A bravura performance indeed

Newspaper: Cue – 3 July 2010

Jeff Brukman

Michelle Veenemans (soprano) dazzled and wowed her audience, earning a well-deserved standing ovation at the conclusion of her National Arts Festival debut recital. Ably assisted by Paul Ferreira (piano) and Gerrit Koorsen (cello) this programme testified to thorough preparation and technically flawless delivery.

This prima donna "drama queen" deluxe revelled in the dramatic theatricalities of each work, dominating the stage with confidence and panache...

In the opening item, Handel’s Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne, Veenemans revelled in the setting’s rich Baroque ornamentation and stratospheric tessitura. Her well-developed soprano range, outstanding breath control and clear understanding of phrasing were to the fore in this riveting performance, though she should try to avoid scooping at the opening of phrases.

In a concert version of Ach ich liebte, from Mozart’s Die Entführing aus dem Serail, Veenemans exemplary use of facial expression (especially her eyes) aided in projecting the dramatic essence of the music. She showed complete technical mastery of florid passages, and the ornamentation and echo colouring in the coloratura range were handled with aplomb.

Traversing numerous genres and styles of performance with ease, Veenemans coaxed multiple vocal colours from a wide prism of tonal shadings in Floyd’s The Trees on the Mountains (Susannah) and Herbert’s Art is calling for me (The Enchantress)...