What Joseph wrote about Thomas Quasthoff's recital [in Toronto] goes ditto for his Washington, DC debut tonight at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The sold out house begged for more, but we only got two encores after the same program that reached Toronto earlier this week:
Brahms' NINE SONGS
Liszt TRE SONETTI DI PETRARCA
Debussy TROIS BALLADES DE VILLON
Ravel DON QUICHOTTE A DULCINEE
From his opening notes the audience was completely entranced. However, Mr. Quasthoff managed to keep us all constantly at ease with his lighthearted and often funny remarks. Well-wishes were announced from President Clinton saying he was sorry he could not attend, but that Washington was bound to love Thomas if he sang like he did when Bill heard him in Cologne!
Mr. Quasthoff said the weather was so nice (we had hi 70's today and lots of sun) that maybe he should stay here! This is an artist well-versed in singing and public speaking!
The first Brahms song had such intensity and strength, yet also such lightness and amazing contrasts in the voice. This was evident throughout the evening in the multiple shades Mr. Quasthoff is capable of. In the Lizst songs he proved he was fully capable of singing in a true Italian operatic style with two of the songs having such grand operatic endings. Again he showed his versatility in style and extension of range from very high to very low. He also had total control of the text throughout. The French second half was again a lesson in different styles. Like Joseph, I have never heard these particular Debussy songs before and they are not normal to that composer's style at all. The first was so intense it was almost yelled at times for effect. The three Ravel songs were given exquisite interpretations. The "chanson epique" received a pleading sound accented by vibrato, while the "chanson a boire" was beyond boisterous, along with the traditional drunkenness.
One of the highlight was the first encore, SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT. This was the most vocally heartfelt rendition I have ever heard of this song, or for that matter, just about any American song, and it came from a foreigner. His voice was so sweet for the high notes and the low notes were UNREAL! If I closed my eyes, I would never have guessed who was singing.
The second encore from Liszt, Es mus ein wunderbar..., he sang "to remind us we must be serious"-which everyone giggled at. The last word, "zagen" was so softly and beautifully sung, and it was so amazing that you could not hear a single noise in the house except the fading voice of Thomas Quasthoff, a voice I hope will not fade from our musical scene for a long long time. Incidentally, Justus Zeyen, the pianist did a great job as well, especially in the Liszt Petrarch Sonnets, where the piano must sound like an orchestra! Off to bed...
Alan J. Savada - 7 March 2000
I think everyone who hears him is impressed with the power of his voice. But on many of the songs, I was even more impressed by his quiet singing, which was so perfectly beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes, especially the last line of Debussy's Ballade que Villon feit a la requeste de sa mere ("En ceste foy je vueil vivre et mourir"). His version of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was literally stunning and the D.C. audience went wild, prompting him to tease us that "This is not a gospel show, you know." As for his stage presence, although I am more accustomed to the traditional and more formal lieder recital with no introductions, banter, etc., I thought Quasthoff hit just the right balance -- he really engaged the audience without trivializing the songs or destroying the mood. Finally, I was entranced by his obvious love for this music and the joy it brings him. The look on his face when Zeyen played the solo piano parts appeared to me to be a subtle form of ecstasy. On the last encore, however (the Liszt song), he wasn't subtle at all -- he told the audience that he simply loved that song and it showed. After the concert, he sat at a table in the lobby and graciously greeted and signed CDs and programs for a very long line of people (including me). I can't wait to hear him sing Winterreise in Feldkirch this summer.
Margaret Tobey - 7 March 2000