Anna Leese Recital and an Operatic Round-Up

Things buzz along here, actually. We saw a production of Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti about a month ago that was pretty darn nice. A modest little company of young singers put it on with a piano. This is a fine chamber opera (two leads and a chorus of three) by Bernstein and I encourage you to see it if it is ever around. The baritone (Brendan Casey) who played the male lead was pretty hunky (and had a good voice). He also did some one-armed push-ups at one point. What a guy! Here he is with the chorus:



The piece is about a marriage that is some trouble in the 50s and it is a series duets and solos for the husband and wife with interjections and by-play from the chorus of a woman and two men who sing in close harmony that is definitely jazz influenced. Barbara Paterson, who played the wife, did a nice job too. She shone in her aria that relates the plot of a movie she saw that was set in the South Seas and which gives this opera its name. She was very funny. All in all this opera is a clever piece.

Then two weeks ago we saw an "Afternoon in Vienna" from the Vector Wellington Orchestra on the grounds of the Governor's House on a perfect day. Waltzes and stuff from Die Fliedermaus--- you get the idea. We had a soprano and a mezzo. The soprano, Andrea Creighton, is young and was somewhat overparted at times but had more and more success as the afternoon went on. Helen Medlyn (the mezzo) is a national treasure. She is able to infuse her voice with delightful sarcasm and then pull it all out and give you the cleanest lovliest classical line you could want. I love her!



The conductor Marc Taddei has something to say too. He made that totally overexposed Hungarian Dance by Brahms interesting. With him conducting this orchestra now, we plan to be attending more of their concerts.

Lastly, we attended a concert by Anna Leese (a soprano) last night. She is starting to make a name for herself in England. She had to go on, not too long ago, as Musetta in La Boheme for an indisposed Nuccia Focile at Covent Garden. She evidently did well.



She started off with two Mozart arias (Porgi Amore and the second biggie aria from Cosi). I thought the first went well but was somewhat distressed by the lack of confident control in the bravura bits of the Cosi aria. TRH was charmed and wanted another seven Mozart arias if he could have had them. Then a Brahmszzzzzzzzzzzzzz set followed. She sang it well, I suppose. I caught up on my rest a little. Then after intermission she came back with a new gown that was cut really really low in the back. Teh hott. A fine Strauss set followed. Her Der Rosenband was so nice with pretty solfeggio at the end. An English set and De Falla's popular songs followed and she had most of us in the palm of her hand. When she sang the Jota from De Falla, saucy characterization was aligned with lovely technique in a rendition that was ideally communicative. TRH was less happy in through here as he was still pining for Mozart. If I have this wrong, he will correct me and I will do an update, of course. NJ was pleased as punch to see her and was liking everything really well. I think he was even up for the Brahms. NJ is an example unto the nations. Yes.

Encores were Musetta's waltz song, which she sang beautifully. She was sexily flirtatious and she showed off her ability to taper the high notes to just the most lovely little beam of light (sorry about the 1/2 mixed and 1/1 half-baked metaphor there!). And the final encore was Danny Boy. She made me choke up and my eyes water. Who does she think she is? Rogatchewski?! TRH was charmed by Danny Boy and less so by the waltz song. NJ of course was thrilled. The charming SR was patient and good through it all.

We hear that she will be singing Musetta here in 2008. That will be a good good thing indeed!!