well. overall it was ok. i paid like a third of the price for being one of very few 'under-30s' in the room, i'm not sure i would pay more. the program was half vivaldi and half handel, with a baroque oboe concerto and several arias. 1st mezzo performance with the brandenburg orch since their debut in 1990, apparently.
firstly the sound - i don't know whether it was the acoustics or my seat near the back of the stalls level (in a small hall) but the projection of both orchestra and voice was not loud enough. perhaps the sound rises into the cavernous ceiling of the city recital hall. perhaps i like my music louder.
baroque bows are not kind on one's posture or profile. the violinists appeared unattractively hulking and like they couldn't stretch their bowing arms out, which they couldn't. it totally explains the short last notes of the period's pieces though.
i was definitely not a fan of the orchestra's on-stage applause of the soloist after every single piece. they would finish playing, and then they would all start clapping! if there were two soloists they would applaud each other! so unprofessional. clearly this is a policy fully condoned from the top down. i disapprove. i want namesake bach-style strait-laced grandeur not living room recital.
now to fiona campbell. firstly, the costume changes! more outfits than a chinese mother-of-the-bride at a 10-course banquet reception. i don't know what the done thing is for trouser role arias normally because i don't know anything, but if you're going to change into a white tux (with the kind of pant leg that completely covers stilettoed foot) for Serse and Ruggiero (Alcina) then why sing Ariodante later in the program in a champagne frothy frock? whatever. it would have been better without the tux at all. also i don't like the inherent dress-up insinuation, if you're singing a trouser role you better damn well mean it regardless of what you are wearing.
secondly, as aforementioned, the projection was not great enough, and in the lower notes she could barely be heard above the orchestra, say below G4 (G above middle C, i think that's how the notation works). maybe it was the tone or lack of edge in that range but it wasn't punchy enough. the high A (A5) was also forced on a few occasions. i will say her trills were good though and she didn't omit them as some do according to my education from youtube.
as a final note the audience demographics were very interesting to me because i would never be in their midst usually, but maybe this will change if i make a habit of attending these types of concerts.
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