Leoncavallo- Zazà Opera Rara, Ermonela Jaho

Opera Rara brought  Ruggero Leoncaallo's Zazà to the Barbican, London .With Ermonela Jaho in the star role, and the forces of the BBC SO and BBC Singers, plus good cast, this was a high profile occasion: Opera Rara does things in style. Hopefully, there'll be a reecording. Zazà deserves it.

Claire Seymour has reviewed this Opera Rara  Zazà for Opera Today in detail. "Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà – a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights – is a walking compendium of emotions.  Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine.

The much loved Ermonela Jaho (who is coming back to the Royal Opera House next year as Suor Angelica, had "incredible commitment and vocal allure.  She ran the emotional gamut from predatory sensuality to euphoric happiness to anguished sorrow, utterly convincing us and drawing us into her tragic journey.  The lower-lying passages may sometimes have made less impact, and occasionally Jaho strayed sharp at the top, but who cares when one is enveloped by surging, supple lyrical outpourings that are by turns glossily luxurious and exquisitely delicate."

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf

Charismatic charm, vivacious insouciance, fervent passion, dejected self-pity, blazing anger and stoic selflessness: Zazà - a chanteuse raised from the backstreets to the bright lights - is a walking compendium of emotions. Ruggero Leoncavallo’s eponymous opera lives by its heroine. Tackling this exhausting, and perilous, role at the Barbican Hall, Argentinian soprano Ermonela Jaho gave an absolutely fabulous performance, her range, warmth and total commitment ensuring that the hooker’s heart of gold shone winningly. - See more at: http://www.operatoday.com/content/2015/11/leoncavallo_zaz.php#sthash.x53YZrhX.dpuf