Don Giovanni review
Opera Wire – David Salazar
Yu has performed in a wide array of repertoire from Verdi to Puccini to Leoncavallo, just to name a few. The voice has a metallic sturdiness combined with ample volume that easily cuts through the orchestra. She turns Donna Anna into a dramatic soprano role, especially in the most bombastic moments. This was seen throughout the first scene, where her soprano overrode Ketelson during their initial trio, and during the aforementioned duet with Appleby. “Or sai chi l’onore” was one of the highlights for her; the soprano’s voice pushed to its dramatic edge, the voice explosive throughout without ever sounding forced or pushed. The lengthy A’s on “cor” were goosebump-inducing in all the right ways. More importantly, there was a connected legato line throughout, maintaining a sublime balance between the darker and more aggressive colors and the overall shape of the music. She interpolated some higher notes in the second half of the aria, providing even more hair-raising effect to this bravura showcase. On the opposite end of the spectrum was the gentle piano singing that she elicited throughout “Non mi dir, bell’idol mio.” She had delivered some softer tones in the Act one quartet and the trio of the finale, but this was the most delicate she had displayed to that point. She let loose once again in “Forse un giorno il cielo ancora,” delivering the coloratura section with ease. Her voice crescendoed throughout this section, with the final notes of the aria showering the audience with impressive sound. She earned an appropriately massive applause in response.