This was a real vocal treat from this talented group of American musicians. Baritone Travis Sherwood and Mezzo-Soprano Rachel Basescu presented some American songs and both showed great vocal range and interpretation skills. The song cycle of a serial killer being especially memorable!
The main offering was Young Goodman Brown, a short opera based on the novel of the same name. In this piece we are taken on a journey from faith to non-belief as experienced by Brown himself, so cleverly portrayed by Baritone Grant Mech. The story is in the American Puritan tradition of Faith fending off the wiles of the Devil, but Brown succumbs in the end as “sin is but a name”.
Faith is also personified in the character and in the name of his wife, played by soprano Erin Brittain whose mastery of some of the more lyrical sections was a real pleasure. The opera, written by Stephanie Leotsako, brings together various musical styles which makes great demands on the singers and their abilities to move rapidly across their range and to give dramatic urgency to the texts. An almost Britten-like declamatory style would contrast with more thoughtful and lyrical moments, and all the singers achieved this handsomely.
The whole performance was brilliantly accompanied by Patrick Fink on the piano.
This was seriously good singing and playing and is not to be missed by all music lovers.
Richard Prowse
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