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8 August 2012
Madeleine Pierard is a highly regarded Young Artist with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and this tour sees the Lexus Song Quest winner on a welcome return home, to appear in concert with her sister, Anna, who also has an impressive international background.
Together they provided a programme of German lieder and operatic works in the Italian style, a variety of solos and duets all perfectly chosen for this very talented pairing. Of particular interest was a New Zealand work of Ross Harris, especially commissioned for this tour – Songs for Beatrice, with words written by Vincent O’Sullivan.
The Pierard sisters’ voices blend beautifully, and they obviously enjoy performing together.
However, this is not to take away from the artists’ solo performances and we were treated to marvellously expressive work from Anna whose beautiful contralto voice was fully revealed in two songs by Brahms, among other items.
Madeleine gave us Alban Berg’s Siben Fruhe Lieder and the work by Ross Harris. She captured the essence of both these contrasting works with a wonderfully empathetic, expressive performance coloured with great richness of tone.
Superb accompaniment by Terence Dennis added the perfect touch to this outstanding performance.