"Emotion runs high in superb concert"

The Art of Song

Gateway Centre, Shrewsbury

Shropshire Star, 31 Oct 2006

Those concert-goers who only turn out to hear celebrities missed a musical treat in Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Anna Stephany (mezzo-soprano) and Jonathan Beatty (piano) are two fine young professionals who trained together at the Guildhall School of Music. And their programme of song, from Schubert to Noel Coward, lent itself to the intimacy of the Gateway,

Both performers are communicators and from the outset established a rapport with the thoughtful and responsive audience.

Anna's opening notes in Schubert's Restless Love at once established the power and control of her voice. The range of songs enabled Anna to portray joy and grief, love, excitement, peace and humour.

In songs such as Gretehen am Spinnrade and Hahn's ‘The Exquisite Hour’ Anna displayed depth of emotion. In Cole Porter's ‘The Physician’ she showed her playful side. 
Yet she was able to move easily into the quiet, fluent English lyricism of Quilter and Ireland.

Jonathan conveyed emotion through the sensitivity of his playing but also through a delicate facial expressiveness unusual in an accompanist. The Art of Song is best appreciated in an intimate setting where the whole personality of the singer in particular can be experienced. We had that on Saturday, in an evening of delights.

Chris and Mike Rayner

Last Updated : 02/11/2006