Vaughan Williams and Friends Vaughan Williams 3 Songs from Shakespeare Ailish Tynan soprano Wigmore Hall, 3 June 2009 This was a splendid evening showcase for English song, chosen and programmed, no doubt, by Julius Drake. Many of the songs were early samples of their composers' output, but none wasn't worth reviving. Three versions of Orpheus with his lute offered fascinating comparisons of word setting, Rubbra's the most expressive. Gurney's songs were probing, a poet as well as composer, his career sadly curtailed by the aftermath of his experiences in the War [q.v. http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/Oct99/gurney.htm]. The two singers were strong individual presences in voice and platform manner, both equally winning. Both were in fine voice and identified with the repertoire, mainly singing from memory. Before the interval a Bliss group was a charming novelty, introducing a mellifluous clarinettist who had come specially from Paris. Cora Burggraaf revelled in the wordless Vocalises. At the end, after Ailish Tynan had given a memorable account of Finzi's cycle, both came together for a tightly prepared account of what must have been novelties to most of us, humorous duets by Madeleine Dring. Finally, and to bring Chen Halevi back on stage, Julius Drake had commissioned a party piece from a Dutch Anglophile. The concert, which was being recorded, was on the short side; hopefully destined for CD? Look out for it ! Peter Grahame Woolf Do see our report of the first concert in this series devised by Julius Drake.
|