Festival del Sole opener features electrifying turns by Bell, von Otter and Russian National Orchestra

By JAMES KEOLKER, Register Correspondent

One of the more significant cultural events in the history of the Napa Valley debuted Sunday evening to a standing ovation at the Lincoln Theatre in Yountville.

The Festival del Sole lineup of talent dazzled the opening night audience -- the marvelous Russian National Orchestra, celebrated conductor Alan Gilbert (of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony fame), the distinguished mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell.

It was Bell who brought the program to a halt 40 minutes into the concert.

He was playing the first movement of Tchaikovsky's difficult violin concerto, when he spun out a cadenza (the unaccompanied section) of such mesmerizing tenderness, and such emotional intensity, the audience could hardly contain itself, and broke into an immediate standing ovation. While they well knew there was more to come, they simply could not withhold their emotions any longer. It was that intense, it was that beautiful, and it was that personal an experience.

Bell shyly acknowledged the extended applause, then returned to complete the concerto with tonal brilliance, dazzling technique and astonishing artistry.

A soloist cannot create such a piece alone, however, and Bell was equaled in every way by the rich, responsive playing of the orchestra, maestro Gilbert so powerfully shaping Tchaikovsky's poignant themes.

Festival del Sole (Festival of the Sun) attracted not only culture lovers from throughout the Bay Area (and the nation) but press from the likes of the New York Times, the LA Times, NBC from Chicago, the Bloomberg international wire service and IMG Artists of London, among others.

Anne Sofie von Otter won her plaudits for the evening with a smoky rendition of the Habanera from Bizet's opera, "Carmen."

This was no hands-on-hips stereotypical interpretation, but an arresting, insinuating performance, her elongated phrases teasing, her tone open and rich. In contrast, she sang Carmen's Seguidilla with throaty allure, using quick chest tones and a glottal catch for the key passages.

While von Otter opened the program with one of Cherubino's arias from Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" and a charming version of Dorabella's aria from his "Cos fan Tutte," it was her "Carmen" that brought her the most appreciative applause.

The Russian National Orchestra distinguished itself throughout the concert, opening with a quick, incisive playing of the Overture to "Le Nozze di Figaro," and a bright, spangled reading of the "Carmen" overture.

It closed the evening with a splendid and majestic interpretation of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Fantasy," maestro Gilbert taking the overture beyond its obvious theatricality to emotional grandeur.

The sound and musicianship that Gilbert was able to elicit from his 83 players was deeply satisfying, and local audiences have not been treated to this kind of enriched conducting in a long while.

For vocal fans, Festival del Sole continues this week with Napa soprano Marnie Breckenridge -- just returned from a highly successful engagement with the Czech State Opera -- singing in concert at a Wednesday luncheon at the White Barn.

Star singers Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey appear in concert with the Russian National Orchestra at Lincoln Theater Wednesday evening, with famed soprano Rene Fleming headlining the Festival's closer Sunday at Lincoln Theater.

The intention of Festival del Sole is to become California's very first international festival of wine, food and the arts. In addition to festival organizers Barrett Wissman and Richard Walker, who produce a companion festival in Cortona, Italy, surely thanks must be given to Michael Savage, the executive director of Lincoln Theater, for bringing such a superior effort to our valley.

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