Review | Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov recital – soprano dazzles in revelatory Russian repertoire, husband shows lyricism to match his voice’s power
- The sheer sensuality of Netrebko’s voice is hard to convey in words, says Natasha Rogai, who marvels at its richness, refinement and astounding control
- She was revelatory in a programme of largely Russian songs, and so too was her husband, tenor Yusif Eyvazov, who showed his singing as not just about power
Anna Netrebko, arguably the greatest soprano the world has seen in the past 30 years, made an eagerly waited return to Hong Kong last week, her first since 2016.
And she proved that the difficult past year – when many Western opera houses cancelled her engagements unless she agreed to specifically denounce Vladimir Putin, and her performances were cancelled in Russia after she has denounced the war in Ukraine – has done nothing to dim the lustre of her magnificent voice and mesmerising stage presence.
Together with her husband, Yusif Eyvazov, the Azerbaijani tenor and an international star in his own right, the Russian diva made two appearances at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
The first, on March 9, was a recital accompanied by award-winning Hong Kong pianist Rachel Cheung. The second, on March 11, was a concert with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring a selection of operatic greatest hits by the likes of Verdi and Puccini.
Not surprisingly, the second evening, designed to appeal to a general audience, was sold out despite eye-watering ticket prices (by local standards), while the first was less well attended. However, for those with a serious interest in classical singing, the recital offered a bold choice of lesser-known, yet fascinating repertoire and was warmly appreciated by an enthusiastic audience.
