Yende unreeled a torrent of glittering and impeccably placed vocal passagework; her final aria, “Addio del passato,” was charged with an aching sense of longing and regret.
“Yende, whose Violetta emerged as a vibrant blend of heedless gaiety, rich emotion and haunted tragedy. In the glittering Act 1 showpiece “Sempre libera,” in which Violetta reasserts her short-lived determination to spurn true love in favor of the high life, Yende unreeled a torrent of glittering and impeccably placed vocal passagework; her final aria, “Addio del passato,” was {…}
Pretty Yende déploie la superbe de l'héroïne Pamina, notamment par une présence joyeuse et lumineuse, et la cantatrice prend un plaisir évident au rôle.
“Pretty Yende déploie la superbe de l’héroïne Pamina, notamment par une présence joyeuse et lumineuse, et la cantatrice prend un plaisir évident au rôle. Le timbre est riche et ouvragé, doté d’une belle clarté printanière, la ligne est vibrante et l’interprétation à la fois légère et touchante, notamment dans « Ach, ich fühl’s » où elle songe au suicide. Avec {…}
"...the real star of the piece is South African soprano Pretty Yende whose magnificent high notes are matched by her confident acting which combines excellent comic timing"
“The title role is played by Italian baritone Lucio Gallo in gloriously comic style, but the real star of the piece is South African soprano Pretty Yende whose magnificent high notes are matched by her confident acting which combines excellent comic timing with some very funny gestures. She is first seen in Michieletto’s production as a photographer’s assistant, which allows her to be {…}
Her Act III performance of ‘Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti’ is utterly heartbreaking
“Pretty Yende is a commanding Violetta from the outset. She snaps open her fan to move from the ailing courtesan seen during the Prelude to become the ‘belle of the ball’ in Act I as she proceeds to dance with several men at her party and leave each of them breathless. However, it is the way in which her portrayal becomes increasingly sensitive and emotional across the evening as a {…}