Tuesday’s lunchtime concert in the RBA featured soprano Teresa Tucci and baritone James Coole-Stevenson; both Rebanks fellows at the Conservatory, and pianist Vlad Soloviev.  It was a carefully curated concert with a thematic line and featured far more duets than one usually gets in such a show.

The theme was “love, loss and longing” starting with extracts from Thomas’ Hamlet working through Don Giovanni and Così to a mix of Bolcom, Holst and Satie.  The Hamlet extracts really demonstrated both singers’ excellence.  The duet “Doute de la lunière” showed considerable power, beauty of tone and the ability to work as a duo.  “Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse” allowed Jasmes to show some comic flair and “Pâle et blonde” showed off TYeresa’s acting chops and her excellent coloratura.  Not for the first time have I thought someone should put on this opera just so she can sing Ophélie in a full production.

The Mozart was fun with a cheeky “Là ci darem la mano” and a fine “Deh, vieni alla finestra”.  Unsurprisingly, we got a bit of Despina from Teresa.  In this case a very naughty “In uomini, in soldati” with fine singing and lots of personality.

The modern stuff showed that both singers were at home in art song with some fine Holst and Satie from James and Teresa making use of her musical theatre background to produce idiomatic accounts of several of Bolcom’s Cabaret Songs.  Fine accompaniment throughout from Vlad.

All in all a really well thought out and finely executed recital.

Photo credits: Karen Reeves