khankonchak's video: Erika Pauwels- Senza mamma

Erika Pauwels, lyric soprano I have recently had the good fortune of getting to know the recordings of soprano Erika Pauwels, courtesy of the Belgian Radio and Television archives. She was apparently well-known during the 1960's and 70's in her native Belgium, both as a stage and radio performer, although it seems she made relatively few appearances outside of her homeland. Her singing is quite polished, memorable, and deserving of a wider audience, so I thought this video might make a worthwhile addition to the Youtube community. A graduate of the Royal Music Conservatory in Ghent and winner of the Fernand Ansseau prize (1964), Pauwels made her debut the same year at the city's Royal Opera, as Ulrica (in "Un Ballo in Maschera"). Her career as a mezzo was short-lived, however. After a period of re-training in the late 60's, she made the switch to soprano, first taking on Manon Lescaut at Antwerp's Royal Flemish Opera. She remained there as a regular member for many years, building a repertoire of more than 50 roles, mostly in French and Italian opera. Pauwels was also a noted recitalist, appearing frequently with regular collaborator Erich Werba, and she joined the faculty of the Ghent conservatory in 1983. The voice is not huge but full-bodied and mellifluous, and there is plenty of warmth and personality. Pauwels was acclaimed as a Puccini interpreter, and it's not hard to see why. Her Angelica is suffused with sadness and regret, her deft phrasing bespeaking a substantial innate intelligence and sensitivity. Pauwels' recordings occasionally reveal a lack of bloom on top, even an incipient wobble, but "Senza mamma" lies comfortably for her and shows no such weaknesses. The final phrase "Parlami, amore" is floated with a beautiful pianissimo, and when the orhestra makes its final entrance at 5:02, the effect is almost otherworldly. The recording dates from 1969, and Pauwels is accompanied by the BRT orchestra, directed by Luigi Martelli.