Search - Vincenzo Bellini, Giacomo Puccini, Franco Alfano :: Portrait Of The Artist

Wonderful veristic portrait of a rare artist!

S. Bernard | Mesa, AZ | 07/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The more I hear of Ilona Tokody, the more I like her singing! I have reviewed two other of her CDs, (Suor Angelica, the duet CD with Juan Pons) and her level of performance is always outstanding.



Tokody really invests her whole self in her singing- it is impassioned and real. I love the sound of her range- from top to bottom she has such an immediate kind of singing- it never fails to register an emotion or feeling of some sort. I especially like her low notes (she does wobble sometimes on the upper ones- but nothing too distracting.) One of her best and most unusual abilities (especially nowadays) is her mezza voce- her ability to really shape a phrase.



On this album, I'd have to say some of the standouts are the little known Alfano aria, "Dio pietoso", the Norma aria "Casta diva" is also very well done. Her last "senza rancor" of "Donde lieta usci" from La Boheme is so hauntingly sad and beautiful, I can still hear it in my mind. The "Tu qui, Santuzza?" with Jose Carreras is also memorable- although these are all live recordings & the quality varies from track to track. Her aria from La Wally is reminiscent of Tebaldi. But I love the beauty of Tokody's voice- her line and legato phrasing make this aria stand out.



But I would have to say my favorites on the entire album are the pieces with just her & piano. The Élégie by Massenet, The "Rozshinkes mit Mandlin" and the songs by Tosti are really the best because it's just her voice & the piano- both instruments ringing with a bell-like quality and with the piano her nuances are even more pronounced. I would say the entire album is worth the last 4 pieces with piano. The "Non t'amo piu" by Tosti is heartbreaking, and the way she caresses each phrase is masterful! The very last piece "Jurame" is one that I'm very familiar with due to my background in Latin music, but it is unfortunately not that well done- but kudos for picking something other than the usual "Granada." :)



Tokody is an artist of rare caliber. She has mastered her instrument so her soul can communicate with us through her singing- in a world full of *just* voices, her artistry and soulful singing is unique."