 |
 |
|
 |
||
|
Mozart, Wolf & Zemlinsky Mozart
Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannte Wolf Auf einer Wanderung Daniela Lehner mezzo-soprano; Roger Vignoles piano Wigmore Hall, 4 January 2010
A brief let up in the winter weather allowed a good sized audience to slither their way over the icy pavements and bask in the shelter of a little musical springtime in this very pleasing lunchtime recital.
Roger Vignoles needs no introduction of course, but there haven’t been too many opportunities for London audiences to hear the Austrian mezzo Daniela Lehner since she completed her studies at GSMD where, most memorably, she appeared as a touchingly vulnerable Mignon.
No shrinking violet on this occasion, Lehner was quick to establish her credentials as a mature artist with a strong sense of feeling for the words of the lieder she had chosen. Indeed, in emphasising the drama, she was not afraid to colour her voice to the point of ugliness where this was called for, and not everyone in the hall would have been happy when this stretched into the occasional lapse in intonation.
What impressed me most about this recital was the intelligent and unusual choice of repertoire. Gently humoured Mozart led us to a more substantial selection from Wolf. Then to Zemlinsky, as testing for the pianist as the singer, and as satisfying a marriage of words and music as one can hope to hear.
Guastavino’s Rose and the Willow bridged the leap from old world to new neatly, preparing us for the south American charm of Ginastera’s Popular Songs. Montsalvatge’s Cinco Canciones negra have earned their place in current repertoire, Ginastera’s selection was written a little earlier and follows a similar grouping – a delightful way to end a short recital.
Serena Fenwick
|
