NEWCASTLE International Chamber Music Orchestra dished up yet another rare treat; this time in the form of the New Zealand-born Samoan Jonathan Lemalu, whose rising star has become firmly fixed in the constellation of the greats.
Appearing at Newcastle University's King's Hall with the accomplished pianist Malcolm Martineau, the baritone charmed an audience with his cavernous voice and understated presence.
The evening began on a hesitant note as, only a few lines into his opening recital, Lemalu stopped dead in his tracks. But after an unflustered "take two", he started again with aplomb.
If anything, it was a mark of his perfectionism and the hiccough was soon forgotten as he displayed his awesome communicative skills.
Faures' Poeme d'un jour was powerfully projected, though the hall's acoustics did not do it justice. While French may not be Lemalu's strong point, he was more at ease with his German diction in Schumann's Dichterliebe.
The air seemed to resonate at the power of his chords, while he modulated his volume perfectly for the silkiest of translations of the more intimate passages.
Martineau's playing was perfectly wedded to Lemalu's lovingly-shaped phrasing, and he spun out some exquisite lines in the piano postludes.
The second half saw a consummate interpretation of five songs of Brahms and a rousing rendition of Vaughan Williams' Songs of Travel. As an encore, the duet rewarded the audience with a recital of Gerald Finzi's Amabel. It was musical artistry at its finest.
Published: 11/01/2005
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