A Vocal Recital: from Disney to Dring
Our first lunchtime concert of this half term was given by Form 5 scholar Eloise. Accompanied by Anne Bolt on piano, Eloise sung music by Madeleine Dring and two musical theatre songs.
Eloise opened the concert with ‘Monster’, from the hit Disney film Frozen. This was a dramatic start, which was full of emotion. After this, Eloise sung three works from Five Betjeman Songs, settings of John Betjeman’s evocative poetry by 20th-century British composer Madeleine Dring. The first, ‘A Bay in Anglesey’, was a portrait of the tranquillity of seaside scenery, and was performed with subtlety and control. The second, ‘Undenominational’, was dramatic, with striking leaps in the melody line. The final song, ‘Song of a Nightclub Proprietress’, was the portrayal of a resentful elderly woman, packed with bags of character and flamboyance. Eloise’s recital finished with ‘Alto’s Lament’ by composer Zina Goldrich. With multiple different characters and sudden changes of mood, this piece was witty and entertaining and brought smiles and enthusiastic applause from the audience. Congratulations Eloise on a varied programme brought to life with fantastic characterisation!
Next week’s recital is given by Form 7 Music Scholar, Samantha, who will be playing piano music by Beethoven, Sculthorpe and Fazil Say.
