Smitten by Appl at Hugh Lane Gallery

I haven't been to the Hugh Lane Gallery for years and I'd forgotton what an elegant venue, the domed chamber is. Usually host to Sunday mid-day events, it was packed to capacity last night for a terrific  recital by young German baritone, Benjamin Appl and English pianist, Gary Matthewman. Appl, a BBC Young Generation Artist and an ECHO Rising Star arrived garlanded with rave reviews and I can vouch that he is superb. Appl's got it all; gorgeous tone, vivid, animated chacterisation and handsome to boot. His pianist was the equally excellent British pianist, Gary Matthewman who we heard last in Waterford with soprano Máire Flavin. Together they made up a powerful duo that wowed the gallery audience who were reluctant to let them go even after a very subsatntial and wide ranging programme that included German lied, French melodie, operatic arias, an Irish air and a show tune.
It was exciting to hear work by Waterford based composer and associate of mine, Marion Ingoldsby. Marion's new song setting of Yeat's Never give all the Heart' was a high point of the evening. Like most in the audience last night, my heart was enthralled by this smashing song team.

There are a few more dates remaining . Tipperary tonight, Cork tomorrow , Dun Laoghaire on Sunday All details here www.musicnetwork.ie Tickets on this Music Network tour are great value around €15 mark.

Audio of Sean Rocks super interview for RTE Arena here http://www.rte.ie/radio1/arena/#2027958

Des O Driscoll's interview for Irish Examiner here http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/travel/a-question-of-taste-baritone-benjamin-appl-discusses-his-favourite-artist-things-364385.html

Venue Notes : I loved the subdued lighting which added to the sparkle.

Robert Schumann: Widmung (Rückert) Op. 25 no 1

Francis Poulenc: L’offrande (Anonymous) FP 42 no 6

Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris (Viau)

Edvard Grieg: Lauf der Welt (Uhland) op 48 no 3

Felix Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Heine) op 34 no 2

Franz Schubert: Liebesbotschaft (Rellstab) D957/1
Franz Schubert: Die Taubenpost (Seidl) D957/14

Benjamin Britten: The Salley Gardens (Irish Tune)

Marian Ingoldsby: Never give all the heart (Yeats) - New commission by Music Network

Francis Poulenc: La maîtresse volage (Anonymous) FP 42 no 1

Hugo Wolf: Hoffärtig seid ihr schönes Kind (Heyse)
Hugo Wolf: Wir haben beide lange Zeit geschwiegen (Heyse)

Franz Schubert: Der Tod und das Mädchen (Claudius) D531

Richard Strauss: Allerseelen (Gilm) op 10 no 8
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Labours of the Heart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fin ch’han dal vino (Don Giovanni’s aria from Don Giovanni KV 527)

Abandon
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Deh vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni’s aria from Don Giovanni KV 527)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Madamina, il catalogo è questo (Leporello’s aria from Don Giovanni KV 527)

Desperation
Richard Strauss: Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen Zagen (Harlekin’s aria from Ariadne auf Naxos op 60)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Papagena, Papagena! (Papageno’s aria from Die Zauberflöte KV 620)

Danger
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Hai gia vinta la causa… Vedro mentr’io sospiro (Count Almaviva’s aria from Le Nozze di Figaro KV 492)
Benjamin Britten: Within this frail crucible of light (Tarquinius’ aria from The Rape of Lucretia op 37)

Sweet Romance
Richard Wagner: Wie Todesahnung… O du, mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram’s aria from Tannhäuser)
Frederick Loewe: On the street where you live (Freddy’s aria from My Fair Lady)
Encores Schubert Die Forelle Schumann Du Bist die eine Blume

Superb Song Duo : Flavin & Matthewman at City Hall Waterford

Máire Flavinand Gary Matthewman in the Georgian Large Room City Hall Waterford.

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