"Convincing homage to opera La Gioconda"
Dutch newspapers about La Gioconda by Ponchielli in the NTR Saturday Matinee of October 15, 2011:
Het Parool, Erik Voermans, October 17, 2011
"Much was unforgettable in this Gioconda. To begin with, the venerable maestro Bruno Bartoletti in the conductor’s rostrum. (...) Under his direction, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra again showed itself to be one of the best orchestras in the country, and the Netherlands Radio Choir sang like angels in heaven. They all would have would walked through fire for Bartoletti, and that could be heard.
Then, there was the return of the public’s favorite Eva-Maria Westbroek. She brought the great, demanding parts of the altruistic Gioconda – who helps her blind mother, gives up love, and ultimately kills herself – to the footlights with absolute conviction.”
NRC Handelsblad, Kasper Jansen, October 17, 2011:
"In the Saturday Matinee, Eva-Maria Westbroek was the triumphant star in the title role of La Gioconda by Ponchielli, singing it for the first time. Her sixth, passionate and thunderously cheered Matinee appearance evoked old-fashioned public euphoria – also because Westbroek was surrounded by a cast with many great voices, excellent choirs and an enthusiastic orchestra conducted by the energetic Bartoletti.”
De Telegraaf, Eddie Vetter, October 17, 2011:
“The elderly Bartoletti looks frail, but he conducts vigorously. The beautifully playing Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra sounded Italian in the supple phrasing and decisive rhythms. (...) At the conclusion, the enthusiastic audience generated more decibels than the sublime Netherlands Radio Choir, the National Youth Choir and the National Children’s Choir during this memorable performance.”
Trouw, Peter van der Lint, October 17,2011:
“The Saturday Matinee had again spared neither cost nor effort in presenting a glistening performance of this neglected work. It had everything, excellent children’s choirs, a grandiose Netherlands Radio Choir and the shimmering performance of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. The biggest miracle of the afternoon was perhaps Bartoletti. The small, fragile maestro, wearing a white turtleneck, served up a full helping of Italian opera culture and style with his expressive hands!”
de Volkskrant, Lonneke Regter,October 17, 2011:
“The Saturday Matinee regularly takes up the cudgels for less familiar, new or forgotten operas. That it is appreciated was evident from the packed Main Hall of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. (...) The attention went inevitably, and deservedly, to the 85-year-old conductor Bruno Bartoletti, who skilfully and supply led the orchestra through the score. Granted, age-worn and with slow tempos, but that fit with this ‘dusty’ music.”
> hear it in the Radio 4 Concert House
Laatste aanpassing op Friday 21 October 2011
