Sleep & Dreams & Other Ghosts was held in the Exeter College Chapel, with songs performed by Susanne Mecklenburg, accompanied by William Hancox. The theme was Halloween, with songs selected by Mecklenburg for their haunting and spooky nature. The programme was a mix of pieces from the 19th and 20th century, and included the likes of Britten, Barber, Respighi, Weill, Turina, Piazzolla and Rogers and Hammerstein. Despite the rather eclectic song selection, Mecklenburg performed them all in the same style of rich, classical solos. While this generally worked, a few of the rather fun pieces (for example, Rogers and Hammerstein’s What’s the use of wond’rin’) were a bit odd with such a serious take.
Mecklenburg is a mezzo-soprano with a lovely, classically trained voice. She occasionally was reaching a bit with the upper range, but generally it was a strong performance. She seemed to warm to the audience over the course of the performance, and her personality really started to come through as the recital progressed. Her accompanist (and singing teacher) Hancox was excellent, not to mention enthusiastic. He had several solos of his own, which he performed with gusto and flair, and looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself.
Exeter Chapel was a beautiful setting for the recital, surrounding the audience with breathtaking tapestries and frescoes, and a soaring, intricate ceiling. It was also a very intimate setting, with the performers so close you could touch them, which is a unique experience. Overall, Mecklenburg and Hancox put on an eclectic and enjoyable recital, fittingly performed in the hauntingly beautiful Exeter Chapel.
Mecklenburg is a mezzo-soprano with a lovely, classically trained voice. She occasionally was reaching a bit with the upper range, but generally it was a strong performance. She seemed to warm to the audience over the course of the performance, and her personality really started to come through as the recital progressed. Her accompanist (and singing teacher) Hancox was excellent, not to mention enthusiastic. He had several solos of his own, which he performed with gusto and flair, and looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself.
Exeter Chapel was a beautiful setting for the recital, surrounding the audience with breathtaking tapestries and frescoes, and a soaring, intricate ceiling. It was also a very intimate setting, with the performers so close you could touch them, which is a unique experience. Overall, Mecklenburg and Hancox put on an eclectic and enjoyable recital, fittingly performed in the hauntingly beautiful Exeter Chapel.