The soprano Jessica Pratt after the end of the second encore of “The Tales of Hoffmann” by Jacques Offenbach, after her second and again triumphant recital at the Sofia Opera.
“My soul is singing”, this is what the famous Bulgarian soprano Darina Takova said while excitedly leaving the hall. Her enthusiasm from having experienced “A Spring of a Doomed Love”: the opera concert with the Sofia Opera and Ballet orchestra conducted by Francesco Ivan Ciampa was shared by diehard opera fans, lovers of this art and (!) many Bulgarian performers singing in different genres.
Pratt, the Australian soprano, is at the height of her career and held another “open lesson” in top notch bel canto singing with a repertoire ranging from pieces by Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti to works by Massenet and Ambroise Thomas (“Hamlet”).
As soon as after the “Casta diva” aria and Norma’s cabaletta from act I, the enthused audience demanded that Jessica Pratt return on stage for a new encore. This happened on several other occasions which showed the hall was fully aware of the guest performer’s exceptional class.
Pratt displayed an impressive arsenal of means of expression: a marvelous singing technique, uncompromising heights and breathtaking artistry which had the audience’s full attention. The beautiful and gracious phrases throughout the different arias were performed with maximum respect to the libretto. In the rare moments when the orchestra performed louder than Pratt, the latter wasn’t tempted to demonstrate her abilities with a sound might she undoubtedly possesses. The entire performance adhered to the highest bel canto standards which Jessica Pratt wields in a virtuose fashion.
We must also note the precise and flawless orchestra performance under the conductorship of guest conductor Francesco Ivan Ciampa. Concertmaster Maria Evstatieva received many ovations for her solo part in Meditation from “Thais” by Massenet.
The evening ended in a very promising way: after Plamen Kartaloff, director of the Sofia Opera, gifted the wonderful singer a beautiful bouquet, he announced he has arranged for future appearances of Pratt at our first opera theater when she will perform some of her iconic parts.
I would not even attempt to count the bows after the end of the concert nor the “Bravi” and “Bravo!” shouts during the event. However, I can confidently state that we were witnesses to the development of a great, shared and quite sincere love between this exceptional soprano and the Sofia audience. Stay tuned for the next episode!
Dimitar Sotirov