Blogs / The Arts Revue
A Rare Gem
| Feb 4
Maria Luz Alvarez w/ The WSO Baroque String Quartet Virtuosi Concerts University of Winnipeg’s Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thompson, Manitoba has discovered somewhere in its nickel mines a rare gem - one whose radiant charm is much desired and extremely delightful. The gem to which I refer is Maria Luz Alvarez, the soprano whose enchanting voice, supported as it was by some incredible musical talent, led the full house to its feet at the end of this nearly three hour concert.
Alvarez was born in Madrid, Spain and frequently returns there – all of her CDs, it seems, recorded in Europe. Along with her family, she came to this remote outport of the cultural world “out of love”. She never specified with whom or with what but audiences in Manitoba should be grateful that she found it here.
The two acts of this passion play were considerably different – the first focusing on the Spanish baroque while the second began at that point then took off on a road leading to the twentieth century.
Shortly after 8:00 p.m., Alvarez came onto the stage followed by three of the four members of the WSO Baroque String Quarter. The three members were WSO concertmaster Gwen Hoebig and Darryl Strain on violins and Yuri Hooker on cello. They, in turn, were followed by Max Fleischman who was billed to play the piano forte but opted instead for the ornate harpsichord occupying centre stage.
Here is where that delightful enchantment occurred. Alvarez addressed the audience explaining how it was that love led her to Manitoba and how it would be that love would be the concert’s unifying factor. She provided a rich background to each piece performed that evening and was not afraid to engage humorously with the audience who loved the shy innuendos.
In the first piece, a cantata by Juan Francés de Iribarren, Alvarez demonstrated the beauty of her voice as it sailed high above the instrumental backing. She then absented herself from the stage as just the musicians performed the Sonata a Tre by Antonio Caldara.
Although the musicians performed well, there was a noticeable sonic gap between the two violins and the cello that Daniel Scholz’s viola would have filled nicely. Such wasn’t to be the case until the third piece consisting of arias from the opera Las Amazonas by G. Facco. With the viola filling in that hole, the orchestration was complete.
Closing off the first part were arias from the zarzuela Azis y Galatea by Antonio Literes. Sholz departed the stage to be replaced by Ryszard Tyborowsi on classical guitar. The zarzuela is a Spanish form which alternates spoken word and singing.
Following intermission during which coffee and dainties were served, Alvarez returned to the stage accompanied only by Tyborowski. Works of two composers, José Marin and Fernando Sor, were presented. Tyborowski, who teaches at the Faculty of Music, demonstrated his mastery of the guitar. The rich textures achieved in the interplay of guitar and soprano voice elevated the stage.
Another strictly instrument piece followed. Alvarez and Tyborowski were replaced by Hoebig, Strain, Hooker and Fleishman. But this time, the harpsichord had been replaced by a grand piano. Hoebig, who is perhaps beginning to enjoy the spotlight after her duet with Natalie MacMaster during the WSO’s 2008/09 season, was called upon to say a few words regarding Joaquin Turina’s Circulo for piano trio from the early twentieth century. She described the piece as quite short. Following a frenetic round of playing, she added “but not that short” at which point the musicians began the second movement.
The evening ended with seven short pieces by one of Spain’s most famous twentieth century masters, Manuel de Falla. This called for all musicians to be present on stage although not all performed in every single piece. In fact, on two only the guitar and voice were heard and, in the last, only the voice and piano.
This was an exercise in how to construct a concert. The audience’s interest was held from start to finish leaving them with no choice but to give a standing ovation with many a “bravo” shouted by the crowd.
A reception followed in which the audience had a chance to meet and congratulate the musicians on an excellent job and to have Alvarez sign the CDs that were presented for sale.
All in all, an excellent evening.
- John Herbert Cunningham