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OperaNotes Review

 Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
New York, NY

Alexandra Sapan
Recital

Nancy Heath:  Music Director

Alexandra Sapan:  soprano
Enza Ferrari: pianist
 Brain Jauhianinen: bass

Every time I think I may have a grasp on the up-and-coming opera talent in this incredible city, I turn another corner and find out that I have not even scratched the surface. 

Tonight it was Alexandra Sapan, a lovely and talented young soprano from New York.   It was the first time I'd ever seen/heard her and I'm sure it won't be the last.  To let you in on a little secret, I wasn't excited about going to see her.  It was a beautiful night, there was a lot going on, and I just didn't feel like going.  But, I went.  Don't you just love when you do something you aren't in the mood to do and just a few minutes into it you know this is exactly what you should be doing? 

Ms. Sapan's repertoire included Purcell, Handel, Strauss, Gounod, Bellini, Verdi as well as Andrew Lloyd Weber, Carlisle Floyd, Frederick Loewe and more.  There was something for everyone including those in the house who may not have been lovers of opera.  New Yorkers (not only opera lovers) joke about "Phantom of the Opera" and roll there eyes when their out of town guests want to see it, but when "Think of Me" is beautifully sung, and beautifully acted as it was tonight  by Alexandra Sapan, it is, well, it is beautiful. 

The highlight of the evening was Scene 3 of Susannah.  It was not the most beautiful aria that she performed.  There would be a good fight to decide which was better, her Strauss or her  suffering Violetta.  But in Susannah it was the full show.  Ms. Sapan had a strong and elegant stage presence in her perfectly fitted black evening gown, but when she performed the role of Susannah on stage, her body and somehow even her gown seemed to transform into the role of Susannah.  Together with the preacher, bass Brian Jauhiainen they brought us to New Hope Valley, Tennessee and took us right into her heart.  She made you feel her ostracism and how she had not energy left to to resist that which was thrown at her.  He made you despise him.  All in just a few minutes!  When it was over, the people sitting behind me said "I hated that", but it wasn't the performances of  Alexandra Sapan and Brian Jauhianinen they hated.  They hated Susannah's pain and the preacher's  lechery. 

In 2001 Alexandra Sapan won the Classical Productions competition in New York City, and the Heinz Rehfuss Singing Actor Awards with the Orlando Opera and in 2003 she was a finalist in the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Vienna and the Jenny Lind Soprano Competition.

Bravi to Alexandra Sapan,  Brian Jauhianinen and accompanist and voice  coach, the world renowned Enza Ferrari