Gardone Riviera Stars Support Cancer Research in Talented Concert

“E lucevan le stelle,” this is the title of the lyrical concert held the other evening by tenor Kristian Johannsson, soprano Danielle Streiff, and baritone Antonio Salvadori to support the activities of the Associazione gardesana per lo studio e la prevenzione dei tumori.

The Location and Atmosphere

The stars, however, shone elsewhere since, in a Gardone Riviera soaked with rain, the evening took place at Villa Alba rather than the Vittoriale. So much the worse, so much the better.

The initial grumbling was replaced by applause from an increasingly enthusiastic audience, rewarded by acoustics better suited to the talents of the three soloists and the excellent Philharmonic Orchestra of Volvograd conducted by Edvard Serov.

The Concert and Performances

The Russian ensemble, with perfect verismo nuances, served as ambassadors of an exhilarating evening, intensifying the joyful atmosphere of a recital that — otherwise — might have risked turning into a volume and lungs contest.

In reality, thanks also to a choice capable of combining good taste with beautiful music, wonderful pieces were presented, offering a journey through Italian melodrama between the 1910s and 2000s.

There were also two very welcome encores: the overture of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino and Ponchielli’s Danza delle Ore.

The Singers’ Performances

Johannsson immediately showcased his vocal qualities. As a lyrical dramatic tenor, with a rounded and full power — a rare attribute in today’s world of falsettos and breathy voices — the Icelandic singer possesses one of the most Italianate voices one can enjoy these days.

It’s easy to understand why his “Nessun dorma” was literally swept away by applause.

Highly applauded was also “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata,” a brief foray into Verdi’s Rigoletto to display Salvadori’s engaging timbre and personal sense of phrasing.

Perhaps just slightly muted at the start, the voice of the handsome Danielle Streiff gradually grew until reaching high peaks in “Un bel dì vedremo” from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

Her voice, soft yet robust, hung in the sky above those stars that seemed to deny themselves beyond Gardone’s horizon.

The Conclusion and Overall Assessment

The three artists managed to paint a stunning concert — two encores — worthy of the full house at Villa Alba and the spirit of solidarity embedded in this commendable initiative.

Giacomo Fornari