Melodies From the
Belle Époque In Paris
Art Song Canberra
Laetitia Grimaldi,
soprano
Ammiel Bushakevitz,
piano
Wesley Music Centre
13 May
Reviewed by Len Power
The Belle Époque (or ‘Beautiful Era’) was a period of about
40 years ending in the First World War in which, especially in Paris, the arts
flourished and many masterpieces of literature, music, theatre and visual art
were created.
For Art Song Canberra, soprano, Laetitia Grimaldi, and
pianist, Ammiel Bushakevitz, presented a sublime afternoon of songs and piano
works by composers active in that period.
This is the first time they have performed together in Australia.
Laetitia Grimaldi Spitzer was born in France, lived in
Lisbon and London and commenced her vocal studies with Teresa Berganza. She continued her studies in New York at the
Manhattan School of Music and obtained a Masters degree from the Juilliard
School. She enjoys a busy international
career in recitals and in opera.
Ammiel Bushakevitz was born in Israel and grew up in South
Africa. He studied in Leipzig and Paris
and has won numerous prizes for his piano playing in Europe, performing
regularly in festivals and concerts around the world.
Laetitia Grimaldi gave excellent performances of songs by Duparc,
Canteloube, Fauré, Chaminade, Hahn and Delibes.
Her relaxed manner gave her an immediate rapport with the audience and
she sang confidently and with great precision.
In the songs that required humour, seductiveness or deep emotion, she
was especially convincing. The four
songs by Chaminade were perhaps the highlight of her performance as she was
able to show all facets of her voice and acting ability with these very
contrasting works.
Ammiel Bushakevitz performed three piano solos by Liszt. ‘Les jeux d’eaux á la Villa d’Este’ was a
highly atmospheric work capturing the sound of the fountains at the Villa
d’Este near Rome. Liszt’s ‘La mort
d’Isolde’ – a tribute to Richard Wagner’s work – captured the highly emotional
finale of Wagner’s opera ‘Tristan und Isolde’ and ‘Soirée de Vienne VII’ was a
lighter, joyful work. The three quite
different works were an excellent choice to showcase Bushakevitz’s impressive
mastery of the piano.
This was an excellent concert with two highly skilled
artists and a very well chosen set of works from the time of the Belle Epoche.
Photos by Peter
Hislop
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 14 May.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
