Road Trip to Masterton! [UPDATED with NJ's help]

Last night, myself, TRH and NJ hopped in the car and drove to Masterton to see a recital by two young singers (a mezzo and tenor) who also happen to be married to one another. We left about 4 and stopped for dinner on the way up at a place called the Tin Hut and had a delightful dinner. It is owned by one M, a companionable and good-looking man. We also met his new boyfriend, G, who came out not more than a year or so ago. G is from the area and was married for years and pretty damn macho. He now really reads as a handsome gay man and his life change has been giving his rugby buddies something to think about. Evidently, he has had at least one rather in depth conversation with one of these said buddies... and he is like, "you have got to check this out, then" to the guy. But, anyway, I digress.

Right! After dinner, the concert:

The two singers (in their late 20s both) are Anna Pierard (You can visit her here.) and Jose Aparicio. They are both highly attractive people who also sing very well. They both were mighty talented and had an excellent pianist backing them up. Anna excelled at Rossini's quick coloratura. We had Cruda Sorte [Italiana] and Non piu mesta [Cenerentola] both excellently done. Super duper. Consider those calling cards delivered! Hopefully NZOpera had someone in the audience. Jose sang some Neapolitan songs to perfection. One in particular "A vuchella" by Tosti was positively lascivious. He is one good looking man and so his sexxxxxy delivery of the song (which was nonetheless, I stress, musically spot-on) was...um...real; one could have almost blushed, and that is a good thing.

Before back to praise, let me note that Anna was a little less successful with the Seguidilla from Carmen. I want a little more opulence in the lower register and the final notes were muffed slightly. Jose presented a very difficult aria from Donizetti's Il Duc D'Alba "Angelo Casto e Bel" which demands an easier way with the upper notes than he was able to muster at this point in the program (it was nearly at the end).

But with these reservations noted, I just have to say what a pleasure this was. This was singing that was passionate and accurate. Jose had the wide-eyed innocence of Nemorino down. Though, interestingly, he gave a wry introduction in which he allowed for an ironic recpetion for the aria [and signalled that he takes such a stance toward the character] but he sang the aria completely in character--- and what a difference from the lecherous sexxxy macho we had earlier in the program! Anna presented a beautiful O Mon Fenand [La Favourite] fitted out with a smooth and passionate line in the Cavatina and a forthright sense of drama in the more angular and declamatory cabaletta.

They also sang together. Offering up to complete the program a passionate and totally convincing duet from La Favourite and opening with the [intriguingly chromatic] Habanera by Pauline Viardot. My favourite moment of the evening was the Cherry Duet from L'Amico Fritz. In this duet a batchelor falls in love late in life and finally finds what he is looking for. They were so sweet together and Mascagni's writing is gorgeous. There is moment when Fritz realizes that he has found what he is looking for. It is there in the orchestra and that wise rake Jose knew it and showed this character coming to the realization that he was in love. [As I write this, I am reminded of the man coming out late in life back where we had dinner...]. I hope to hear more of these singers. They sing well and can act. I require the first and am grateful for the second when it is possible. This was a pleasure.