Wandering and wonderings

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| 來自：KL
| 時間：Fri May 09 02:01:42 2008
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| HSBC laureates. I never knew this company has affiliated with ciassical vocalism before, so I just came to see how the students are like.
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| Are those orchestral members / singers local students?
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| First word: the Cultural Centre concert hall is inadequate for such a performance. As conclusion this should be held in a much smaller recital hall, like in City Hall or even better the APA one. There just isn't enough resonance for chamber music or art songs.
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| CCCH even do not have enough resonances even for the loudest passages of Elektra or Salome, or even the organ draw all the stops to play a chord. Compare my experience at the St. Florian Monastery in Linz, even a pedal passage at mf level you can feel the resonance at your feet.
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| Ravel's String quartet started the show. It's nice and... I slept.
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| What a pity... 
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| The tenor singing "On Wenlock Edge" is quite a typical lyrical English tenor with a very blending voice, not without resemblance to the famous Ian Bostridge. But he has an even softer and more relaxed tone, somehow lacking slancio during arias or musical. I suppose he is used to European halls and houses which is less spacious and more resonating; he could put more effort into singing without really going into strain.
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| Well according to your descriptions, even if he sings Mozart or Rossini stuff is still good enough. Of course his strength will be on vocal works or with orchestra. Sometimes, more relaxed tone is necessary, especially for songs. Pushing the song lines too much dynamically would be appalling.
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| The soprano has a velvet and enjoyable middle voice, but somehow not technical total complete as an opera singer. She is obviously not adapted to high tessituras and having some randomness in high notes. While she has quite some vocal appeals for most audience, being on the critical side, there are certain vocal dis-integrity and I failed to feel the pleasantness in her phrasing.
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| That's really harsh, what did she sing?
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| The baritone was the most promised singer. A loud, rich and effective, elegant baritonal timbre without any pushing. However I thought he pressed down his voice slightly when starting a phrase, which led me guessing he tried to imitate a basso tone. This should be avoided for sake of vocal healthiness.
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| Pressed the voice slightly - is it because of the nature of the music? Personally I'd prefer flexibility in vocal usage. Speaking of "vocal healthiness" (Sorry it's my first time to see this term), I think well-trained singers would understand how to put one's strength out and present his best side to the audience.
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| Throughout the programme, the art songs were done in the best manner, while those Cosi fan tutte arias did show certain areas for technical improvement. This shouldn't be blamed seriously considering they are students after all. On the other hand, I did not feel enough boiling emotions in the West Side Story duet, which is a pity for this delightful, easily understood piece. The baritone was a natural, enjoyable Escamillo however.
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| One thing - are the WSS numbers accompanied by chamber orchestra? And are the singers miked? Personally I prefer ppl singing musicals miked or otherwise the vocal effect is not good.
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| This is first time I encounter such simple concert settings without any fanciness (and I understand it). Suppose this is how people conduct concerts in most small houses in Europe, a few people doing music and life is simple and nothing much else. The concert was hardly well attended; most of the balconies were empty. Audience responses were warm.
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| I don't know your previous concert experiences, but how 'complex' it could be? Really interested to know them! Honestly speaking, French May is now becoming something on-spot now but not all of events are well-marketed.
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| Albeit this show is part of Le French May, only the final Toreador is a French piece. Plus I really wished the booklet contained lyrics for the art songs. Plus plus, why couldn't there be an encore
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| I agree on your remarks on booklets, but the editorials of French May brochures are just now up to the basic standard to list the repertoire in their season programme. So for the lyrics, I think it'll be their next step of improvement. Encore - so why there must be an encore?