Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact
Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact

Thomas Hampson with Maciej Pikulski

by Heather Leviston 7th June, 2018
by Heather Leviston 7th June, 2018

To explain why it had taken him so long to come to Australia, Thomas Hampson gestured to his surroundings at the end of his Great Performers recital saying, “Nobody told me about this.” It was obvious that the renowned American baritone had been genuinely impressed by the acoustics of Melbourne’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

Those who attended his truly masterly Master Class with three of Victorian Opera’s principal singers (tenor Carlos E. Bárcenas, baritone Stephen Marsh and bass Jeremy Kleeman) the previous evening had already discovered that Thomas Hampson is more than a combination of beautiful voice, good looks and imposing stature; he is also a man of wide musical experience and considerable learning, intelligence and generosity of spirit – a singer and teacher of great energy and imagination who engages with people in a sympathetic and humorous way.

All of this and more were on display in a recital that really lived up to the name of Great Performers. Apart from his striking appearance, the listener’s initial impression was his tremendous vocal power. Wearing a dinner suit with a high-collared shirt suggestive of nineteenth century Romanticism, he began with Der Atlas, the first of six songs selected from Schubert’s Schwanengesang. Mighty in stature and stern in demeanour, it was a dramatic protest against a fate compelling him to “Bear the unbearable” that set the hall ringing. The following Ihr Bildwas a total contrast and may have reassured some listeners that we were not to have an almost Wagnerian version of Lieder, but interpretations that, while somewhat operatic, were to be sensitive, coloured and dramatic in accordance with Heine’s text and Schubert’s music. Focussed power became soft suede caress until the desolation of the final outburst of anguished desolation. The happier note struck in the ebb and flow of Das Fischermädchenwas further illustration of Hampson’s range of emotional expression.

His quiet attention to every piano note was initially most evident during the shimmering introduction to Die Stadt. It was clear throughout the recital that a song did not begin and end with the vocal line; Hampson inhabited the mood of each piece even before and after any note was sounded and his collaboration with pianist Maciej Pikulski reflected a shared artistic understanding of musical intention. The extremely slow pace of Der Doppelgänger   was laden with atmosphere, the audience keen to let the final soft notes linger on before bursting into applause.

A notable interpreter of Mahler’s vocal music, Hampson concluded the first half of the program with five songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. A graceful, smiling Frülingsmorgenwas followed by Aus! Aus! with its marching rhythms and opportunities for humour, which he fully exploited. Poignantly expressed grief, a homesick deserter’s sad tale of capture and, finally, the fluctuating emotions of Der Schildwache Nachtlied  (The Sentinel’s Song), which ended on the softest head resonance, had listeners removed to other worlds.

Providing a further dimension to a program of contrasting qualities, three pieces by composers for the Opéra de Paris opened the second half of the recital. Although he was occasionally dependent on a recalcitrant iPad for text prompts, Hampson’s account of Meyerbeer’s Sicilienne made a joyful beginning. Chausson’s   Le temps des lilas still gave off a perfumed fragrance, despite the initial iPad glitch, and Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre         was invested with satisfying verve and bite.

With his deep interest in history and political science, Hampson has become something of an ambassador for the American Songbook, and many audience members found “Some old songs re-sung” the most rewarding part of his recital. His instruction to the audience before the encores to “read the program” about them was an indication of his belief in their importance for understanding the social development and cultural evolution of his country. Beginning with Henry Burleigh’s Ethiopia Saluting the Colours, his more relaxed style married well with the underlying bitterness. He conveyed a mixture of nobility and expansive acceptance in Margaret Bond’s The Negro Speaks of Riversand found plenty of fun in Paul Bowles’ four Blue Mountain Ballads. Shenandoahwas given rolling might and Copland’s The Boatman’s Dancewas made wonderfully evocative in its long, resonant calls of “High row…”.

