Hugo Jensen
At the PRM Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on the evening of October 5, 2026, guest mezzo-soprano Yilin Wang performed Juno’s aria “Hence, Iris, hence away” from Handel’s Semele, HWV 58. Heard through the concert’s live stream and recording, Wang’s performance stood out for the balance she brought to the aria’s commanding character.
Wang gave the vocal line a firm, well-defined presence. Her notes could land with considerable force, lending Juno’s words authority and dramatic weight. Yet that strength rarely felt blunt or overbearing. She shaped the line with enough flexibility to let its softer qualities emerge, so that power and gentleness seemed to belong to the same musical personality rather than to separate sides of the performance.
That balance also gave the characterization more dimension. Juno’s commanding exterior remained clear, but Wang’s phrasing suggested something more individual beneath it. The voice could press forward decisively, then ease into a gentler expression without losing its focus. This contrast kept the aria vivid and helped the listener hear not only the force of Juno’s resolve, but also the human qualities within the character.
Wang’s resonant mezzo-soprano suited Handel’s dramatic writing, while her attention to changes in tone and expression kept the performance from becoming one-note. The result was a portrayal with both presence and nuance: authoritative in its delivery, yet softened by an expressive sensitivity that gave the character room to breathe.
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