|
|
|
INDEX
Shicoff and Deshorties: Innocence and Experience
by Philip Anson / November 19, 2000
On the Aisle
George London Foundation Recital
Morgan Library, New York
Nov. 19, 2000
The New York-based George London Foundation (GLF) is dedicated to identifying and promoting the best young singers in North America. It holds a voice competition each spring, and presents three Sunday afternoon recitals during the year at the Morgan Library. These recitals partner an established opera star (usually a former GLF award winner) with a young recent GLF award winner. No where else does one get to hear big name stars (like Bryn Terfel and Frederica von Stade) in such an intimate venue.
The GLF 2000-2001 season opened on Nov. 19 with a thrilling recital by American tenor Neil Shicoff and Canadian soprano Alexandra Deshorties. Shicoff has recently returned to New York after several years abroad. He has appeared at the Met in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman, and was the subject of a fascinating recent Opera News feature article. The GLF recital was a rare chance to hear Shicoff live and up close. He sang several opera arias, including his signature roles of Lensky from Eugene Onegin and Eleazar from La Juive (when will the Met stage this for him?). Both arias were rivetingly sung and acted. Shicoff always gives 150%, fully inhabiting his part, and conveying the layered emotions with method acting intensity. After his last aria, the soft-spoken tenor thanked the GLF for giving him an award back in 1974. He obviously meant it.
Canadian soprano Alexandra Deshorties is still at the fledgling stage of her career. She is tall and beautiful, with a fine voice. Her instrument is strident at times, with an edge to the top notes; her loud singing is better than her soft singing, and she is probably being groomed for big opera houses, where she will undoubtedly mature and thrive. Host George Jellinek spoke with retired baritone Giorgio Tozzi before the concert. Tozzi, an American who now teaches at a mid-western university, admitted that he was born George in Chicago and took the name Giorgio because opera singers were expected to be Italian. He also told an amusing anecdote about the Italian customs officer who thought that he was selling sewing machines because his job was listed as “Singer.”
Website: www.georgelondon.org
Copyright by Philip Anson
[INDEX]
|
|
|
