This was a marvellous evening - and a time when an notification from Facebook was actually welcome and well-judged.
The location was the tasting cellar of Champion Wines which had pretty decent acoustics I think and the small number of people there meant that a degree of social distancing could be practiced. But I strongly suspect that the singer was, to a degree, holding back given the size of the venue. I am still always surprised when hearing singers in close proximity at the power that is there, even in ‘small’ voices.
The programme was a variegated one with popular opera arias in the first part (O mio babbino caro, and the final scene of Act 1 of Traviata being two highlights and nice to have a piano solo as well - Debussy Clair de Lune). In Part 2 (and very impressed that there was a costume change between the two halves!) it was lighter in tone with jazz and ending with ‘Over the Rainbow’ (always slightly ‘odd’ hearing sung by a classically trained singer…) and’ I could have Danced all Night’.
In addition to the music there was excellent food served - beef carpaccio, tuna and a selection of Italian antipasti amongst much else -and a remarkably generous selection of first-rate wines, a number of which I was pleased to be able to recognise.
Marvellous to hear two young musicians at the start of their careers - and they must have been glad to be able to perform in these times.
Much looking forward to more of these.