RECITAL

The Morgan Museum and Library
A Celebration Concert: 20 years of George London Foundation Recitals


Ben Heppner - Master of Ceremonies
Sondra Radvanovsky - soprano
Christine Brewer - soprano
Ailyn Pérez - soprano
Susanne Mentzer - mezzo-soprano
James Morris  - bass-baritone
Eric Owens - bass-baritone
Brandon Cedel - bass-baritone
Craig Rutenberg and Ken Noda, piano
SOLD OUT


The New York Times Review...

These singers are at the top of their game right now, though, some were a bit past their prima days.  During our tour of The Met last week Sondra Radvanovsky passed us in the hall on her way to the dressing rooms for the principal singers.  These are all singers in the highest echelon of today's and yesterday's opera houses.  To see them together at one time in a relatively small venue with great sight lines and acoustics will be a treat.

The voices were big and beautiful.  We will never be as perfectly positioned to hear the power and nuance of great singers as we were tonight. 

Review: Opera Stars Come Out for a Gala Concert

Sometimes a performer becomes so associated with a particular role that it takes a moment to adjust when they appear out of character. The soprano Sondra Radvanovsky has portrayed Donizetti’s Tudor queens with such fierce conviction at the Metropolitan Opera this season that I almost expected her to sweep onto the stage in full-skirted regal attire at Gilder Lehrman Hall at the Morgan Library & Museum on Wednesday evening.

But there she was, in an elegant (civilian) gown, singing the “Song to the Moon” from Dvorak’s “Rusalka” with heartfelt intimacy, part of a starry lineup of singers featured in the George London Foundation’s gala concert. The foundation, named after the Canadian bass-baritone who died in 1985, supports young singers with cash prizes and performance opportunities. The gala celebrated the 45th annual George London Foundation Awards Competition and the 20th anniversary of its recital series at the Morgan, which pairs emerging and established artists.

The event was interspersed with commentary by the tenor Ben Heppner (who retired from the opera stage in 2014 and acted as master of ceremonies here) and genial interactions between the pianists Ken Noda and Craig Rutenberg, who accompanied the singers with finesse.

The performers were all past recipients of George London awards. The bass-baritone Brandon Cedel, the most recent winner, demonstrated a velvety low range and smooth legato in “Vi ravviso” from Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” and sang with sensual nuance in Copland’s “Boatmen’s Dance.” Ms. Radvanovsky joined the mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer for an impassioned rendition of “Mira, o Norma” from Bellini’s “Norma.”

The bass-baritone James Morris, admired for his portrayals of gods and kings, opted for a lighthearted selection here, singing with flair in a medley from the musical “Man of La Mancha.” The soprano Christine Brewer sang several numbers, including a deeply expressive reading of “My Long Life,” the final aria from Virgil Thomson’s “The Mother of Us All.”

Contributions from the bass-baritone Eric Owens included an emotive performance of “Infelice! e tuo credevi” from Verdi’s “Ernani.” The soprano Ailyn Pérez revealed her interpretive range with characterful renditions of zarzuela selections and a passionate “Ebben! Ne andrò lontana” from Catalani’s “La Wally.”

Mr. Heppner came out of vocal retirement, briefly, to sing a concluding selection, a sincere and affecting performance of the World War I-era standard “Roses of Picardy.”


The pictures were taken as we were leaving.  Our seats were half way down, just right.