Last September, she opened the Metropolitan Opera season in her signature role opposite Placido Domingo. Graves, who won the local company's contest in 1992, returned to the city of her early triumph last night for her first Columbus solo recital. She was presented at the Ohio Theatre by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts. Graves began her program with Tre Poesie Persiane by Francesco Santoliquido. From the first, her presence and her vocal power were commanding.
Some voices seem to evaporate when the lone singer stands at the front of the Ohio stage.
One knew immediately that this was not going to be the case with Graves. And even if she did not sustain the impact of that initial impression throughout her entire program, Graves was never less than excellent. Graves made each of the Santoliquido songs a single, contained dramatic unit, shaping each through her superb control over dynamics and timing. A Puccini set contained familiar and unfamiliar tunes. In truth, the impression made here was rather less compelling than in the opening group, though her performance of Terra e mare sketched the sweeping arches of Puccini in his oriental mode and her performance of E l'uccellino was delicately crafted.