Concert date: (2 Nov 2012)

By Val Friesen

Every song is like a story, and every singer a storyteller. Lyric soprano Tracy Fehr opened the South Okanagan Concert Society’s 2012-13 season Friday night at the Alliance Church with some great storytelling in song.

This Penticton coloratura soprano has the marvellous ability—the gift—of being able to communicate the emotional content of the story within the song, often despite a foreign language, with brilliant clarity and impeccable musicality. She’s had some help, of course. The stories she tells were written by some of the world’s most talented musical storytellers. And as equal interpreter, her accompanist, Dennis Nordlund, painted the musical background to support her voice, although occasionally somewhat overpowering the vocal line.

Some of the greatest musical storytelling comes from opera, and the first half of Tracy Fehr’s program gave us some outstanding excerpts, beginning with Gilda’s rapturous response to learning the name of her mysterious suitor. This aria from Verdi’s Rigoletto was a superb vehicle for introducing the audience to Ms Fehr’s wondrous coloratura ability to cascade the notes, which she further demonstrated in that marvellous Queen of the Night aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute. Scintillating! Other wonderful arias followed, but exceptional was Schubert’s Ave Maria which she sang with grace and crystal purity.

The second half was introduced by an unaccompanied traditional spiritual, then some pieces from Broadway musicals and some “light classics.” It was evident the audience particularly enjoyed Summertime from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Tracy Fehr absolutely delights in what she sings, and the audience loved it.

Exceptional musical storytelling, Tracy and Dennis, and thank you so much South Okanagan Concert Society for another wonderful concert. Three more to come this season, and tickets are still available.