Vocal recital
Andriana Yordanova, soprano;
Sofiya Narmanya, pianist
Franciscan Oratory, Valletta

Many are those who visit the beautiful Franciscan church in Republic Street, Valletta, but few are aware of the lovely little baroque oratory next door which is a choice venue for a series of lunchtime recitals presented there every Tuesday by Barocco Productions.

The season started early last month and I was able to go to the third one of the season. The oratory was absolutely packed and few present seemed to be local, which is a pity because if this is the trend, local music lovers are losing a lot.

Soprano Andriana Yordanova needs little introduction locally and this time she delved into the secular vocal world of Antonio Vivaldi. This is a genre unfortunately overlooked by many who no doubt relish a lot Vivaldi’s instrumental works. This refreshing change had the soprano singing to great effect with all the required contrasts Sposa son disprezzata from the pastiche Bajazet, a lament which felt very different to the very positive Col piacer della mia fede from the opera Arsilda, Regina di Ponto. A different mood was projected in the last of these three typical da capo arias, Vedrò col mio diletto from Il Giustino.

A complete change of style came with two Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart songs: Oiseaux si tous les ans (K.307/264d) from 1778 and Ridente la calma, K. 152. This was another very refreshing look at Mozart, who is better known for his operatic ones.

In fact, these two very charmingly rendered pieces were followed by Countess Almaviva’s E Susanna non vien! … Dove sono i bei momenti? from Le Nozze di Figaro and Vitellia’s great aria Deh, se piacer mi vuoi from La Clemenza di Tito.