Prague 23rd September 2012

The French countertenor Jaroussky started Strings of Autumn

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Prague – The opening concert of the international music festival Strings of Autumn belonged tonight to the French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky. The 34years old singer was in Prague already several times, today he performed the world premiere of new program with equally famous period instruments ensemble Venice Baroque Orchestra. The festival audience required two encores and rewarded the young singer by standing ovations.

Jaroussky reminded to the audience the unique musical phenomenon of extremly high men voices, whose specific spell and strong emotional temper interest, stun and attract people already for ages. Their best and most famous holders was becoming idols and movers of the culture, social and often also political life.

By specially prepared program the artists reminded together the relationship of the legendary castrato Farinelli and his teacher, composer and musical pedagogue Nicola Porpora (1686 – 1768). "Many singers stage concerts of Farinelli’s famous pieces, but they choose still the same arie. I had an idea: what about to remind the relationship between Farinelli and his teacher Nicola Porpora," says the protagonist of the concert, who himself drew the program up.

Farinelli started his career in Naples by the recital to Porpora’s honor. And when he was in London finishing his artistic life, he sang his arie again. By the concert, where Porpora’s music sounds, I want to narrate about this friendship. The vocal pieces of this concert program are accompanied with the instrumental compositions by Porpora’s contemporaries, Francesco Maria Veracini, Francesco Saverio Geminiani and Antonio Vivaldi.

Jaroussky is despite his youth one of the most souhgt-after singers of these days, he succeeds at the prominent scenes and stages. Originally he played the piano and violin. He decided to sing already as an adult, when he allegedly heard one countertenor singing in Notre-Dame de Paris. He is a holder of the prestigious award Artiste lyrique de l’année and in these days he cooperates with all important early music ensembles and artists. He is a protagonist of the recordings Dixit Dominus by Georg Friedrich Händel and Magnificat by Johann Sebastian Bach. Since 2002 he leads his own ensemble Artaserse.

And more photos here:

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Jarofil

Huge thanks and hugs for your translation!

And the photos...........just OMG.

This is review of Opera Plus (you san see same photos) and program.

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This is impression of my husband.

Farinelli in Prague, Jaroussky’s daring step…
Doing Farinelli’s arias is a dangerous step. After all, someone said in the 18th century:
one god, one Farinelli. Was Philippe Jaroussky’s voice big enough?
Were these arias not a bridge to far, given their complexity and virtuosity?
Just memorizing them correctly is already a daunting task, one time they go this way,
another time that way, always a bit different.
The Rudolfinum Theatre in Prague is originally built for 19th century orchestra’s and singers.
Would it work for Baroque music?
Jaroussky opened the Strings of Autumn Festival on September 23rd and took the public
in the Rudolfinum Theatre along the famous river Moldau by surprise.

It was a première of this program and sometimes this was slightly audible.
This is all new repertoire. Some passages might take a bit more time to come to their full expression.
But Jaroussky’s voice has grown stronger and fuller.
We can never know how Farinelli sang these arias but from descriptions of listeners at the time,
it seems that he sang them with ease and self confidence.
Very often the music was written especially for him and suited his voice.
This means a challenge for every singer who sings them now in a different time and with a different voice...
Jaroussky is a serious singer, who never approaches his music lightly, so this must have been a big challenge for him.
He was rewarded for his efforts by a wave of enthusiasm and standing ovation from the public!
“Alto Giove” was the only aria that he has done before and when he sang it, the growth of his voice became clear.
He uncovered a lot of previously unknown work of Porpora and it makes one curious to listen to a full opera by this composer.
Jaroussky brought a huge lot of new creative energy (and a lot of hard work) to Prague by singing these Farinelli arias.
This warm autumnal evening in Prague, Jaroussky made another step forward in his artistic development.
This is definitely a program you want to hear if you have the chance.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Jana, I asked him about Bartoli concerts- Mission. PJ will not attend any of them. He is too busy.
Audience was so enthousiastic. PJ came back to the stage after all memberd of orkest were already gone.
After this concert, he had three interviews, too.
There were no autograph session, however we could talk and say thank you to him.
He said " Thank you coming from far away". He is very kind and attentive person as you know.

pacefulworld

Many thanks for asking, it was so kind of you. I already guessed, he would be too busy.

How did you manage to meet Mr. Jaroussky after the concert " however"? No bodyguards yet ?

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If someone wants a translation, I can do it during the weekend. For now at least the photo.

Thanks Jarofil!!