BNT, a coverage by Miglena Stoicheva
Jessica Pratt: the queen of bel canto, returned to Bulgaria after the sensation she caused with her March concert. She sacrificed her only three free days on her calendar which is filled with performances this year to be with the Sofia audience again because she says her connection with the people in Bulgaria is like love at first sight for her.
Her vocal virtuosity is astounding. For a whole twenty years of her career, Jessica Pratt has dedicated herself to mastering the bel canto style. She has done so not only by singing every day but also with lots of research on the composers whose works she performs. She says she’s obsessed with 19th century opera history and has proved this by demonstrating her incredible knowledge.
Jessica Pratt: “Donizetti has written entire operas in just ten days and expected the singers to solve any remaining problems and polish the phrases during rehearsal. You mustn’t forget these things while learning because today we have the mindset we should perform exactly what is written by the composers but sometimes what was written in the libretto isn’t the idea that was originally planned.”
Jessica Pratt is an adored performer by theaters all over the world and especially in Italy where bel canto is a main repertoire. Maestro Francesco Ivan Ciampa who partnered with her during her concert in Sofia also sees her as a priestess of true art.
Francesco Ivan Ciampa, conductor: “Pratt has sung at the biggest world theaters: “Met”, “La Scala”; however, she has never sacrificed her purity, good intentions and her way of being an artist. She’s the artist I value, I believe, above all others because she’s the best in the world, not only because she’s so good but also because her work is almost sacred-like.”
Jessica Pratt loves overcoming her own limits. That is why she chose to perform two very famous arias in their original tonalities during her concert which are higher than commonly performed today. And so, she yet again proved she’s a singer for whom the unthinkable is achievable. The concert ended with a promise.