Function Review: October 15 2000 - Wagner Society 20th
Anniversary
For the Wagner Society 20th Anniversary celebration on October 15,
the Society was privileged to have as its Guest of Honour, Herr Horst
Hoffmann, Australia's renowned heldentenor, and Society Life
Member, for his premiere performance with the Society. Herr Hoffmann
was joined in recital by Ms Adele Johnston (soprano) and Ms Fiona
McCabe (pianist). The wide-ranging recital showed many aspects of
both Wagner and the performers and threw in a few unexpected bonuses
as well.
Ms Johnston sang the Wesendonck Lieder as a substantial and
deeply moving start. It reminded one that these songs were intended
for an intimate (perhaps very intimate) performance rather
than a large concert hall. Ms Johnston brought a rich, warm tone to
the songs and was supported by a supple and sympathetic piano line
from Ms McCabe. Ms McCabe brought to light three rarely heard piano
piece of Wagner's which, despite her performance, suggested that Wagner
would have been very unlikely to rival Liszt as a piano composer.
Ms Johnston returned to introduce the Lohengrin segment of
the recital with Elsa's Traum ("Lonely, in troubled days...").
Herr Hoffmann then sang the grail narrative in ringing tones and nuanced
declamation showing his wealth of experience in this and other Wagnerian
roles. Ms Johnston then followed with another aria from Elsa, Euch
lüften, die mein Klagen. The cumulative impact of these three
extracts was powerful and surely whetted the appetite for Opera Australia's
performances of Lohengrin in Sydney in August next year. One
cannot forget also Herr Hoffmann's own appearances (regrettably his
farewell performances) in Tristan und Isolde in Melbourne in
November next year.
After the drama and passion of Lohengrin, Herr Hoffmann and
Ms Johnston took a lighter direction to finish with extracts from
operettas of Franz Lehar, Giudita by Ms Johnston, and Das
Land des Lächelns and Die lustige Witwe, duets by Herr
Hoffmann and Ms Johnston.
Judging by the applause for all the music performed, the celebration
achieved its purpose and members were richly rewarded for their support
and interest. The President, Mrs McNulty, expressed the audience's
feeling in thanking the performers for their generosity and the wonderful
quality of their performances. As a final surprise for the Society
at large, the three artists gave us a delightfully spontaneous rendition
of "Happy Birthday", reminding us of the heritage of the
Society in which all members could take pride.
This Page was last updated on:
20-Oct-2004
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