This release by soprano
Ermonela Jaho appears on the Opera Rara label, which is dedicated to the revival of neglected operatic repertory. Some of the operas excerpted by
Jaho, such as
Umberto Giordano's Siberia, certainly fit the bill.
Jaho's repertory here is determined by a historical consideration: she records the favorites of a soprano of the early 20th century,
Rosina Storchio (said to have been the girlfriend of
Arturo Toscanini), to whom she has a certain physical resemblance. There are other obscurities, including the La bohème of not
Puccini but
Leoncavallo, and there are some well-known pieces by
Puccini and
Massenet. What really makes this recital stand out, though, is
Jaho's interpretive powers.
Storchio is said to have had a voice of only moderate size, and this is also true of
Jaho, but both, it is safe to say, have brought the house down when the right circumstances converge. Sample almost anywhere, but perhaps try "L'altra notte in fondo al mare," from
Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele, which illustrates not only
Jaho's dramatic powers but also the remarkable sound engineering here by Opera Rara, working at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia: an uncanny sense of the singer's presence is given, and the closeness of her interaction with the
Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana under conductor
Andrea Battistoni is apparent. The physical CDs are recommended here, for the booklet notes by
Jaho and others fill out the context and bring the music alive. A connoisseur's historical release, perhaps, but one that is also highly recommended to newcomers to opera:
Jaho conveys what the art form is all about.