertoire. On the 8th of March, 2026, the Sofia Opera will also become a part of this captivating story.
Here’s what Jessica Pratt shared:
“I included five madness scenes varying from wild insanity to delirium and somnambulism which study different conditions of the upset mind. I recorded Lucia’s scene in its entirety, in fa major and with the accompaniment of a glass harmonica, as it’s originally performed; “Linda di Chamounix” by Donizetti, including the rarely performed cavatina which is now available in the “Ricordi” critic’s edition (the first studio recording of this cavatina). At the time the scene was written, the image of Linda losing her mind was just as famous as Lucia’s scene and was very popular among prima donnas. We also recorded “I Puritani” and “Sonnambula” by Bellini. I wanted to focus on the Italian bel canto and record pieces I know very well. It took me years to establish my own opinion on music after having been part in multiple productions together with many different performers, directors and conductors. That is why, after almost twenty years, I felt I was ready to record all this… I know many musicians don’t share my opinion on bel canto. It’s a dramatic music genre but in a different sense than the one we’re used to. Nowadays, everything happens so fast… however, I like the fact that in bel canto an idea takes time in order to develop. On stage, whenever the scene gets emotional it’s not like Verdi’s works where there is a new emotion every five seconds. This is an emotion which sometimes forms over the span of twenty minutes and develops slowly, in a deep, even meditative way. I like such things.”
Critics’ reviews after Jessica Pratt’s concerts:
“A remarkable tribute to romantic bel canto.”
“… during her long upper register pianissimos, she touched the ultimate boundaries of what is possible in this artform… it’s amazing to hear how easily, naturally and as if effortlessly she performs exceptionally difficult arias.”
“Performing five so long and difficult scenes in the same concert is an exceptional feat. Even so, Jessica Pratt didn’t show any signs of fatigue. She performed with absolute mastery, as if effortlessly, executing perfect control. Her singing was exquisite, melodic, breathtaking. She navigated the third octave with complete confidence, overcoming the highest notes with ease and letting her voice pour out naturally. The dynamic she achieved was exceptional and her hypnotically beautiful pianissimos seemed to defy the laws of physics.”
Jessica Pratt won the Sofia audience’s heart with her participation in the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth symphony with which the Sofia Opera’s “Opera at the Square” festival closed this summer. She promised to return and she’s going to do it in an amazingly beautiful way: with a bel canto performance. Conductor will again be Maestro Daniel Oren. The Sofia Opera orchestra will also take part in this exceptional event in which overtures by Lenard Bernstein and Gioachino Rossini are also included.