This evening I went to a disappointingly half empty Barbican Hall for a recital by Barbara Bonney (soprano) and Angelika Kircshclager (mezzo), with famed accompanist Malcolm Martineau on piano. The recital was a tie-in with an album they released late last year. I haven't bought the album, and, on the basis of the recital, I think it's 'add to wish list' rather than 'buy asap'.
Don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed the recital, but not one of the pieces was familiar to me. I've never really gone for Leider in a big way, thinking that it starts and ends with Schubert and Deitrich Fischer Diskau, with a bit of Schumann thrown in as an afterthought* So tonight was definitely an education to me.
Six Duets by Mendelssohn Op. 63
Three Duets (1,3,& 8)from Spanisches Liederspiel Op 74 by Schumann.
One each from Saint-Saëns, Chausson and Massanet
Two Duets Op 10 - Fauré
3 Duets from Soirées musicales - Rossini
Moravian Duets Op 32 - Dvorák
Although short pieces, that's still a lot to take in. I enjoyed the Mendelssohn. For Abschiedslied der Zugvögel (The migrants ' farewll song) and Volkslied (from Burns' Oh wert thou in the cauld blast) I wrote v nice - for the latter, I also wrote 'German improves on the Burns'.
After two of the Schumann, I comented that the piano was better than the vocal line, but I thought Botschaft (Missive) to be beautiful.
I didn't like the Chausson at all.
I did like Fauré Puisqu'ici-bas tout âme (Since every soul on this earth)
I was pretty knocked out by the Rossini. I sort of know Rossini as a composer of opera - including William Tell and its overture - but I can take or leave him. But these three songs were beautiful: La serenata: Mira, la blanca luna (See the pale moon) - 'gorgeous: the best so far' and La pesca: Già, la notte s'avvicina (Fishing: Already night is approaching) - 'even gorgeouser'. La regata veneziana: Voga, o Tonio (Venetian regatta: Row, oh Tony) I wrote - 'fun, rhythmic - Malcolm Martineau the star'. These three would be reason enough to buy the album - but they aren't on it. The album's title 'First encounter' suggests perhaps a follow-up.
The recital finished with about half an hour of Dvorak, that, I'm afraid to say, just went on a bit and became a bit dull at times. Some bits were pleasant.
As for our singers. Well, Barbara apologised beforehand that both were just recovering from colds. I hope that was the reason that Barbara was straining at the high notes, because it wasn't a pretty sound. Se sounds much deeper lower in her register. She has a bigger, or more penetrating, voice that Angelika, which is again a shame, because I happen to think that Angelika has a truly beautiful instrument. I will definitly listen to Angelika Kircshlager again and again. Barbara Bonney, I'm afraid I can take or leave, which is a shame because she came over tonight, as she does on TV, as a thoroughly likeable and fun person.
* I don't really...
