Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1171146
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 12 CULTURE MALTESE tenor Nico Darma- nin received critical acclaim for his performance in the title role of Romeo in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette at the Estonian Na- tional Opera. The opera was premiered in Tallinn, Estonia on Friday 20 September with Nico in the role of Romeo and French soprano Perrine Ma- doeuf as Juliet. The opera was directed by Stephen Barlow whose rep- ertoire includes work for the Metropolitan Opera, Glynde- bourne and Covent Garden and was under the baton of Arvo Volmer, Artistic Direc- tor and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera. In his comments to the press after the opening night, Dar- manin said that it had been a long wait to finally have the opportunity to move into such a beautiful French Romantic repertoire full of fervour and passion. "It is an honour and privilege to perform in this historical opera house in front of such an appreciative audience and work with a remarkable inter- national cast and production team," he said. Referring to Darmanin's performance with Madoeuf, the opera reviewer of Esto- nian newspaper Postimees re- marked that that "they were in perfect harmony. They offered what guest soloists should of- fer: talent and quality". Darmanin's debut at the Es- tonian National Opera follows a busy opera season having performed the roles of Al- berto in Rossini's La Gazzetta at Salzburger Landerstheater, Ernesto in Donizetti's Don Pasquale with the Welsh Na- tional Opera and Ferrando in Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte at the Teatru Manoel. Opera reviews continue to highlight Darmanin's flour- ishing operatic career on in- ternational stages. Opernglas Magazine re- ferred to his performance in La Gazzetta as 'the surprise of the evening. With a full bodied Mediterranean timbre demonstrated perfected Ross- ini singing, met with precise ornamentation and diction'. For his performance in Don Pasquale, Opera Now maga- zine stated that, Darmanin's 'all-singing, all-dancing Er- nesto offered the vocal high- lights'. In another review Cardiff's online magazine claimed that 'Malta should be proud of Nico, who has a belter of a tenor voice, perfect for this repertoire.' Soon after his debut at the Estonian National Opera with other performances in Janu- ary 2020, Darmanin will also be debuting the role of Rinuc- cio in Puccini's Gianni Schicci for the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck. "It is has been an exciting season exploring this gor- geous, grand and lavish lyric repertoire," he said. "I'm look- ing forward to the upcoming season which will also include my return to one my favour- ite roles, Don Ramiro from Rossini's La Cenerentola for The Grange Festival in the UK conducted by world renowned maestro David Parry." Darmanin is represented in- ternationally by TACT Inter- national Art Management and in Malta by Culture Venture. Tenor Nico Darmanin debuts at Estonian National Opera Tenor Nico Darmanin POLISH pianist Julia Miller will be giv- ing her second solo recital for this year at The Green Room, Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta on Wednesday 9 October. Following the success of her first recital last April, Julia Miller will be playing Maurice Ravel's Sonatine, and selected works from Polish composers Witold Lutoslawski, Frederick Chopin and Karol Szymanowski. Before coming to Malta seven years ago, Julia Miller had already established herself as an international artist both as a soloist as well as in chamber music. In Malta she also built a reputation as a very sought after musical collabora- tor, including with the Malta Philhar- monic Orchestra. Critics have lauded her performances for versatility and passion as well as for the colour and clarity of sound. Ravel's Sonatine was described by critics as a 'concise and radiant' work. It is a three-movement work from Rav- el's early period that concentrates on a consistent mono-thematic structure based on the fundamental motif of fail- ing fourth. The first movement was most likely written for a composing competition. The piece is one of the most well- known by Ravel, especially the 2nd movement that has been arranged for various instruments and ensembles by other composers. The audience to this concert will also be treated to works by Chopin, includ- ing the popular Scherzo b flat minor op. 31, the second out of four scherzos that Chopin composed. Dating to his period of romantic and dynamic syntax, in this piece Chopin combines the lyrical and cantabile mo- ments with expressive rhythmical dis- sonance, intense articulation and fast, agitated parts in the beginning and in the end – a challenge to play for any pi- anist. Also by Chopin will be the Noc- turne in b flat minor op.9 no.1r, from his earlier period and characterised by beautiful, long cantabile phrases that keep the listener in a particular mood full of longing. Waltz b minor op.69 no.2 is a typical example of lyrical miniature in a senti- mental mood. Bukoliki by Lutoslawski are 5 play- ful short pieces that get their inspira- tion from 'Kurpie' melodies - one of the ethnic groups in Poland. This short composition gives an idea of childhood games and is set in a folkloristic envi- ronment. 4 Mazurkas op. 50 by Szymanow- ski were his first ones of the genre, dedicated to the famous Polish pianist and personal friend Artur Rubinstein. These compositions were inspired by Polish folkloristic music, using the typical Podhalan (mountain) scale and give a contrasting atmosphere of quiet, mountain air along with typical feasts of the region. Those wishing to attend the recital should book their tickets by email on juliamillerpianist@gmail.com Tick- ets cost €12 each. The recital starts at 7.30pm. Julia Miller plays Ravel's Sonatine and works by Chopin, Lutoslawski and Szymanowski Julia Miller