Michael Barrett opened this year's NYFOS Next series, a trio of monthly composer-curated events that happens in the first quarter of the year for the past decade, on February 13, with an ultra-curated event, “Director's Pick.” Barrett selected a compendium of composer contributions of new songs spanning the first ten years of this outstanding series. The concert, featuring mezzo-soprano Gina Perregrino and baritone Mario Diaz-Moresco, began with Derek Beremel's “Lucky Number,” from the yet-to-be-produced “Golden Motors.” Perspicacious fans remember this work from Kevin Puts and Friends, back in the early 2000s. This featured Diaz-Moresco with some grace notes from Perregrino. When Barrett introduced “North,” by Errolynn Wallen, he mentioned that his daughter, present and close, in the intimate setting of the recital hall at DiMenna Center for Classical Music, fell in love with the song when he first played it. No pressure for Perregrino, who gave us the sense of bracing breeze and the zest of adventure that comes, not from the intellect, but from the heart. I have to admit, however, that the songs that most plucked my own heartstrings were Peter Lieberson's gorgeous setting of Rainer Maria Rilke, “O Ihr Zärtlichen” (O ye tender ones), written for his late wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, followed by James Primosch's “From Psalm 116”—pure heart and then, a bit later, such pure modal tone that the beauty was pure emotion. Ned Rorem's songs from “Evidence of Things Not Seen,” “End of the Day” with lyrics adapted from Charles Baudelaire, and “Faith,” with lyrics by Mark Doty, put us on a contemplative plane considering the connections that we have, and the blessing that we are to one another.
Perregrino's warm, pure tone, literally in concert with Diaz-Moresco, in songs designed for the voices that we hear less, often made for even greater delight. Truly, sopranos and tenors usually get the meaty, beautiful melodies. Art songs, however, are long even if life itself is sometimes short.
NYFOS Next's next presentation, Laura Karpman & Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum: “And Still We Dream” is on March 25, at DiMenna. Be sure to get your tickets at www.NYFOS.org, as this concert celebrates the centenary of women having the right to vote, with the writings of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton set to music. Come see what's new, now and NEXT! I'll see you there!