Today, we went to the first Voce at Pace: Rising Opera Stars in Recital supported by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation in honor of the late Dr. Agnes Varis. The first singer to kick of the series was mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton.
Jamie sang cycles by Purcell/Britten, Brahms, Sibelius, Ives, and Elgar. Her encores included Neverland from Peter Pan and Stella del marinar from La Giocanda. The Purcell/Britten and Brahms were lovely and she really let loose on the Sibelius. I swear I levitated right out of my seat during the Elgar "Sea Pictures" cycle. Jamie, along with accompanist Bradley Moore, presented an absolutely thrilling recital!
Jamie has a huge creamy voice that is supremely gorgeous. Jamie's low notes wrap around you like a blanket while her top notes thrill and chill. Her stage presence is that of an old pro and she has a joyous smile that stops the show. She's absolutely charming: during the Brahms, one of her earrings fell off and she quipped that hopefully it would be the only wardrobe malfunction. I've been wanting to hear her live again since hearing her at a Tucker Gala, and of course since seeing her in the documentary The Audition. (She's recently been in the production of Norma at the Met, but I haven't been able to fit it in my schedule.)
Jamie won the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Watch and be thrilled:
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