An opera solo performance is historically akin to a rock concert: an acclaimed star takes the stage for adoring fans. In this day and age, a diva doing two sets of opera greatest hits may have a more dignified vibe then say typical Adele or Taylor, but the crowd at the Lyric Opera House for Sandra Radvanovsky’s The Puccini Heroines this week was loud and appreciative if not rowdy.Â
I have a soft spot for Ms. Radvanovsky: my oldest child was a villager in her Lyric Opera debut in Susannah in the 2002-2003 season, and her inviting all the little girls in the cast to her dressing room for intermission tea caused my entire family to become ardent opera fans and devoted supernumeraries– the extras in opera. Don’t be fooled by her European surname– she was born a local girl, and recently moved to Evanston, and her warm and personal introductions to each of the arias made the evening seem intimate and chatty. She took the stage in a red gown, suitably Valentine’s themed for the season in the first act, and a knockout black gown for the second. This Diva owned this night.
Known as the premiere Verdi soprano performing today, this concert was a revelation as Radvanovsky inhabited and played with Puccini’s arias from La Boheme, Madam Butterfly, and her alter ego Tosca. She is a centered powerful presence on stage with significant acting chops and her voice can convey any emotion. The range of these characters coupled with her remarkable voice allows her to convey the shyness of Mimi, the dutiful and misplaced hopefulness of Cio-Cio-San to the adamant Turandot who will not let any man have her on pain of death. She can go from a tiny bell like sound that travels through the opera house to a huge full throated wall of a note that vibrates to your soul. Â
A recital gives an artist a chance to perform repertoire they would not ordinarily be cast for: the character may not be appropriate for the artist to play. Several of the pieces were first time public performances with this concert. And, spoiler alert, at a recital there are encores!!! The crowd went wild for the three we got! Â
Enrique Mazzola, the music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, conducted the full Lyric orchestra and was a generous partner in making the concert seamless and friendly. He clearly loves this music and this singer and the endeavor radiated love and joy.
Greg Emetaz’s projections filled the stage with evocative backdrops for the music and gave the eyes a feast. Everything about this concert is delicious and memorable.Â
Sondra Radvnovsky in concert with The Puccini Heroines is a three night only delicacy, February 8,13 and 16th 2025: you have one more chance so GO! Get tix and info here:
 For more reviews go to https://www.theatreinchicago.com