Elena Kononenko / Umsagnir

Elena Kononenko als Tosca beherrschte sowohl das schauspielerische als auch das gesangliche Element. Eine nicht unbedingt selbstverstaendliche Leistung im Operngenre. Die Sopranarie "Nur der Schöncheit weiht ich mein Leben" war von ausgezeichnet stimmlicher Praesenz geprägt.

The star of the evening was Elena Kononenko: one of those singers from the East, who possess simply all the requirements for a world-career. The Kononenko was a Violetta such as the real Dame of the Camelias: she acted with much temperament and girl-like sex-appeal, transforming herself throughout the evening into a tender tregediènne. Her voice has personal charm, is secure in all registers, blooming wonderfully in the high-notes with a light metallic shine. In the final scene she achieved a level of human truthfulness, reaching far beyond the level of beautiful singing.