REVIEW

Von Stade proves
divas still exist

---

By Ruth O. Bingham
Special to the Star-Bulletin

There are divas, and then there are divas.

Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, guest soloist with the Honolulu Symphony, claims there are no more operatic divas of old -- towering above the rest, imperious, egocentric, temperamental. And perhaps she is right.

But there are still divas in the original sense of the word: Goddesses whose voices are so timeless, so awe-inspiringly divine that they offer a glimpse of heaven each time they sing.

Frederica von Stade herself is living proof. Von Stade has been singing professionally for about 35 years, an astonishing career for any singer and even more so for one who has spent much of her life on opera stages. Maria Callas's prime period (an admittedly extreme example for comparison) lasted hardly a decade. Some singers, however, take care of their voices and continue to sound glorious for many years.

Von Stade sings in the bloom of her voice, exuding a luxurious warmth like burgundy velvet, resonant without a hint of heaviness. With an exquisite sense of line, remarkable control, and perfectly smooth transitions between ranges, her voice epitomizes the bel canto ideal.

Her years of experience reveal themselves primarily in her skill: She can start and stop precisely, color her voice for effect, soar into a climax, or taper off into nothingness, all while transforming a large hall into an intimate gathering.

Friday night's program of French art songs, long a von Stade strength, displayed her voice to advantage, providing variety within a comfortable scope. Virtually every song was a gem, but of particular note were "The Spectre of the Rose," "Absence," and "At the Cemetery" in Berlioz's Nuis d'eté cycle, and "The Spinning Girl," "Chut, Chut," and "A Lovely Shepherdess" from Canteloube's Songs of Auvergne.

Von Stade ended with two encores, Montsalvatge's "Madrigal on a Popular Theme," and Offenbach's hilarious "Tipsy Waltz," which she sang to perfection.

Maestro Samuel Wong and the Honolulu Symphony supported von Stade at every step, highlighting her voice and matching her phrasing.

Wong rounded out the program with Berlioz's exciting Roman Carnival and Ravel's colorful Mother Goose Suite, both grand examples of French grace and brilliant orchestration.

Jason Sudduth on English Horn and Scott Anderson on clarinet shone in several prominent solos, as did cellist Andrew Eckard in the Montsalvatge encore.

All in all, Friday's concert was exceptional and highly enjoyable. No singer should miss this performance.

'Opera Highlights' Masterworks Series concert featuring mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade with the Honolulu Symphony Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall When: 4 p.m. today Tickets: $15 to $57 Call: 792-2000