Operatic excerpts borrow from the magic of their whole. Art songs are more difficult in their isolation from context - Lieder needs not just to be sung, but inhabited: interpreted: communicated.
All three young Jerwood singers today understood their art perfectly, in whichever language their selected repertoire happened to be, and in what ever category.
Baritone Huw Montague Rendall had enormous fun with Rossini’s rascal barber. His extrovert performance of ‘ largo al factotum’ was brilliantly carried off, all rapid Italian patter and accompanying gesture. He has played Mozart’s Figaro – clearly, he cansing Rossini’s.
Mezzo soprano Marvic Monreal’s show stopper was the familiar ‘Mon Coeur s’ouvre a ta voix’ from Saint Saens’ Samson et Dalila which required all her vocal weight and range : more lyrical and expressive was the Brahms, ‘ Wie Melodien zieht es mir’.
Natalia Tanasii, a soprano from Moldavia, has already earned considerable operatic experience in the Chisinau National Theatre, familiar to Brighton music lovers from the productions by Ellen Kent.
Music from Bizet and Puccini operas was sung with sublime intensity and beautiful tone. Two singers were indisposed, but such was the quality of the three remaining that nobody could mind. Wonderful accompaniment by Matthew Fletcher.
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