CAMBA, Andrea Melisa R.

Song Recital Reaction Paper

The moment I saw Yun-Kyuong Yis poster, I immediately decided that Ill
watch the concert. Ive heard about her before and people say she was really, really
good. Another thing that got me excited was when I found out that shell play the
role of Violetta in CCPs staging of La Traviata this year.
She opened the show with Vivaldis Altra Aria del Vagante and Agitata da due
venti. As a fan of Cecilia Bartoli, I am very familiar of both pieces and I know that
these require good technique and a lot of focus and concentration. Bothe pieces are
rhythmically challenging, and the singer must have a good breathing technique to
sing the long phrases. I was very amazed by her because she sang both songs
effortlessly and with grace. She was so relaxed and free while singing. It was also
obvious that singing melissmas and doing runs are her strengths.
The third piece was Mozarts Lamero (from Il re Pastore). This piece was of
contrasting mood of the first twoit has a more sustained legato feel and it was
much slower. I was not fond of this piece though. I liked it better when she sang the
runs and pass through all those baroque ornaments than hearing her in a slow
legato piece.
The next piece was Verdis Merce, dilette amice (from I Vespri Sielliani). I
think that this was one of her best performances. I was not familiar with the aria but
her interpretation made me very interested. I noticed the movement of her
breathing and it got me really curious on what her breathing technique is. At
present, that is the problem that Im working on with my major so I really was
fascinated on how she does it.
Yun-Kyuong Yi closed the first half with Rossinis Una voce poco fa (from Il
Barbiere de Seviglia). Since this aria is one of my favourites, I was really excited to
hear her interpretation. When she sang the aria, I really thought that she and Maria
Callas have the same timbre, well at least in some parts. As I was listening to the
piece, I just cant help but close my eyes and imagine Callas singing it. It was
weirdly beautiful.
The second half opened with two Vocalises. I suddenly found her repertoire
interesting. Its my first time to watch a recital with vocalises so this was a new
experience for me. It was just like hearing her vocalizing but with feelings.
Arthur Espiritu followed and sang 2 arias. My teacher made me watch a
master class with him weeks before the show so I was really thrilled to watch him on
stage. He performed Si Ritrovaria to guiro (from La Cenerentola) and Il mio tessoro
(from Don Giovanni). It was so amazing to watch, knowing that hes also Filipino. I
think that he gave a very powerful presentation that night.
Yun-Kyuong Yi closed with two pieces, Glieres Concerto and Thomas A vos
jeux, mes amis. The last two pieces for me were not as powerful as the last two
songs of the first half but it was still consistently astounding.

Watching performers like Yun-Kyuong Yi and Arthur Espiritu really inspires me

to work harder into becoming a good musician and performer like them.