THE SONGBIRD: Born in 1937, British soprano Valerie Masterson’s career began with opera in 1963 (Frasquita and Nanetta for a season in Salzburg), but switched focus in 1964 to operetta as she became a principal soprano in Gilbert and Sullivan works at the legendary D'Oyly Carte company in England and on tour. In the 1970s, her career expanded to encompass opera, concert, and recital appearances in many major musical centers (Paris, Aix, Prague, Geneva, San Francisco) with, of course, a focus on British opera companies including English National Opera (1971 debut as Konstanze), Glyndebourne (1972 debut also as Konstanze), and Royal Opera at Covent Garden (1974 debut as Woglinde). Other popular roles included Sophie, Cleopatra, Semele, Manon, Marguerite, Micaela, Susanna, Figaro's Countess, Fiordiligi, Pamina, Mimi, Gilda, and Violetta. The conductor here is Michel Corboz.
THE MUSIC: Mozart's "Great Mass in C Minor" is considered one of his greatest works. It was composed in Vienna in 1782 and 1783 to fulfill a promise he made to himself that he would write a sacred mass after his marriage to Constanze, who sang one of the soprano solos at its first performance in Salzburg in 1783. The soprano aria "Et incarnatus est" appears in the Credo section and is one of Mozart's most heavenly creations with its sublime melody, gentle filigree, delicate orchestration, and lingering cadenza. Pope Francis was quoted as saying it "lifts you to God."
30 июл 2022
