Thursday’s noon hour concert at Metropolitan United featured soprano Teresa Tucci with pianist Ivan Jovanovic in a varied programme of opera arias, art song and musical theatre numbers.

The opera was varied with each piece displaying a different aspect of Theresa’s talents.  “Quando m’en vo” was predictably flirtatious and cheeky and “Deh vieni, non tardar” was properly ardent and beautifully controlled.  The best though was “Lascia ch’io pianga” from Handel’s Rinaldo.  The balance between emotion ands musicality was spot on here.  It was deeply moving and technically excellent with some stylish ornamentation in the repeat.  Three Fauré songs were a suitable change of pace.  They were accurate and unhistrionic but with some interesting vocal colours on display.

And so to musical theatre… This is core territory for teresa and lets her show off her considerable dramatic and movement skills.  “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “All Through the Night” and “Think of Me” all made the point in different ways but the best was saved to last.  Her performance of Bolcom’s “Amor” made her Musetta seem almost chaste.  Over the top?  A bit perhaps, but why not in a final number?  Great fun!

Excellent versatility and skill from van Jovanovic too of course and, as always with this concert series, the whole thing is available on Youtube for your viewing and listening pleasure.