Last wednesday’s RBA recital was given by mezzo-soprano Jingjing Xu; the 2022/23 Wirth Vocal prize winner, and Christopher Knopp; piano. It was one of the most impressive performances by a singer at this stage of her career (just finished her master’s) that I have heard in quite a while. Mr. Knopp is pretty impressive too and it’s obvious that they have worked together quite a lot.
The Canadian Art Song Project presented their latest commission in the RBA on Wednesday lunchtime. But first we got Jorelle Williams and Steven Philcox with four songs by iconic Canadian/American composer R. Nathaniel Dett. I confess that early 20th century American song is rarely to my taste and the first three Dett songs I found workmanlike but not especially interesting. The fourth though; The Winding Road to a text by Tertius Van Dyke I found much more interesting. It seemed that Dett had allowed himself to be more “American”. There were influences from both “Negro music” and marching band here with an overall effect not unlike some of Charles Ives’ songs. I can’t knock the performance though. It did full justice to the songs; especially the last.
First some additional February shows
Opera
The Valentine’s Day recital in the RBA was given by Simone McIntosh and Rachael Kerr. They served up fare appropriate to the occasion unlike in 2013 when Franz-Josef Selig gave us a Valentine recital mostly about Death! It was an interesting mix of material starting with two of the Britten folk song arrangements; “The trees they grow so high” and “The miler of Dee”. Quite a bold choice in some ways as the first one is almost, but not quite, a capella so there’s nowhere to hide. It was good. Not only was Simone’s voice accurate and expressive but she gave herself some metrical freedom. There is nothing worse than a singer singing this material as if they have a broomstick up their ass.
Wednesday’s lunchtime recital in the RBA was given by Jane Archibald and Liz Upchurch. It was a programme of songs by the Schumanns (Robert and Clara) and their protegé Johannes Brahms, in celebration of their relationship which extended well beyond Robert’s premature death.
Contemplating another production of “Carmen”
First a couple of 21C concerts inadvertently omitted from my January listings post. On the 19th in Koerner Hall there’s Fazil Say and friends (including Beste Kalender) in a programme of mostly Turkish music and in the late show in Temerty Theatre the following night Brian Current presents and conducts a concert titled Indigena.
So to February: Continue reading
Tuesday’s lunchtime recital at the Four Seasons Centre was given by soprano Sara Schabas and pianist Isabelle David backed up by some (mercifully concise) musicological/historical background from Robin Elliott. The concert was in two parts. The first celebrated the work of Austrian-Jewish composers active in Vienna in the first third of the 20th century. The second was a song cycle in Yiddish celebrating the Jewish immigrant experience in New York.
Here’s a look at the start of 2024 in Toronto.
On the 7th and the 9th OPUS chamber music, who feature some of Canada’s best young chamber musicians, have a pair of concerts. The first is at Trinity St. Paul’s and features music by Rebecca Clarke, Leo Weiner, Anton Webern and Robert Schumann. The second is at the Arts and Letters Club and includes music by Tcherepini, Klein, Wegener and Beethoven.
My usual reaction to holiday season concerts is (polite version) “Bah humbug”. The less polite version involves reindeer placement. That said Thursday’s concert from the COC Ensemble Studio was really rather enjoyable.
It opened with Brian Cho and Mattia Senesi doing a four hands version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. Regrettably they didn’t dance. I guess Korin Thomas-Smith could have filled that role as later in the day he showed some very cool moves but that’s another story.
There was Handel of course; Queen Hezumuryango with “O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” and Wesley Harrison with “Ev’ry Valley”. Both of those featured later in the day too. But that’s another story.
Tuesday’s lunchtime concert in the RBA consisted of works by Cecilia Livingston chosen and performed by members of the COC’s Ensemble Studio. It was a fairly varied programme considering it was all works by one composer.
Quieen Hezumuryango and Mattia Senesi kicked things off with Give Me Your Hand which sets a Duncan McFarlane text exploring aspects of Lady Macbeth. It uses extended piano technique and suits the dark colours of Queen’s voice. It was followed by Moon; an evocative solo piano piece played by Brian Cho. Not the only time the moon would figure in the programme.
operaramblings 