Rhapsody in Blue: A Gershwin Celebration | Daniel Vnukowski, piano, Adrianne Pieczonka, soprano; Jonelle Sills, soprano; Justin Welsh, baritone; Stéphane Mayer, piano. Markham Flato Theatre, November 14, 2024.
Final night time, whereas downtown Toronto was abuzz with pleasure a few sure pop famous person, vocal and piano fireworks had been ablaze contained in the Flato Markham Theatre, packed to capability for an intimate live performance that performed tribute to an early twentieth century rockstar.
American composer George Gershwin is finest recognized for his pioneering of fusion musical types that spanned widespread, jazz and classical genres. Along with a number of acclaimed orchestral works and a few operas of blended successes, he penned quite a few songs for Broadway and Hollywood, collectively along with his brother Ira who supplied exceptionally witty lyrics.
The night was hosted by Daniel Vnukowski, recognized to many Torontonians because the charismatic host of Classical 96.3 FM’s “Jukebox.” Vnukowski is a fantastic pianist in his personal proper, and he exhibits immense versatility in his craft in a number of jazzy items. The musical spotlight of the night is his mesmerizing efficiency of “Rhapsody in Blue.”
Though the Rhapsody is normally carried out as an orchestral piece that opens with the signature clarinet glissando, Vnukowski’s solo piano model isn’t any much less compelling. He fully captures the jazzy spirit of Gershwin with dramatic dynamic contrasts. The passionate taking part in is accompanied by many, however by no means extreme, creative thrives.
This yr marks the one hundredth anniversary of Gershwin’s iconic masterpiece. It’s arduous to think about that he “unintentionally” wrote this work in just some weeks, which has since turn out to be one among his most beloved compositions. There may be the well-known story of Gershwin making use of to check beneath Maurice Ravel, solely to be rejected by the grasp, who famously mentioned, “Why turn out to be a second-rate Ravel while you’re already a first-rate Gershwin?”
No all-Gershwin live performance can be full with out tunes from the Nice American Songbook. This live performance had one among, if not the most effective, residing Canadian sopranos singing them. Internationally famend Adrianne Pieczonka has sung on the world’s biggest phases. Not solely was it fascinating to listen to her outdoors of her pure habitat of an opera home, it was particular that she got here out of current retirement to carry out. In an earlier interview with Ludwig van Toronto, Pieczonka mentioned that Broadway was her past love, earlier than she even found opera. Pieczonka carried out six solo items, recognizable tunes like “Love walked in”, “Somebody to look at over me” and “Our love is right here to remain.” There was additionally “By Strauss,” a parody of the waltz king Johann Strauss which mocks American composers like Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Gershwin himself. Although Pieczonka sings largely in her center vary, her phrasing is unmistakably stunning, and her lavishly wealthy voice nonetheless carries and envelopes you want a heat blanket.
The efficiency additionally featured two Canadian rising stars, soprano Jonelle Sills and baritone Justin Welsh. Sills notably made her Canadian Opera Firm debut final yr as Mimi in La bohème. Welsh, a COC Ensemble Studio alumnus, additionally starred in that very same manufacturing as Schaunard. The duo carried out solo numbers and some duets, amongst which had been excerpts from Porgy and Bess, one other Gershwin masterpiece.
Sills is a pure and fascinating performer of showtunes from the Gershwin period. She has a vivid palette and heat timbre which can be properly suited to songs like “Embraceable you” and “Summertime.” She makes use of her opera voice with a mighty vibrato when singing the upper vary which soars all the way in which as much as a excessive B.
Welsh is an animated performer, and his resonant baritone comes with a great dose of gravitas. His rendition of the crowd-pleaser “Swanee” is vigorous and energetic. His finest second is because the slimy Sportin’ Life in Porgy and Bess, by which he drums up the viewers to affix in and repeat traces after him in “Ain’t essentially so.”
It will be remiss to not point out the great taking part in from pianist Stéphane Mayer, who accompanied the vocalists all through the night.
The trio of vocalists introduced the live performance to a becoming shut with “I acquired rhythm,” once more with viewers participation. The night transported me to a Nineteen Twenties and 30s jazz membership, and I discovered myself buzzing Gershwin tunes all the way in which residence.
Rhapsody in Blue: A Gershwin Celebration repeats in Welland (Nov 16) and Burlington (Nov 21)
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Denise Lai is a Physiotherapist and School Professor. She is an alumnus of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and a rusty piano participant.
