KUAR, AR
Sept 6 2008

Isabel Bayrakdarian: Tango Notturno

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian latest CD `Tango Notturno’ is a dramatic
and impressive work dedicated to the dynamic sounds of the tango.

by Joshua Rosenblum

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian is the latest classical artist to respond
to the siren song of the tango with a CD compilation, and it’s clear
from the opening bars of the first track, Armenian composer Arno
Babadjanian’s "Tcheknagh Yeraz," that we’ll be in good hands with
her. She sings luxuriantly and passionately, with a richly pulsing
mezzo quality in her lower and middle registers and a ringing fullness
on top. She also responds with unforced, idiomatic vocal colorings to
the demands of the texts and melodies. Her range – dynamic, timbrai
and dramatic is impressive at every turn, as is her command of the six
languages represented here.

Nary a track falls flat. Among the standouts are Carlos Gardel’s
classic "For Una Cabeza" and Kurt Weill’s sinuous "Youkali," to which
Bayrakdarian brings equal doses of fire and world-weariness, without
sacrificing any vocal luster. Astor Piazzolla’s "Che Tango Che" has a
rhythmically fragmented vocal line that reflects the violence of the
lyric; Bayrakdarian chews it up gleefully, practically turning the
song into a one-act play in the process. Farid ElAtraches "Ya Zahratan
Fee Khayali" provides an unexpected Middle Eastern take on the tango,
one of many examples on the disc of the appeal the form has had for
composers worldwide.

Bayrakdarian is accompanied by the eight member Tango Ensemble, led by
pianist Serouj Kradjian, to whom she happens to be married. Kradjian
is responsible for most of the arrangements; others were contributed
by the bandoneon player Fabian Carbone, or by the two in
collaboration. The arrangements are outstanding and expertly played by
the Ensemble. About a third of the tracks are instrumental only,
including Jacob Gade’s famous "Jalousie" and two intriguing Piazzolla
pieces ("Verano Portefio" and "Invierno Portefio") that pay homage to
Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons." "Oblivion," a signature Piazzolla number, is
rendered as a haunting vocalise. The ride track, "Tango Notturno," by
HansOtto Borgmann, from a film of the same name, could almost be
mistaken for Kurt Weill; Bayrakdarian caresses its phrases lovingly
and dispenses some teasing rubato. This disc stands up well to
repeated listenings; indeed, it’s downright habit-forming.

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© Copyright 2008, OPERA NEWS

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