Start of the interview in the news at the link..

Monisova’s recital was held on December 25, 2015 in a beautiful historic mansion of Prague – the Palace of Liechtenstein – with the participation of Jihočeská Filharmonie (South-Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra) under the baton of Leoš Svárovský, one of the most famous and influential of Czech conductors (nowadays chief conductor of the Aichi Central Symphony Orchestra Nagoya and principal guest conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic).

The invitation of Ekaterina Monisova to the festival undoubtedly was not an accident. The talented singer is well-known in Moscow and has her own artistic style, the format of which is perfect for České doteky hudby. Baroque music performed in the authentic but always sounding fresh, modern and very elegant manner takes the leading place in the repertoire of Monisova. Perhaps her singing could be attributed to the European vocal style, which involves delicate and pure sound line as well as almost crystal clarity of vocals and ideal embeddedness of her voice in the acoustic space of ancient churches, town halls and museums.

Ekaterina Monisova performed some great opera arias in Prague: lamento of Cleopatra Piangerò from Händel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Gavotte Je marche sur tous les chemins from Manon by Massenet and Valse of Juliette from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette – works that most clearly manifested main features of her singing talent and vocal opportunities to expand that Ekaterina works hard and continuously.

Even more Christmas concerts performed by Ekaterina Monisova in Moscow after her return from Prague became an unexpected, but pleasing to music lovers and fans of the singer result of this work. One of them was the solo recital with the orchestra Moscow Camerata (Artistic Director – Honoured Artist of Russia Dmitry Kogan, conductor of the concert – Honoured Artist of Russia Nikolai Sokolov) that took place on December 28, 2015 at the Chamber Hall of Moscow International House of Music. The other two took place at the Moscow State Variety Theater (December 31, 2015) and at the Small Hall of the Moscow Conservatory (January 9, 2016), where Monisova appeared with the Honoured Artist of Russia Alexei Novikov (saxophone) and Jazz Band under the baton of Vladimir Agafonnikov. And if the House of Music concert largely represented the soloist as a classical singer, the New Year and Christmas programs where Monisova tried herself in a mixed genre revealed some new facets of her talent. The voice of Ekaterina Monisova combining the skills of academic vocals with the manner and style of jazz singing acquired new colors, almost incredible flexibility and warmth. Although the tendency to connect the seemingly unconnected, to synthesize different styles and times has become a trend of today music stage the art of Ekaterina Monisova comes out and perceives very organically. And it seems logical and successful continuation of her creative pursuits.

 

Alena Bogdanova
(The Musical Magazine, № 1-2 – 2016)