The Marama Hall lunchtime recital yesterday featured University of Otago alumni baritone Julien Van Mellaerts, accompanied by Prof Terence Dennis.
After graduating from Otago five years ago, Van Mellaerts continued vocal studies at the Royal College of Music, London, and has won many prestigious vocal contests and awards in Britain, Europe and Canada. His voice is matched with an engaging stage personality and yesterday's recital was indeed a highlight for many who had followed his student-day performances. He is already establishing a successful career, with focus on lieder and art songs, plus accepting opera opportunities which come his way.
Yesterday was an exceptional and professional recital from both performers, who rose magnificently to the dramatic and emotive repertoire. Liederkreis Op.24 is a cycle of nine songs for voice and piano, with poems by Heinrich Heine, passionately set to music by Robert Schumann in 1840. Van Mellaerts' confidence with German text was meticulously matched with expression and body language, traversing the drama and fortitude of passages, such as in ``Es treibt mich hin'' and ``Anfangs wollt'ich fast verzagen'', to contrast with lovingly soft subtle tones in ``Ich wandelte unter den Baumen'' and others.
This versatile baritone takes great advantage of an appealing unwavering upper register, and his fluency in both spoken German and French generate clear lyrical articulation and enunciation.
Fetes Gallants II and Trois ballades de Francois Villon, both by Debussy, were followed by two outrageous drinking songs by Maurice Ravel, with former teacher and pupil giving it their all in a spectacular show of virtuosity.
- Elizabeth Bouman
