A unique music recital with guests from Austin Peay State University drew in a substantial audience on Friday, March 7, 2025.
After teaching a master class in Russian diction to a selection of Voice students, baritone vocalist Dr. Jeffrey Williams and pianist Dr. Jennifer McGuire performed in Legends, Longing & Loss, which contained many Welsh, Russian, German and English rarities for piano and baritone.
Williams performed each song with fluent diction, pronouncing each word as if he were a native speaker. He demonstrated a mastery in dynamics, power and timbre, awing the audience with each piece he performed. His expressions felt almost genuine as he sang songs filled with emotions such as woe and sorrow. All of this was accompanied by Dr. McGuire, who complemented his vocals flawlessly through each number.
Pieces included Dank, op. 1, no. 1 by Arnold Schoenberg, a medley by Arthur Foote, Y Môr Enaid by Meirion Williams, Y Gwanwyn Du by Thomas Osborne Roberts, Llanwrst by Gareth Glyn, Caledfwlch by David Vaughan Thomas, At the Gates of the Holy Cloister by Sergei Rachmaninov, I was in Love with You by César Cui, For the Shore of the Distant Fatherland by Alexander Borodin, My Pent-Up Tears Oppress My Brain by Frank Bridge, God and the Universe, op. 97, no. 2 by Charles Villiers Stanford, Proud Songsters by Gerald Finzi and Lights Out by Ivor Gurney.
The recital was well-received by those in attendance.
