I first heard Jennifer Black in 2000 when she was a finalist in the Met Auditions. She is now in her 2nd year in the Lindemann Met Young Artists Program. Her solo recital last night at Bruno Walter Auditorium was well-attended and the audience response was very enthusiastic.
Starting with French repertoire, Jennifer used her warmly lyrical sound and expressive vibrato to fine effect; the Berlioz 'Spectre de la rose' can be a little jarring out of context but Jennifer's warm-toned approach made it work. In the sensuous 'Adieu de l'hostesse Arabe' Jennifer beautifully coloured the text as the woman bids farewell to the elusive traveler who has enthralled her.
In three Strauss songs, Jennifer's sense of ecstasy was in full bloom for 'Zueignung' and the awesome sustained crescendo at the climax of 'Befreit' was the vocal stunner of the evening. Her quietly poetic 'Morgen' beautifully expressed the sense of dreamy contentment.
The young artists in this series of recitals have all been reveling in the Russian songs they've programmed and Jennifer's Prokofiev set was very well sung, animated and characterful.
In four Schubert songs, Jennifer found the heart of her programme; she brought a welcome intensity to 'Die junge nonne' and used her vibrato skillfully to sustain the magical night mood of 'Nacht und traume'. The impassioned regret of Gretchen/Marguerite was given a vivid, almost operatic treatment in 'Gretchen am Spinnrade'. And the Jennifer pulled back from so such dark emotion to end the set with the humorous 'Die manner sind mechant' (Men are naughty...)
Bringing her taxing and diverse programme to a conclusion, Jennifer painted a set of brilliant miniatures with the contrasting moods of the 'Siete Canciones Populares Espanoles' of Manuel de Falla. With her voice at full sail, she found the colors of irony, passion and tenderness to bring the songs vividly to life.
Jennifer's career is already well underway; she has sung Musetta with NYC Opera and returns there next season for Micaela.
Vlad Iftinca was again the pianist de luxe, all one could hope for from both a musical and expressive point of view: ideal by-play with the singer in the more intricate moments as well as plush underlining of Jennifer's voice in the sustained emotional passages. In the opening of 'Morgen', Vlad's sense of quiet rapture was extraordinarily moving. A singer could not ask for a more perfect colleague. Bravo!
Due to other upcoming events I do not think I will be able to attend any of the remaining recitals in this series, but it has been gratifying to hear the level of performance already attained by these young singers. And a good opportunity to whet the appetite for their future success, which seems assured.
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