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OperaNotes Review
Théâtre des
Champs Élysées,
Paris
October 20, 2004
By Charlene Frank
Juan Diego Flórez
Conductor: Enrique Mazzola
Orchestre National de France:
Directeur Musical: Kurt Masur
Choeur de Radio France:
Chef de Choeur: Michel Tranchant
Maybe this will be the season of great tenors. Wouldn't that be wonderful! But not only great tenors, great tenors of different sorts. Last week in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Rolando Villazón the Mexican super-tenor showed New York that he isn't a one-season wonder, and claimed his place among the best of the best in this not-so-easy-to-please city. Last night in Paris a tenor of a very different gendre, a tenor di grazia, performed at the charming Theatre des Champs-Elysees. Juan Diego Flórez, the Peruvian tenor-isimo brought the normally staid people of Paris to their feet, yelling for more! "Bis!" "Bis!" The evening was amazing from start to finish.
Mr. Flórez held his hand to his heart to show the appreciation he felt for the tremendous entrance applause and shouts of "Bravo" as he walked onto the stage. Everyone anticipated an unforgettable evening and by the end of the first aria "Deh, tu m'assisti amore..." they knew the unforgettable evening they were anticipating would be an actuality. Just a few years ago the name Juan Diego Flórez was known by a few who had seen him in Il Barbiere di Siviglia or La Cenerentola. Those days are over. At almost 32 years old, he is surely no longer a new comer on the opera scene anywhere, and that was obvious in this theater.
It was a short program, but long in operatic wonder. The first half was all Rossini, arias from Il Signor Brushino, Semiramide and of course, Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He was sublime. The audience simply loved him. After intermission he gave us Bellini and Donizetti. Watching Enrique Mazzola, the talented Italian conductor with the bright red glasses smile as Mr. Flórez sang showed his admiration, and you could see that this was a mutual admiration.
The highlight of the evening, the moment everyone was waiting for, came at the end. "Ah! mes amis..." from La Fille du Régiment has become the signature aira for Juan Diego Flórez. He hits those high C's and D's with perfection and even with ease. The audience rose to their feet and the applause would not stop, even after encores including La Donna é Mobile and Granada.