If I could have put in one encore request it would have been for Simple Gifts. He must have been reading my mind. It was simply splendid. Entertainment was the key to the final offering: Copland’s I Bought me a Cat. It was yet another opportunity to enjoy the playful side of his personality and the wide range of his vocal attributes – including animal noises.

Now that Thomas Hampson has discovered the acoustic attributes of the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, we may (hopefully) hear this extraordinary artist in Melbourne again fairly soon.

 

Reviewer Heather Leviston heard Thomas Hampson with pianist Maciej Pikulski at the Melbourne Recital Centre on May 31, 2018, and the previous evening his “truly masterly” Master Class for Victorian Opera.

 

0
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Heather Leviston

Heather Leviston has devoted much of her life to listening to classical music and attending concerts. An addiction to vocal and string music has led her to undertake extensive training in singing and perform as a member of the Victoria State Opera chorus and as a soloist with various musical organisations.

As a founding academic teacher of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, she has had the privilege of witnessing the progress of many talented students, keenly following their careers by attending their performances both in Australia and overseas.

As a reviewer, initially for artsHub, and also for Sounds like Sydney, she has been keen to bring attention to the fine music-making that is on offer in Australia, especially in the form of live performance. Heather is a valued member of Classical Melbourne’s editorial team, with her reviews of opera and vocal music valued by performers and audiences alike.

previous post
Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
next post
Victorian Opera: Hansel and Gretel

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • July 2022

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

1 event, 27

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

June 27 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

The next generation of Australia’s chamber music stars. Program Caroline Shaw Entr’acte Joseph Haydn String Quartet Op.76/4 ‘Sunrise’ Béla Bartók String…

$40 – $50

1 event, 28

7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

A commanding, trailblazing oboist at the top of her musical game. In this concert, Diana Doherty unites with pianist Bernadette Harvey…

$49 – $115

0 events, 29

1 event, 30

7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

June 30 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

Xian Zhang, the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC Orchestra, joins forces with the MSO and…

$64 – $119

1 event, 1

7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

Xian Zhang, the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC Orchestra, joins forces with the MSO and…

$64 – $119

1 event, 2

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

July 2 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

lMelbourne Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra, organ and soloists, conducted by Rick Prakhoff A programme of works on the theme of…

$25 – $40

0 events, 3

1 event, 4

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

About Duo Eclettico Award-winning Duo Eclettico explore the wealth of repertoire available for their unique combination of instruments – saxophone and…

$40 – $50

1 event, 5

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

July 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

Tracing the piano’s metamorphosis through time. About the artists Stephanie McCallum has become renowned for a pianistic practice based on refined…

$40 – $50

1 event, 6

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

July 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

Unrivaled energy and spontaneity inspired by the notion of destiny. About Arcadia Winds Arcadia Winds are trailblazers for Australian wind music,…

$30 – $37

1 event, 7

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

From brooding to vibrant with Brahms’s sonatas for cello and piano. About Kristian Chong & Friends Kristian Chong and Friends is…

$40 – $50

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

0 events, 11

1 event, 12

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

A uniquely moving experience in celebration of women. About the artists The Parlour focuses on the sung storytelling of Art Song…

$30 – $37

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

0 events, 20

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

June 27
June 27 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

June 28
June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

  • There are no events on this day.
June 30
June 30 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 1
July 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 2
July 2 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

  • There are no events on this day.
July 4
July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

July 5
July 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

July 6
July 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

July 7
July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

July 12
July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

July 7
July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
July 12
July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Classic Melbourne’s reviews policy

audio
Our point of differenceby Editor Suzanne Yanko

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Follow us on Facebook

Classic Melbourne

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Introducing Classic Melbourne

audio
Speech at launch by Conductor Andrew Wailes

Your browser does not support the audio element.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

@2019 - All Right Reserved.

Read alsox

Pure Harmony Musical Events: After Aida

22nd May, 2022

Nikolai Demidenko

4th June, 2017

Zelman Symphony: End Games

5th December, 2018