Ermonela Jaho: Anima Rara review — an electric tapestry of colour
When an opera recital begins with a chestnut such as Un bel dì from Madama Butterfly, a seasoned album collector in normal circumstances may be forgiven for yawning. Been there, done that, a thousand times before. Yet when the singer is that Albanian blowtorch of a soprano Ermonela Jaho, circumstances aren’t normal at all.
Past appearances at the Royal Opera House and on the Opera Rara label may have made us more accustomed to her blazing intensity, fruity but well-managed vibrato and rounded, copper-coloured tone colour. Yet the Jaho effect continues to thrill and startle to a singular degree, as it does throughout all 14 tracks on this spine-tingling album.
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