Toronto Summer time Music: Songs by Duparc, Fauré, Debussy, Lili Boulanger, Amy Seashore, Déodat de Séverac, Jeanne Landry, Nadia Boulanger, Pauline Viardot, Mel Bonis, Pierre de Bréville, Marguerite Canal. Mary Bevan, soprano; Roger Vignoles, piano. Walter Corridor, July 14, 2025.
A significant element of the annual Toronto Summer time Musical Competition is its Artwork of the Track program, which incorporates an Academy wing that gives intensive coaching for aspiring singers and collaborative pianists.
Every year, two established professionals, a singer and a pianist, function mentors within the Academy. Additionally they give a recital to the TSM public. Over time, we’ve heard many excellent Canadian and worldwide artists in efficiency.
This 12 months, the Artwork of Track visitors are two well-known UK artists, soprano Mary Bevan and pianist Roger Vignoles. Whereas Vignoles has carried out in Canada a number of occasions, I’ve a sense that this is likely to be Ms. Bevan’s Canadian recital debut. Final night, an enthusiastic crowd of music lovers have been handled to a tasty program of artwork songs within the intimate, 495-seat Walter Corridor.
The Program
It was an fascinating program of songs about love, composed by well-known male composers, contrasted with songs by extra obscure girls composers. That stated, names comparable to Pauline Viardot, Nadia Boulanger and Amy Seashore hardly want introductions as of late. It’s a testomony to the altering occasions and the rising recognition of the contribution of girls music composers.
Mary Bevan has recorded fairly a couple of of those songs in a Signum Classics CD that got here out in 2017. You’ll find a style of it on YouTube right here. Identical to her CD, she sounded beautiful final night in a few of these songs, providing a felicitous mixture of great thing about tone and communicative energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxS7kUIwm8&record=RDFWxS7kUIwm8&start_radio=1
Efficiency
Her supply has exceptional depth, by way of her voice in addition to by way of facial features and physique language. A few of these songs have nearly operatic moments, which she delivered with aplomb.
Some are well-known, comparable to Duparc’s “L’Invitation au voyage” and “Romance de Mignon.” For the much less acquainted ones, the surtitles got here in helpful. That stated, it was unusual that music titles have been omitted within the projections.
Bevan is a really wonderful recitalist, with out query. However, maybe in her goal to provide the loveliest sounds attainable, her supply of the textual content was not ideally clear. It was tough to make out the phrases. Whereas it could possibly be my poor French, however not totally; I additionally observed that within the single encore, it took me awhile to determine it was sung in English!
Ultimate Ideas
One other level — whereas I respect the thematic nature of this system, I’d have favored a bit extra selection and distinction within the songs — the inclusion of 1 or two completely happy songs would have been good!
By all of it, Mr. Vignoles was the rock-solid, supportive pianist. He has been to TSM earlier than, and it’s all the time a pleasure to listen to him play. I sit up for his upcoming masterclass.
The live performance was relative brief, with beneath an hour of music. The viewers confirmed its appreciation with enormous ovations, particularly from the younger members. A good way to spend a summer time night.
- There are many great concert events to return between now and August 2 at Toronto Summer time Music; discover particulars [HERE].
Are you seeking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Must know the very best events taking place this weekend? Ship us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the day by day arts information straight to your inbox.
Join the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — native classical music and opera information straight to your inbox HERE.
Joseph So is Professor Emeritus at Trent College and Affiliate Editor of Opera Canada.He’s additionally a long-time contributor to La Scena Musicale and Opera (London, UK). His curiosity in music journalism focuses on voice, opera in addition to symphonic and piano repertoires. He seems recurrently as a panel member of the Massive COC Podcast.He has co-edited a e book, Opera in a Multicultural World: Coloniality, Tradition, Efficiency, revealed by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).
