Winning Song Team
deliver Love in Spring at City Hall
Schumann Widnung; Die Lotusblume; Du bist wie eine Blume; Fruhlinghshnacht
Wolf Er ist’s; Im Fruhling; An eine Aolsharfe; Zitronenefalter
Strauss Allerseelen; O Susser Mai; Fruhlingsgedrange; Morgen
Chausson; Le temps de Lilas; Les Papillons; Le Callibri
Reynaldo Hahn Le Rossignol des Lilas; Ah Chloris; Printemps
WV Wallace: Sweet Spirit, o hear my prayer, Say my heart can this be love; Orange
Flowers
Encore
Gershwin Summertime
There was a great sense of occasion in City Hall as Máire
Flavin made her debut in Waterford, the birthplace of her parents. The recital, part of the Waterford-Music series was dedicated to Elizabeth Downey, founder member of the chamber music society celebrating 73 years of activity. Taking her cue from the April date, the
soprano built a programme around lieder and chanson dedicated to Love and Spring with
a soupçon of American Summer for an encore.
Opening with Widnung,
Schumann’s passionate dedication to his bride Clara, Flavin from the off
displayed the vocal fire power and stage artistry that propelled her to the
finalist rostrum at the 2011 Cardiff Singer of the World and on to international
opera stages. A rich and full bodied voice with her pleasant stage manner and
range of dramatic expression made for an intense and enthralling performance. From ‘light touch' Schumann she moved to 'angsty
Wolf’. In An eine Aolsharfe, the
superb pianism of Gary Matthewman in creating an almost orchestral palette of
sound was astonishing. A ravishing postlude to Morgen, a wedding present by
Richard Strauss to his wife closed the
first half in a mood blissful rapture.
Birds , butterflys and flowers proliferated in the second
half chansons by Chausson and Hahn. The most familiar of which was Ah Chloris
with resonance in Bach’s air. In a nice touch,
the lilac theme was picked up in the platform display of purple blooms..
Finally by request we heard a set of charming Victorian ballads by local favourite WV Wallace which suited the drawing
room ambience of the splendid chamber. Beautifully dressed in fuschia gown with
lace detail and formal tails, the pair looked as though they could have stepped off
the set of Downton Abbey where indeed, Matthewman has done some service.
This
was a thrilling performance from an exciting singer, all the greater for the superb
artistry of Matthewman whose vivid
piano colours and breath-taking timing created the enchantment around Flavin's magical vocal encounters. A night to treasure from a winning song
team! I don’t expect to hear a finer collaboration any time soon.
Among the distinguished guests were members of the Downey family and Jim and Moira Flavin.
Related Posts
Interview Maire Flavin http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2015/04/maire-flavin-to-make-waterford-debut.html
Remembering Elizabeth Downey http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2015/04/remembering-elizabeth-downey.html
Among the distinguished guests were members of the Downey family and Jim and Moira Flavin.
Related Posts
Interview Maire Flavin http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2015/04/maire-flavin-to-make-waterford-debut.html
Remembering Elizabeth Downey http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2015/04/remembering-elizabeth-downey.html
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