Search - B. J. Ward, conductor Andy Waterman, piano Michael Sushel :: Queen of the Night

A Great Showcase For The Opera Novice

Rudy Avila | Lennox, Ca United States | 10/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"B.J. Ward is a one-woman opera show. For some time now, she has entertained audiences with her "Stand Up Opera" show in New York City. In this album, she performs famous opera arias with orchestral accompaniment but not a conventional one. Andy Waterman's New Symphony Orchestra makes use of electronic synthesizers and have a modern, "dance club mix" type of feel to it. This is a perfect intro into opera for the beginner. B.J. Ward has a dynamic voice capable of several emotions. First on the album is "Sempre Libera" from La Traviata. She dazzles us with a rather swift pace but crowns the aria with an unbelievably high note at the end which some sopranos do not even dare to touch. The aria "Io son l'umille ancella" from Adriana Lacouvreur is a touching aria as the heroine pours her soul, sung beautifully by Ward. The waltz aria Quando M'en Vo, otherwise known as Musetta's Waltz Aria, is delivered grandly by Miss Ward with perfect musical charm. The Willow Song from "The Ballad of Baby Doe" is also very enchanting.



B.J. Ward claims that her first opera was La Rondine by Puccini and she heard Licia Albinese sing the title role in the only performance of her life. "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" is sung with moving and poignant love, as a tribute perhaps to Albanese. The Seguidilla from Carmen is on fire! B.J.Wards darkens her voice to give the impression she has turned into a mezzo soprano and manages to come off as sexy, seductive and tempting just as Carmen has to be performed. The famous aria "O Mio Babbino Caro" is an aria that most sopranos sing today and record and B.J. Ward is right up there with the ranks of Renee Fleming on this one. Dome Epais from Lakme is a duet for mezzo soprano and soprano and also a very famous excerpt. It is from the opera Lakme by Delibes and has been feauted most notably in the commercial for British Airways. In the funny liner notes, B.J. Ward tells us that all the mezzos were out of town so she had to sing the duet herself. Tosca's melancholy aria "Vissi D'Arte" is a like beautiful prayer and B.J. Ward, who has studied opera and understands the music, the character and the story, totally gets the role of Tosca. She is singing next to the Broadway star George Hearn in the duet "La Ci Darem La Mano" from Don Giovanni. She is a grand diva in the aria "Ebben Ne Andro Lontana" which is also a standard aria for most sopranos today. The final track lives up to the enticing cover and title of the album. It is "Der Holle Rache" Vengeance Aria of the Queen of the Night from Mozart's The Magic Flute. The coloratura showcase makes use of high F's all of which Ward hits perfectly and furthermore, the track is extended with about three more rounds of the same roulades. B.J. Ward is a wonderful soprano who is hooking audiences, hopefully the younger ones, into the magical sound world of opera. This is a great album and I highly recommend it."