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SOPRANO
CELEBRATES THE SERENADE
Soprano Arianna Zukerman performs opera selections
accompanied by pianist Craig Ketter at Bryson Hall on East Perry Street
on the fourth day of the Savannah Music Festival. John Carrington,
Savannah Morning News
Singer Arianna Zukerman educates, elates Bryson audience
Monday evening, Savannah Music Festival Director Rob Gibson noted
that classical musical "is a hard sell right now" to the younger generation.
Then he introduced Arianna Zukerman, a young, hip, talented soprano
who could easily serve as classical music's ambassador to the younger
set.
Coincidence? You decide.
More than 100 people gathered at Bryson Hall for Zukerman's recital,
which marked the start of the festival's Jepson Classical Series.
The venue, a new addition to the festival lineup, provided an intimate,
if unconventional setting for the vocalist. In the '30s, '40s and
'50s it was an automobile showroom, among other things, before it
was revamped and reopened in December.
Zukerman, accompanied by pianist Craig Ketter, sang the entire first
half of the program in German, focusing on serenades by Schubert,
Brahms, Wolf and Strauss.
On paper, that roster may seem a little tedious, but Zukerman took
the time to explain what appealed to her about each composer, then
ably demonstrated those elements in song. She ended with a brief but
fierce rendition of Strauss's Zueignung, Op. 10, No. 1.
The second part of the program featured selections from English and
American composers. Audience favorites included "The Tout-ensemble,"
a challenging piece by Arne; and "Taylor, the Latte Boy," Zina Goldrich
and Marcy Heisler's hilarious take on "caffeinated love."
Critics have described Zukerman's voice as "luminous," and I agree.
Her mastery of both the scale and the German language is admirable,
but she has something else - accessibility.
While the word "diva" was arguably created for someone else who once
had Zukerman's job - opera legend Maria Callas - last night Zukerman
easily poked fun at composers, lyrics, even herself.
Can you imagine Callas doing that?
—Amy Morris, The Savannah
Morning News (03/21/05)
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