Last Tuesdays’s concert in the RBA featured four singers and two pianists from the Ensemble Studio in a concert of highly recognisable opera arias.  I guess with Barber of Seville and Rigoletto coming p on the FSC stage that was a bit inevitable.  It was though very well done with all four singers not only singing well but really conveying a sense of character.

Ariana Maubach was first up with “Una voce poco fa”.  This was definitely the mezzo version with some interesting dark colours but the high notes and the coloratura were there too and it was properly spirited.  Later she’s do a very sexy “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”.  Good stuff.

Tenor Angelo Moretti started with “Una furtiva lagrima” which is so not my favourite aria but this was the real deal. with clean high notes (no bleating) and a real sense of Italianità.  He’s the most Italian sounding ES tenor in quite a while.  He followed this up later with an equally fine “Questo o quella”

Bass -baritone Nick Murphy offered “La del ciel nell’arcano profondo” from La Cenerentola.  It lies quite high for the voice type and has the kind of runs that Rossini (and Handel) inflict on low voice types.  He handled it really well.

Emily Rocha gave us “Caro nome”.  This had loads of personality, the high notes were clean andthe awkward leaps well managed.  But there was more.  We got a two duets, a trio and a quartet to round out the programme.

Emily and Ariana produced a suitably melodic and floaty version of the airline commercial aria. The two ladies and Nick were charming and even touching in “Soave sia il vento”.  Emily amd Angelo both showed pretty good French diction in “Ange adorable” from Roméo and Juliette.  Even Gianmarco Segato would have given it a passing mark.  And, finally, a bubbly (sorry not sorry) version of the “Champagne Song” from The Bat (it was in English().  Accompaniment was shared between Elisabeta Cojocaru and Kimly Wang who were both excellent.

All in all, a very engaging and skilfully performed recital with no weak links.

Photo credits: Dan Truong