Placido Domingo, Susan Graham, Yo-Yo Ma perform eloquently at Kennedy funeral
I didn't figure on watching the entire funeral Mass for Sen. Edward Kennedy, but I'm glad I got drawn in, for, in addition to all the fine oratory (especially by Ted Kennedy, Jr.) , there was music-making of great eloquence by three of the finest artists in today's classical world. The senator, a hearty music lover, would have loved every note of it.
During the Offertory, Yo-Yo Ma played the Sarabande from Bach's Suite No. 6 for Unaccompanied Cello, a piece of elegant, comforting beauty, with a hint of sadness in the descending melodic motive that recurs. Intonation could not have been easy to maintain in the un-airconditioned church, but Ma came through, as always, with his deeply poetic phrasing.
The cellist returned at Communion to accompany Placido Domingo in the Cesar Franck hymn, "Panis Angelicus," a work of great warmth that was much loved in the days of pre-guitar Catholicism. It was intriguing to
hear just a tenor and a solo cello perform this music, and I found the result quite touching, a very personal performance. Domingo hit a rough note or two, but sang with considerable expressive power to the counterpoint of Ma's eloquent counterpoint. (Update: I've added video of the Franck.)
After Communion, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham offered a sublime account of another work long a favorite at Catholic services, Schubert's "Ave Maria," accompanied by organ. Graham possesses one of the most intrinsically beautiful voices of our time, not to mention exceptional interpretive instincts, and this solemn occasion benefitted greatly from her art.
Comments
Placido Domingo, and Panis Angelicus If I could hear it once more
I just added the Domingo/Ma video. TIM
Posted by: charlie | August 29, 2009 8:41 PM
Could somebody slap those old queens in the back who are SOOO disrespectful!
Posted by: Jon | August 29, 2009 8:47 PM
Incredible voice. Perfection! Where have I been all my life? I must find her CD's
Posted by: Charles Shores | August 29, 2009 9:40 PM
Thanks Tim for the great summary and review. Add to the list the Tanglewood Festival Chorus from today's funeral. And last night, Brian Stokes Mitchell sang the Impossible Dream at the memorial service.
Posted by: Ted | August 29, 2009 11:24 PM
all three artists performed 'HEAVENLY!
Posted by: joe | August 29, 2009 11:40 PM
Tim: Thank you for your coverage of the music at the Kennedy service. I agree with you 100%, adding only to mention the sensitive artistry of James David Christie at the organ. His improvisations between stanzas of the hymns - to make them come out just right with the activity underway - were nothing short of stunning. They reminded me of the extraordinary musicianship displayed in similar events by Washington's J. Reilly Lewis.
Posted by: Margaret Shannon | August 29, 2009 11:45 PM
Plácido Domingo's performance
was brilliant, touching,and
heart-breaking.
He is the best tenor of all,
and I never get tired of
listening.
Thanks from the bottom of my
heart.
I'm glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for the comments. TIM
Posted by: Ingeborg Ferraina | August 30, 2009 10:02 AM
Where now is the Susan Graham video? It's been replaced by Placido. I would like to watch the Graham Ave Maria. The U-tube video is grainy and the audio is not good.
Someone here at the paper says it had to be removed because of copyright issues. Go figure. I hope to come up with an alternative. TIM
Posted by: Pat | August 31, 2009 1:25 PM