The performance of Saints, Sinners, and Sweethearts earned a long and excited standing ovation on Sunday.
Opera singers, Ole Hass and wife Ingrid Cowan, accompanied by pianist Susan Ricci Rogel, performed in a unique environment for their standards, by the special request of Alexandre Strokanov, on behalf of the Lyndon cultural festival.
Lyndon student, Rain Nissen-Reilly said, “I haven’t been to too many vocal recitals, so it was really nice to have that opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.” The performance began with Hass and Cowan reciting short lyrics together, initiated with, “Sound the Trumpet”, and then the duet began taking turns singing solo.
Following the introductory lyrics, Hass and Cowan moved into their vocal performance of Abraham and Isaac. In this performance, Hass and Cowan paired together as the one voice of God, while in the absence of God Hass sang the voice of father Abraham, and Cowan sang the voice of son Isaac.
After the inspiring performance of Abraham and Isaac, the vocalists took a short intermission, followed by a collection of well-chosen lyrics. These songs included renditions of works by such poets and lyricists as Roethke, Weinstein, Graves, and Joyce.
Hass and Cowan showcased the extents of their vocals to about 80 listeners, with remarkable stylistic variations of such lyrics as, “I Attempt From Love’s Sickness,” “Solitary Hotel,” and “Ching-A-Ring Chaw.”
At the conclusion of the performance, Cowan and Ricci Rogel were presented with bouquets of roses from their delighted friend and organizer of the performance, professor Strokanov. Then, following their encore, the three performers bowed to a long-lasting standing ovation. And, if you can believe it, Strokanov was then called and ushered onto the stage by Cowan for a duet performance of, “Doe, a Dear.”
Nissen-Reilly said, “as much as I enjoyed the performance, I think my favorite part may have been when Strokanov got on stage and sang!”
During the performance, Cowan exclaimed between songs, “How nice it is to work while being serenaded by your husband!”