Madrid - National Theater: VII Recital Prodis Foundation
Opera Click
Alicia Perris
A special evening on Thursday at the National Auditorium, a different
audience: emotional, enthusiastic, willing and able. The Prodis Foundation
brought together a group of artists for a gala full of charm and tenderness,
with the great assistance of the presenter, a member of the institution
who are defined as ‘youths with different capabilities.”
Anyone who has worked or interacted with children with Down syndrome
knows well the warmth of their manner, their interest in approaching,
in learning, in integrating themselves into a society that has not been
designed for them. They are delightful.
The organizers state in the program that “This year the Prodis Foundation
celebrates its 15th anniversary. Over these years we have
strived to bring intellectual disabilities into society, pursuing the
goal of providing the necessary support to four hundred people with
whom we are currently working to improve quality of life, helping them
in their personal development and social and labor inclusion. Proceeds
from this concert will go to defray the cost of programs and services
that are developed by Prodis. We take this opportunity to reiterate
our deep gratitude to all the people and institutions that have made
possible these 15 years of hard work.”
Great singers and musicians have participated throughout these years
in the recitals organized by this foundation and this time they turned
to internationally acclaimed personalities, the highly renowned the
baritone Italian Ruggero Raimondi and the tenor and director José Cura.
Raimondi, deeply involved for personal and family reason in this project,
included the young people of Prodis, seated in the choir stalls, during
his performance as did the other participants.
His performances in films like Tosca, Rigoletto,
Carmen, and the legendary Don Giovanni with
Teresa Berganza and Boris Zulawski are part of cinematic legend. He
has also been Don Quixote and Felipe II, singing superbly the Act IV
aria from Verdi’s Don Carlo, though at this performance
it would have been too melancholy. He substituted instead a very funny
recreation of
Barber of Seville.
José Cura was fantastic and dashing with his Pagliacci,
his touching "E lucevan le stelle," and especially exciting for me,
his version of the “ Aurora which has been adopted in
homage as the Argentine flag and sung every day in schools, as well
as his own composition of the Pensé morir with lyrics by Pablo Neruda
and, of course, “La rosa y el sauce” by the Argentine master Carlos
Guastavino. Together with Alberto Ginastera, Guastavino spearheaded
composition in Argentina, just as Heitor Villa Lobos did in Brazil.
[…]
The graceful Spanish soprano Sabina Puértolas delivered with a very
good vocal line a beautifully sung
"O mio babbino caro" and "Quando m´en vo´" from Puccini and
“Canción de Vilja” from the Merry Window. She had taste
and an excellent relationship with mezzo-soprano Marina Pardo, who offerend
“Canción del fuego fatuo” and “Todas las mañanitas” as well as duetting
the Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffman with Puértolas.
The mezzo has an ample registry and a delicate and fit voice.
The pair offered female voices to accompany Raimondi and Cura, as did
the vocal group Coralia. The renowned Spanish pianist Rosa Torres-Pardo
soloed with Falla’s Fire Dance and as an accompanist throughout
the performance. Torres-Pardo was better when not playing forte, which
was usually supported with energetic foot accompaniment.
The audience, which included Alberto Gallardón, the former Minister
of Justice from the current Spanish government, and Ana Botella, mayor
of Madrid, along with family, friends, and volunteers, applauded and
encouraged the participants of Prodis, as well as the artists who made
the concert a unforgettable night.
After the concert, Maestro Cura and Raimondi greeted each other backstage.
They were delighted and satisfied, brandishing the red roses that had
been offered them by Prodis, excited. Jubilation. Tutti.