Music she wrote

 
    Piano stage right, lights down low and “An Evening of Music” is ready to begin. On Monday, March 17, in honor of Women’s History Month, GCSU’s the Department of Music and Theatre hosted an unforgettable recital.
    The performance included solos and duets sung with the varying accompaniment of the piano, clarinet and cello. Together these ladies created more than just music: they truly told a story.
    To begin the show, Jennifer Morgan Flory (mezzo soprano), Tina Milhorn Stallard (soprano) and Jennifer McGuire (piano) performed “The Color Duet” from the opera “Dreaming Blue.” Through theatrical attributes, “The Color Duet”
became a piece that seemed to share its joy and wonder with its audience.
    Stallard and McGuire delivered expressive pieces, and while they were not performed in English, their emotions and meanings were undeniable. Stallard, the current assistant professor of voice at the University of South Carolina, evoked so much spirit through “Mein Stern” and “Fleur dessechee.” “Mein Stern,” which means “My Star” in English tells of finding comfort in “O du mein Stern,” (O star of mine), even “in my dark nights.”
    In addition to Starllard’s vocals, McGuire’s obvious passion of the piano flowed through its magnificent sounds. Accompanying Starllard perfectly, McGuire’s performance added an additional dose of elegance to the recital as a whole.
    The “Five Wilfred Owen Poems” were performed by all five ladies, Flory, Stallard, McGuire, Andrea Johnson (cello) and Carrie Yoder (clarinet). Composed by Danielle Post, who was present in the audience, the “Five Wilfred Owen Poems” were songs that delivered a very strong message.
    “I am honored that she (Flory) will be performing my work again,” said Post.
    When the piece was complete, Post could be seen giving a standing ovation.
    Flory, the director of choral activities at GCSU, took on the “Beloved, Thou Hast Brought Me Many Flowers.” “Liebeslied,” which is one piece of the composition “Beloved, Thou Hast Brought Me Many Flowers,” was performed solely by mezzo-soprano Flory and Johnson playing cello. The pair seemed to be having a conversation that gave meaning to the song. The song “White World” was accompanied by piano using only the white keys of the piano. The performers consistently exhibited a connection with each other and the audience.
    The last song was performed by Flory, Stallard and McGuire was very fun and witty. Entitled “Dreaming,” the song consisted of the words, “dreaming of a r-a-v-e review.” They sang of waking up the day after the performance and rushing to read their reviews.
    The reviews are in and the guest artist recital, “An Evening of Music” was spectacular.
    “I would love to come and see this recital again,” Cayla McMicheal, GCSU freshman, said. 

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 4 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry