Julia Lezhneva sings Bel Canto arias and Beethoven with the Bamberg Symphony

Julia Lezhneva appeared as a guest with the Bamberg Symphony under the direction of Giovanni Antonini on February 28 and March 1 in the sold-out Concert and Congress Hall in Bamberg.

The program featured arias by Bel Canto masters such as Rossini, Bellini and Paisiello, as well as Beethoven’s concert aria “Ah! perfido,”

Program

Joseph Martin Kraus Overture to the tragedy Olympie
Giovanni Paisiello “Il mio ben quando verrà” – aria from the opera Nina, o sia la pazza per amore
Gioachino Rossini
“Tanti affetti in tal momento” – aria from La donna del lago
Chorus, scene and final rondò “Nacqui all’affanno, al pianto” from La Cenerentola
Aria “Non più mesta” from La Cenerentola
“Di tanti palpiti” – aria of Tancredi from Tancredi
Cavatina with chorus “Bel raggio lusinghier” from Semiramide
Ludwig van Beethoven Scene and aria “Ah! perfido,” Op. 65
Vincenzo Bellini “Ah! non credea mirarti” from La sonnambula
Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 104 in D major, Hob. I:104 “Salomon” (12th London Symphony)

Jochen Neurath wrote about the performance in Fränkischer Tag on March 2, 2026:

“Without the slightest trace of vanity, neither in her stage presence nor in her vocal interpretation, [Julia Lezhneva] shapes the melodic lines with the same clarity and assurance as the pearl-like coloraturas and runs, which are so naturally integrated into the phrases that they are never perceived as an end in themselves, but always as an essential part of the music.”

“The clearest articulation of the language is second nature to Julia Lezhneva, as is the completely seamless connection of the vocal registers. Whisper-soft pianissimi at dizzying heights delight the audience just as much as chest-voice-accented cadential points in descending lines.”

“Beethoven’s concert aria demands entirely different, more serious tones. And indeed: the colors are completely different, both in Julia Lezhneva’s voice and in the orchestra — a marvel of the highest technical mastery.”

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