Toronto Summer season 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 season Musical Competition is its Artwork of the Track program, which incorporates an Academy wing that provides intensive coaching for aspiring singers and collaborative pianists.
Annually, two established professionals, a singer and a pianist, function mentors within the Academy. In addition they give a recital to the TSM public. Over time, we’ve heard many excellent Canadian and worldwide artists in efficiency.
This yr, the Artwork of Track friends are two well-known UK artists, soprano Mary Bevan and pianist Roger Vignoles. Whereas Vignoles has carried out in Canada a number of instances, I’ve a sense that this may be Ms. Bevan’s Canadian recital debut. Final night, an enthusiastic crowd of track lovers had been handled to a tasty program of artwork songs within the intimate, 495-seat Walter Corridor.
The Program
It was an attention-grabbing 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 nowadays. It’s a testomony to the altering instances and the growing recognition of the contribution of ladies track 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 fantastic 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 track titles had been omitted within the projections.
Bevan is a really effective recitalist, with out query. However, maybe in her goal to supply the loveliest sounds doable, her supply of the textual content was not ideally clear. It was troublesome 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!
Closing Ideas
One other level — whereas I recognize the thematic nature of this system, I might have appreciated a bit extra selection and distinction within the songs — the inclusion of 1 or two pleased songs would have been good!
By way of all of it, Mr. Vignoles was the rock-solid, supportive pianist. He has been to TSM earlier than, and it’s at all times a pleasure to listen to him play. I sit up for his upcoming masterclass.
The live performance was relative quick, with beneath an hour of music. The viewers confirmed its appreciation with big ovations, particularly from the younger members. A good way to spend a summer time night.
- There are many fantastic concert events to come back between now and August 2 at Toronto Summer season Music; discover particulars [HERE].
Are you seeking to promote an occasion? Have a information tip? Must know the very best occasions occurring this weekend? Ship us a observe.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the each 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 commonly as a panel member of the Large COC Podcast.He has co-edited a e book, Opera in a Multicultural World: Coloniality, Tradition, Efficiency, revealed by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).
