Not to blow my own horn or anything...but what the heck? Someone who
attended my recital yesterday afternoon posted the following review on
rec.music opera. Just thought I'd share it with you....
Karen Mercedes
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 12:36:20 -0500
From: Don Paolo <donpaolo@e...>
From: Don Paolo <donpaolo@e...>
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera
Subject: One of Our Own Knocks 'Em Dead
Hi All -
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of attending An Afternoon of Opera Arias
& Duets with RMO's Karen Mercedes (contralto), partnered with Terri Surabian
(soprano).
A most ambitious, varied, & downright "brave" program was offered.
Selections were sung in Italian, French, English & Russian, displaying not
only their vocal versatility, but the ladies' ability to portray tragic
drama, as well as comedy.
Included in this challenging, well-balanced program, were arias from Samson
et Dalila, Don Carlo, Werther, Walton's "The Bear", Vanessa, Sadko, Merry
Wives of Windsor, La Perichole, Le Nozze Di Figaro, Otello(Verdi); duets
included Lakme & Tales of Hoffmann, as well as the riotous "Meow", by
Rossini.
Karen's voice is huge; her top quite secure & ringing; her low notes the
envy of a basso. It is a voice full of character & she colors it
wonderfully to display the appropriate emotion of the moment - she has a way
of drawing you into the character, rather than "throwing it out" to the
audience, as it were. Overall a true contralto, with that dusky, dark
timbre. I never heard the "I was a constant, faithful wife", from The Bear &
enjoyed her comic touches, especially the sarcastic laughter at the end.
I hope that some casting directors see this, because should you be in need
of a La Cieca, Erda, Madelon, look no further - guaranteed, Karen will steal
the show!!!
Terri used some props to great effect in her comic pieces, such as "Ah, quel
diner", from La Perichole. The 2 last act arias of Desdemona were most
affecting, as was her "dove sono". A lirico, her refined voice is even from
top to bottom & quite beautiful in the softer moments.
Thank you, ladies, your preparation, effort & success are genuinely
appreciated - Bis Bis Bis!!!!!!!!!!
DonPaolo
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