Now, me, I am biased, I admit it! Pianist Stephen Hopkins, being my "Buddy" has magical fingers, I know only too well from attending his recital last year. To hear of and read more on this gifted musician check out his website stephenmhopkins.com.He accompanied with verve the Handel and Mozart pieces. His wife, Amaia, wasn't present that night, alas. 
But David Hanlon, who accompanied the excerpts from Turandot, Berg, and Donizetti, did it beautifully, especially, and surprisingly, he made the Wozzek excerpt (Berg) -Hopkins also played a bit role in that - he pounded the piano lid as a not so little drummer boy (in the spirit of armed forces - not Christmas ;-)-, sound quite digestible. Stephanie Rhodes, a 'newby', was accomplished in Verdi and Floyd.
But David Hanlon, who accompanied the excerpts from Turandot, Berg, and Donizetti, did it beautifully, especially, and surprisingly, he made the Wozzek excerpt (Berg) -Hopkins also played a bit role in that - he pounded the piano lid as a not so little drummer boy (in the spirit of armed forces - not Christmas ;-)-, sound quite digestible. Stephanie Rhodes, a 'newby', was accomplished in Verdi and Floyd.And now to the VOICES:
OMG what voices they were: sumptious rich bass Michael Sumuel, fine and warm baritones Octavio Moreno and Adam Cioffari, two brilliant tenors,
Nathaniel Peake, below 
and Brendan Touhy, both tall and powerful.
and Brendan Touhy, both tall and powerful. Touhy's rendering of the 'mentally handicapped' LENNY' in Of Mice and Men (Floyd) was astonishing for so young a singer. That scene,where Lenny and his friend and protector GEORGE (acted and sung well by Cioffari) sing about their dream farm, just before George kills Lenny, IS simply one of heart breaking impact.
Catherine Martin's presentation of XERXES (a trouser role-often sung by counter tenors or historically by Castrati)) in the Handel was full of vocal fireworks. She also sang and acted as DORABELLA in "Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte" creditably and humorously.
Rachel Willis-Sorensen, despite some vocal cord swelling, handled the difficulties in the role of MARIE by Berg with power and sensitivity, and did well as Fiordiligi in the Mozart.
The most astonishing voice that night (causing a spontaneous standing ovation) was undoubtedly Soprano Kiri Dyan Deonarine, as a beautiful, haunted LUCIA in the Donizetti. She also had huge comical talent as DESPINA in the Mozart.
After it was over, I truly wished I had come the night before for the first show.. and skipped the less than stellar performance of the 'poor Aeros' at the TC. Hopefully today's game will be better!
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