SONYA YONCHEVA / MALCOLM MARTINEAU
Between Sonya Yoncheva and Malcolm Martineau, the understanding is perfect. The Bulgarian diva, a star of the Met in New York, Covent Garden in London and La Scala in Milan, presents, alongside the Scottish pianist, an Italian recital in which the intimacy of art song blends with the flamboyance of operatic arias.
Programme
GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924)
“Sole e amore”
“Terra e mare”
“Mentía l’avviso”
“Canto d’anime”
GIUSEPPE MARTUCCI (1856-1909)
“Al folto bosco, placida ombria” Op. 68 No. 6
PAOLO TOSTI (1846-1916)
“L’ultimo bacio”
“Ideale”
GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901)
“In solitaria stanza”
“Ad una stella”
“L’esule”
Interval
GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Le Villi – Aria of Anna: “Se come voi piccina”
Tosca – Aria of Tosca: “Vissi d’arte”
ISAAC ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909)
Tango in D major Op. 165 No. 2
GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924)
La Bohème – Aria of Mimì: “Donde lieta uscì”
Sonya Yoncheva sings Rossini: Stabat Mater: VIII. Inflammatus et accensus at Verbier Festival 2025
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All gold and crimson, Sonya Yoncheva’s voice is pure enchantment. Her mellow, natural timbre works wonders in the delicate art of the voice and piano recital. To accompany her, Malcolm Martineau follows every inflection of her voice in this programme divided into two parts. First comes the pleasure of discovering Puccini’s early songs, such as Mentìa l’avviso written for his final examination at the Milan Conservatory or the undulating Terra e mare, a marvel of poetic evocation. Equally promising, three early songs by Verdi hint at the future composer of La traviata, joined by fine discoveries from Giuseppe Martucci and Paolo Tosti, a true star of Italian song, the latter being one of the few Italian composers never to have written an opera. After the interval, Sonya Yoncheva unfolds the full lyrical range of her voice in operatic arias. From the touching Se come voi piccina from Le Villi to the sublime Vissi d’arte from Tosca (immortalised by Callas), Puccini naturally takes pride of place. The heart-rending aria from the third act of La bohème, in which Mimì bids farewell to her lover, brings this programme of remarkable generosity to a close.
