Above: Helmut Deutsch and Piotr Beczala onstage at Carnegie Hall; photo by Chris Lee
~ Author: Oberon
Monday December 9th, 2024 - The great Polish tenor Piotr Beczala in recital at Carnegie Hall with Helmut Deutsch at the Steinway. Mr. Beczala, who scored his greatest Met triumph to date as Wagner's Lohengrin in 2023, was very warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic audience tonight.
The program, which looked dauntingly long on paper, actually sped by. The tenor sounded marvelous in the cordial Carnegie acoustic, and the playing of the legendary Helmut Deutsch - about to celebrate his 79th birthday - was simply sublime. Maestro Deutsch has collaborated with the so many of the world's finest singers, going back to his long-time partnership with Hermann Prey.
The tenor had a music stand before him throughout the evening, which didn't distract from his performance in the least. Nine Tchaikovsky songs opened the program, commencing with "It Was in the Early Spring" which immediately engaged us with the singer's expansive dynamic range, from hall-filling power down to sweet pianissimi. "Why?" was so touching, and in "Amid the din of the ball" with its pensive start, many subtle moments were woven in to the vocal line.
"So what, then?" features a lovely, waltzy - and somewhat restless - piano part which Mr. Deutsch savoured, and he and Mr. Beczala proceeded to the passionate "I should like in a single word". The piano introduction to "Amid Sombre Days" found Mr. Deutsch at his grandest, and then, in "The Sun has Set" both musicians explored the dynamic possibilities, with a big ending. The pianist's gentle introduction to "The mild stars shone for us" was captivating.
It was from another unforgettable Polish voice that I first became acquainted with "Does the day reign?": Teresa Zylis-Gara sang it enticingly; hearing Mr Beczala's rendition tonight made me wish their careers had coincided. What a BUTTERFLY or BALLO IN MASCHERA they could have given us!
Mr. Beczala (above, photo by Chris Lee) sang the Grieg songs in German, which was momentarily jarring to me since one of my earliest Grieg encounters was hearing the beloved soprano Elisabeth Söderström singing “Jeg elsker deg”, which tonight became "Ich liebe dich".
But first tonight came "Gruss", a perfect blending of voice and piano with a whisper-soft finish from Mr. Deutsch. Mr. Beczala then brought simply gorgeous soft singing to "Dereinst, Gedanke mein", displaying exquisite control; the pianist responded in kind. Breath-taking!
"Zur Rosenzeit" is hauntingly poignant, with rising passion giving way to eloquent softness. Mr. Beczala's "Ich liebe dich" was a bouquet of subtleties, with a divine conclusion. Superbly melodious playing from Mr. Deutsch made "Ein Traum" yet another treasure to cherish, ending with a great rise of passion from both voice and piano.
Following the interval, four songs by Mieczysław Karłowicz were all new to me. The rhapsodic "It Goes Over the Fields" featured a knock-out power-high note from the tenor. Mr. Deutsch's playing perfecly complimented Mr. Beczala's gorgeous singing of "In the Calm of the Evening".
"The Enchanted Princess" tells a musical fairy tale, with a rippling, spring-like opening leading to a waltzy section; the music gets dramatic, then nostalgic, and Mr. Deutsch has the final passage.
In "I Remember Quiet, Clear Golden Days" Mr. Beczala sings of a memory tinged with longing. The songs ends with a ravishingly beautiful high pianissimo which the tenor sustained forever; rarely have I heard such a heavenly sound hanging on the air of the venerable Hall. Sublime!
Photo: Chris Lee
What's a lieder recital without some Schumann? Mr. Beczala sang these (mostly) familiar songs so beautifully, and again the Deutsch artistry made every moment a pure delight. I wonder how many great voices the pianist has supported in these songs the the years?
The gallantry of "Wanderlied" moves on to a pensive section, and to a sterling Deutsch postlude. The familiar and always-welcome "Der Nussbaum" seemed fresh this evening with a 'confiding' feeling from the keyboard and a magical softness from the voice. By the end, we were down to a whisper. "Die Lotosblume" was heavenly, the ending divinely delicate.
Restlessness from the Steinway and a flow of melody from the voice captivated us in "Jasminenstrauch", followed by the hauntingly familiar "Du bist wie eine Blume" and then a five-star "Widmung" which was as perfect as one could wish, with an enchanting Deutsch coda.
Rachmaninoff's Six Romances, Op. 4, brought the printed program to an end. These were apparently originally composed for a variety of voice types. Mr. Beczala made them all his own. "Oh, stay, my love, forsake me not!" is a sorrowful song, covering a range of dynamic effects, turning passionate, and ending with a keyboard coda.
"Morning" is a song of tenderness, gentle and touching; Mr Deutsch is at his most moving here. "In the Silence of the Secret Night" is thrice familiar, but I never tire of it. The Beczala/Deutsch collaboration reached yet another high point here.
Likewise "Sing not to me, beautiful maiden" is oft heard and has been oft recorded; softness is the watchword here.
For "Oh Thou, my Field", Mr. Deutsch's introductory measures draw us in; Mr. Beczala sings the lament which grows more urgent...rather ominous piano motifs bring a feeling of desperation. There is a cadenza of sorts. To finish the cycle, "How Long, my Friend" begins gently and rises to an outpouring of voice and a grand ending.
Mr. Beczala's first encore was Rachmaninoff''s "Dreams", spectacularly sung. A jollier song followed, with rapid keyboard rhythms and a quirky, hesitant finish. Yet another encore seemed inevitable as I headed out to catch the train home. The evening had been as uplifting a musical experience as any I have experienced...and having my spirits raised is more crucial than ever now, as head into the darkness of the coming years. I feel the world I have lived in is on the verge of collapse, and I often find myself wishing I could fall asleep and never wake up. But on evenings like this, great musicians like Mssrs. Beczala and Deutsch can still make me feel that life is worth living.
Our two wonderful artists take a bow after this truly marvelous concert. Bravissimo, gentlemen!
All photos by Chris Lee, courtesy of Carnegie Hall.
~ Oberon