Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
July 18, 2013
by Michael J. Moran
 |
| Bryn Terfel |
Long before the end of a recital whose start was delayed by
an ill-timed thunderstorm, charismatic bass-baritone Bryn Terfel had the
capacity audience in Ozawa Hall eating out of his hand. Brilliantly accompanied
by pianist Natalia Katyukova, he proved himself both a born entertainer and a
master musician.
The concert opened with settings by three composers of seven
poems by John Masefield. With flawless enunciation and emotional sensitivity,
Terfel perfectly captured their varied moods, from Ireland’s wistful “Sea
Fever” to Warlock’s riotous “Captain Stratton’s Fancy” to Keel’s haunting
“Mother Carey.” The English-language first-half concluded with Roger Quilter’s
settings of four more poems by British poets, all lovingly rendered.
The second half began with German-language sets of four
songs by Schumann and three by Schubert. Drawing on his long operatic
experience, Terfel produced dramatic accounts of Schumann’s “Two Grenadiers”
and Schubert’s mostly cheerful “Trout” until its darker ending. His facial
expressions during the closing piano solo in Schumann’s eerie “My Cart Rolls
Slowly” also showcased his strong acting skills.
While the formal program ended with rousing renditions of
four “songs from the Celtic Isles” (including the Irish “Danny Boy” and the
Welsh “All Through the Night”), Terfel and Katyukova delivered three surprising
encores: the novelty songs “Green-Eyed Dragon” and “Big Brown Bear,” and the
Kansas state song “Home on the Range.” To all three pieces Terfel brought a
lighter touch but full vocal command.
In one of the earthy spoken introductions he gave to each
set, Terfel had already expressed his admiration for Welsh-American baritone
John Charles Thomas, who loved and performed two of these encores. Along the
way he also paid tribute to his teachers at the Guildhall School of Music, Arthur
Reckless (enjoying the name) and Rudolf Piernay, with whom he still studies as
time permits.
By the time he invited the enthusiastic audience to sing
along with him, they were happy to oblige both in the official closer “Loch
Lomond” and in “Home on the Range.” As a fitting end to a magical evening, a
bright moon was visible in the Berkshire sky at the concert’s close.
