HGO summer concert review Glamour, Glory and Coloratora

Despite a beautiful summer evening, there were plenty of spaces on the pews at the Highgate church.

HGO was not only competing with a local performance of Mozart’s Vespers but also with a certain football match in Dusseldorf.

Those that did attend were treated so some beautiful music and entrancing performances by a concert line-up of four talented young opera stars-of-the-future.

The concert included pieces from Handel and Verdi sung by Beren Kader Fidan (left) pictured with Monwabisi Lindi (Image: David Winskill)

The opening duet of Owain Gwynfryn and Monwabisi Lindi (whose superb tenor has made him a great friend of HGO audiences) delivered the All’idea di quell metallo with confidence, perky sparring and an infectious sense of humour.

They were followed by Katie Macdonald (looking stunning in red) singing Handel’s Al lampo dell’armi in her lovely, lively, acrobatic mezzo.

Up next, a piece from Verdi’s La Traviata, E strano e strano! Delivered by Beren Kader Fidan as Violetta.

It was clear from the opening bars that this was a very special performance. She had everyone transfixed: her sensational interpretation was assured and sensitive, her amazing voice allowing her to take chances that wowed the audience and was greeted with much enthusiastic cheering.

Katie Macdonald sang a piece by Handel (Image: David Winskill)

Owain’s powerful baritone then offered a song from the less well-known Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas. A celebration of how wine can lift the soul, his committed execution of “The long homelessness/of the human soul” send me wondering how things were going in Dusseldorf.

As the late evening sun streamed in through the stained-glass windows, the first half ended with the rousing quartet Bella figlia dell’amore from Verdi’s Rigoletto – a real treat to hear these young singers’ extraordinary voices combining so well together.

The programme’s Finale consisted of a clutch of fabulous songs by Bernstein from Trouble in Tahiti and Candide that all four performers clearly relished and enjoyed performing.A star of the future Beren Kader Fidan (Image: David Winskill)

But, most of us went away with the memory of Beren offering an unashamedly soppy, sentimental and very, very beautiful O mio Babbino caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

She sent the music soaring into the wonderful acoustic and delighted all of us.