Bel Canto and Soloists Delight Audience at WinterSong

The voices of Bel Canto were the star attraction at WinterSong, a special concert held at Nichols Hall on Jan. 22. Directed by Catherine Snider, who also provided piano accompaniment for most of the evening’s soloists, this upper school group sang in a variety of styles, ranging from pop to classical. Several pieces included percussion, such as their performance of Harry Belafonte’s “Turn the World Around,” during which the singers erupted into an amusing chorus of animalistic hoots and hollers while playing drums, sticks and shakers. Piano accompaniment during Bel Canto’s performances was provided by Elodie Nguyen, Gr. 12.

Bel Canto’s performance was highlighted by a stirring rendition of Eric Whitacre’s “Five Hebrew Love Songs,” a series of challenging pieces that the students were thrilled to perform after months of hard practice.

Several solo singers were also heard throughout the show, including Shireen Moshkelani, Gr. 11, singing “When I Have Sung My Songs” by Ernest Charles, Vrinda Goel, Gr. 10, performing Roger Quilter’s “Spring is at the Door,” freshman Nina Sabharwal’s version of the classic “Stormy Weather” and a performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Younger Than Springtime” by junior John Ammatuna, accompanied by Diane Villadsen, also Gr. 11. Foreign language songs were sung by Sebastian Herscher, Gr. 10, performing a German lied, and Alex Najibi, Gr. 10, who sang Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s “La donna e mobile” in its native language.

The concert also featured two appearances by students performing on piano. Sophomore Andrew Lee performed his own four-movement composition, and Lydia Demissachew, Gr. 11, played Johannes Brahms’ “Rhapsody , Op. 70, No. 2.”

January 26, 2010Tags: Featured Story, Performing Arts