**** Roberto Alagna has been a true star in the world of classical music for three decades. Born in France, of a Sicilian family and the grandson of an Argentinean, this great tenor now performed for the second time at the Teatro Colón, ten years after his debut in this hall.
Despite the passing of the years, her voice maintains its beauty and characteristic timbre. Although he had some drawbacks in the high register, none of that could tarnish the artistic quality and communicative capacity of an exceptional singer. In the French arias that opened the recital, the tenor displayed refined phrasing and exquisite musicality, while in Pagliacci’s “Vesti la giubba”, by Leoncavallo, at the close of the first part, he conveyed the character’s desperation in a moving performance. . After the interval, Alagna offered a selection of Neapolitan songs and canzonettas, passing with equal ease through the liveliness of “La Spagnola”, by Di Chiara, and the intensity of “Dicincello Vuje”, by Falvo, which aroused one of the greatest cheers of the night For her part, the pianist Irina Dichkovskaia was particularly brilliant in her solo performances, with three works by Chopin. At the end of the scheduled program, and in response to the applause, a real party began. Visibly happy and grateful for the warmth of the public, Alagna gave away eleven pieces outside the programme, some of them a cappella, in an unusual display of talent, charisma and generosity. There were more Neapolitan melodies and popular songs, including an expressive version of “The day you love me”, provided with special affection for the local public.
