February 17–24, 2000

critic pick|classical

Contralto, Mon Frère

The stars of the opera world are the showboat tenors and sopranos, but for sheer emotional slam and beautiful tonal color, it’s hard to beat a really great contralto. This vocal range has an almost androgynous impact at the bottom end, where it merges with tenor tones, but also conveys a great, earthy womanliness at the heart, a kind of thinking man’s (or woman’s, what the hey) sensuality. Polish contralto Ewa Podles demonstrated her magisterial command with her ravishing singing in Mahler’s "Das Lied von der Erde" last fall with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She returns to our shores for a solo recital for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, featuring the rarely heard songs of her most famous compatriot, Chopin, as well as music by Mussorgsky, Brahms and Haydn.

—Peter Burwasser

Ewa Podles, contralto; with Ewa Poblocka, piano, Fri., Feb. 18, 8 p.m., $18 ($9 students), Pennsylvania Convention Center Auditorium, 13th and Cherry Sts., 215-569-8080.