Summer Sun Concert

The enchanting courtyard of the Museu de la Mar in the Port of Soller provided a magical backdrop to last Friday’s Summer Sunset Concert performed by Fiona Stuart-Wilson (soprano) and Waltraud Mucher (mezzo soprano) accompanied by pianist Suzanne Bradbury.

The attentive audience at the concert were treated to a musical journey starting with a Rossini nocturne about the sea. The moonlight and the sea were an appropriately key theme during the concert, which featured perennially popular duets including the Flower duet from Lakme and Offenbach’s famous Barcarolle. The performers also included in their programme some less well- known but equally charming pieces by composers including Fauré and Liszt.

The second half saw a distinct Spanish theme (as well as a change of dresses for the singers!) , but one seen through French eyes as we were also introduced to some of the songs and duets written by French composers inspired by the culture of Spain, with works by Massenet, Gounod, and Delibes being offered up for our delectation. Particularly interesting for those who live in Soller, the Habanera capital of Mallorca, was an arrangement of a cheeky Habanera by the neglected 19th century French- Spanish composer Pauline Viardot-Garcia – sung appropriately in both French and Spanish!

The concert closed with two delightful duets from French light opera which along with the rest of the programme really showed the performers’ versatility and left not a few members of the audience humming as they made their way home!

This was the fifth year of this very popular concert and yet again these three performers have managed to bring a delightful new selection of songs and duets for a summer night. For many in the audience this concert is now an annual event not to be missed and they are looking forward to the summer sunset concert 2014!

To see what other events and concerts are coming up in Mallorca, please keep an eye on our Events Calendar.