Toronto Summer time Music: Songs by Duparc, Fauré, Debussy, Lili Boulanger, Amy Seaside, 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 part of the annual Toronto Summer time Musical Pageant is its Artwork of the Music program, which incorporates an Academy wing that provides intensive coaching for aspiring singers and collaborative pianists.
Every year, two established professionals, a singer and a pianist, function mentors within the Academy. Additionally they give a recital to the TSM public. Over time, we’ve heard many excellent Canadian and worldwide artists in efficiency.
This 12 months, the Artwork of Music company are two well-known UK artists, soprano Mary Bevan and pianist Roger Vignoles. Whereas Vignoles has carried out in Canada a number of occasions, I’ve a sense that this is perhaps Ms. Bevan’s Canadian recital debut. Final night, an enthusiastic crowd of tune lovers have 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 reminiscent of Pauline Viardot, Nadia Boulanger and Amy Seaside hardly want introductions lately. It’s a testomony to the altering occasions and the rising recognition of the contribution of girls tune composers.
Mary Bevan has recorded fairly a number 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 great thing about tone and communicative energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxS7kUIwm8&listing=RDFWxS7kUIwm8&start_radio=1
Efficiency
Her supply has outstanding depth, by means of her voice in addition to by means of facial features and physique language. A few of these songs have nearly operatic moments, which she delivered with aplomb.
Some are well-known, reminiscent of 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 tune titles have been omitted within the projections.
Bevan is a really wonderful recitalist, with out query. However, maybe in her goal to provide the loveliest sounds doable, her supply of the textual content was not ideally clear. It was tough to make out the phrases. Whereas it might be my poor French, however not completely; I additionally seen that within the single encore, it took me awhile to determine it was sung in English!
Remaining Ideas
One other level — whereas I admire 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 glad songs would have been good!
Via 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 look ahead to his upcoming masterclass.
The live performance was relative quick, with beneath an hour of music. The viewers confirmed its appreciation with enormous 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 time Music; discover particulars [HERE].
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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 often as a panel member of the Massive COC Podcast.He has co-edited a e book, Opera in a Multicultural World: Coloniality, Tradition, Efficiency, printed by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).
