Way to go, Karen! What a nice write-up.
PJ.
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----- Original Message ----- From: Karen Mercedes To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 3:47 PM Subject: [vocalist] One of Our Own Knocks 'Em Dead (fwd)
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
3/B/
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