After the intermission, the energetic soprano Lucie Kaňková took the stage. The singer, who is primarily active in Switzerland, possesses a powerful, penetrating voice with impressive reserves of strength. Yesterday, she performed the aforementioned Mozart song *Als Luise die Briefe*, Schubert’s *Gretchen am Spinnrade*, *Hexenlied* from the cycle by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s *Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne* and *Zdes’ khorosho*, a selection from Antonín Dvořák’s *Love Songs*, and the famous *Songs My Mother Taught Me* by the same composer. The highlight of the evening was the concluding aria of Ariadne. Stanislav Gallin provided excellent piano accompaniment.
Kaňková is one of those singers who incorporates acting into her performance on the concert stage. With this particular soloist, that dramatic flair extends to her vocal delivery as well. The combination of her magnificent voice and spontaneity resulted in interpretations that were deeply romantic, captivating, and—at times—perhaps even a bit flamboyant. Her style was particularly well-suited to *Hexenlied*, a piece that swept me away. Her rendition of *Gretchen am Spinnrade* was also highly convincing and rich in tonal color. In the Rachmaninoff compositions, the singer demonstrated a beautiful *piano*… Yet, the aria of Ariadne was truly enchanting. Kaňková knows the role well; she even oversaw the production of this opera in Biel, Switzerland. The aria in which Ariadne bids farewell to her beloved Theseus was delivered with great thoughtfulness and poignancy, truly marking the highlight of the evening.
Kaňková bade farewell to the audience with an encore—Edvard Hagerup Grieg’s song “Ich liebe dich”—which, as she noted, was perfectly suited to the occasion of yesterday’s Valentine’s Day.
