Gioconda

THE TIMES, April , 1983, John Higgins, Sunday's cast contained a trio of the biggest voices in the world , capable 'it sounded of filling not just the Concert Hall but the whole of the Barbican Center. They were those of Ghena Dimitrova, Placido Domingo and Pietro Cappuccilli . The qualities of Mme Ghena Dimitrova have already been reported on this page from Berlin and in this her London debut, she proved that ….. She had fire in her voice , stamina and a magnificent lower register - this was Gioconda with all passions Ponchieli demanded.



THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, April 19, 1983, Alan Blyth, …..and a magnificent dramatic soprano such as Ghena Dimitrova as Gioconda. Indeed this Bulgarian soprano, who has an arresting stage presence , rightly stole the evening. Her kind of spinto voice has been almost non-existent in the world's opera houses for far too long. Here she filled the grateful but demanding role with unflinchingly sturdy, powerfully projected tone, while at the same time giving us most of the projected tone, while at the same time giving us most of the tragedy. Her broad, emotion-laden account of "Suicidio", indeed her whole account of Act 4, crowned one of the most exciting operatic performances to be heard in London. FINANCIAL TIMES, April 19 1983, David Murray, The Gioconda herself ("a ballad singer") was the bulgarian Ghena Dimitrova : smooth, powerful voice, fine range, great flexibility, admirable passion. She rarely struck pure gold in a phrase, but that sort of authority may come. THE GUARDIAN, April 19 1983, Edward Greenfield, LA GIOCONDA, The moment that Ghena Dimitrova sailed in as La Gioconda in Ponchielli's opera, a figure to make mincemeat of any man on stage - with the possible exception of Placido Domingo - it was clear that a new star had arrived in our firmament. We quickly learned what the full voice has to offer. Nor is it just a question of (it is a ) vocal power and evenness of tone down to a gloriously integrated chest register , there command in the artistic projection too. LA GIOCONDA - London, Barbican hall, The reviews were unequivocal: The legend has been born. There was a Gioconda. Pianissimos and the big voice , with every thing scaled in between. A singer in the grand manner!