Emma Matthews CD. Why no review in Gramophone?
After all the praise for Emma Matthews performance at the Royal Opera House in Janacek's "Vixen" I cannot believe that there was no review of her superlative
CD "Emma Matthews in Monte Carlo" released on DG quite a while ago. The reason I searched was that I have recently bought a Diana Damrau release which includes Cunegonde's "Glitter and be Gay" from Bernstein's "Candide".
I feel that, good as that is she does try too hard and Matthews nails it better than anyone I have ever heard. She is a real star and I heard her do this live in Sydney, where she is based, as a supporting artist to Jose Carreras. It was embarrassing as she sang him off the stage all night. I was reviewing the concert for a National newspaper and was told to be kind to the "way past his prime" tenor. I was, but having seen Matthews in many roles I think she deserves more recognition. The CD of mostly French arias is spectacularly good.
John Grant
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I don't know what I may say at this late stage. Definitely that we don't live in a perfect world!
In any case, I fully agree with you. Emma is great by any standard, but, I think we live in a Procrustean (bed) world. Things have to be homogenised, "harmonised", controlled and so on. The "short ones" have to be...extended or stretched, so that they may become greater names and vice-versa.
Anyway, let's enjoy listening Emma's few recordings in our solitude...
Parla