The voice that enveloped us all (Live at Lunch, Royal Opera House, 1st october 2021)

When I’m at a concert or in the theatre, I’m always waiting for the moment of “transformation”; the moment, when we suddenly forget about our physical whereabouts because we are being transported into the very moment of the performance.

Today, that moment came with the song “Seal man”(composed by Rebecca Clarke) sang by a young mezzo-soprano Stephanie Wake-Edwards, accompanied by Michael Sikich on the piano. They were performing at the Royal opera house' Lindburry theatre - "Live at Lunch").

Stephanie started her programme with Kurt Weil’s Prologue from “Seven Deadly sins”, then continued with Bizet’s Carmen (L'Amour est un oiseau rebelle). With those two first songs, she already established her "palette" of musical colours. But it was the "Seal man" song, which took us all “in” (if my perception of that "moment" when you feel that something has just happened can be the judge of it). It was performed with such sincerity and depth that captivated our full attention.

Then she continued with various composers (from Brahms, through Ravel, Bizet, Weil and Bolcom), genres and styles (French songs, cabaret songs, Lied or another Carmen's aria), showing her versatility and musical sensibility, enveloping us with her beautifully rich and velvety mezzo-soprano.

Today's recital was already the second performance (since the post-pandemic re-starting of “Live at Lunch”). The first one being the dance piece called Born to protest, performed by the company “Just us”, led by Joseph Toonga, recently welcomed at Royal ballet as emerging choreographer.

Equally high in quality of performance, the "hip-hop" dance energised us with the rhythmical, almost tribal vibes (inspired by New Zealand's Haka dance), a variety of expressions, movements (taken also from Brazilian Capoeira) and strong emotions.