Theodora Raftis / Рецензии

Soprano Theodora Raftis was excellent in the part of Sidonia. Taking advantage of every possible opportunity, she hammed up the role, and had the audience chuckling along as she threw them knowing glances, while mocking the love-stricken Nino. Gestures were absurdly far-fetched, facial expressions deliberately exaggerated, while her reactions, moods and postures were all played to excess. It was a splendid performance, which displayed a real talent for comedy. Nor was her singing any less convincing. She possesses a versatile voice with a bright, attractive timbre, which she used skilfully to mould delicate and detailed lines or unleash fabulous passages of coloratura. Particularly impressive was the confidence she exhibited in engaging with her role, which made it easy for her to connect with the audience.

Last year, soprano Theodora Raftis won third prize in the festival’s Cesti Competition, making a notable impression with her wonderful coloratura and imaginative embellishments. Although her role as Atamira did not allow for such a florid vocal display, it did provide further evidence of her talent, in which she demonstrated her ability to draw out the emotional depths of her character. In her aria, “Care selve, onor del monte,” she laments the loss of Acrimante who is fleeing from her, and for whom she is searching, her subtle ornamentations and light coloratura delicately capturing Atamira’s pain. Raftis’ voice has an endearing timbre, it is strong, versatile and moves with ease between the registers, which was exemplified in her final aria, “Tormenti, che fate?”