By Ainsley Green, Staff Writer
On Oct. 27, music performance major Thomas Lynch IV ’24 performed his Junior Recital after it was postponed from the last academic year. The recital began at 3:00 p.m. in Paul Recital Hall, and the audience was filled with family and friends supporting Lynch as he performed a wide range of repertoire.
Lynch began his recital with three songs by Italian composers with accompanist Victor Fields on the piano. These pieces, entitled “Gia il sole dal Gange” by Alessandro Scarlatti, “Ma rendi pur contento” by Vincenzo Bellini and “Vaghissima Sembianza” by Stefano Donaudy, showcased Lynch’s wide vocal range and expression while he was singing. The melodic lines had beautiful climaxes, and the lyrics, though in Italian, were conveyed to the audience musically. Audience members could also reference the lyrics, their translations and biographies of the composers in the program while watching the performance.
Lynch continued his recital with a larger work by German pianist turned composer Robert Schumann entitled “Dichterliebe Op. 48,” a collection of seven short songs based off of the poetry of Heinrich Heine. The lyrics and music expressed a love that is lost and anger built up to the end of the piece.
“Where’er You Walk from ‘Semele’” by George Friederic Handel followed with even more exciting and passionate vocals from Lynch. The piece was based on an epic poem by Ovid called the “Metamorphoses,” where Zeus falls in love with a mortal, Semele.
The next piece sung by Lynch was “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by 20th century American composer Samuel Barber, which provided beautiful music to bring the poetry of Robert Frost to life. The piano accompaniment, again by Victor Fields, added a dynamic and urgent effect to the lyrics of the piece.
Lynch then sang “Take, oh take those lips away” by English composer Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry. The poem by William Shakespeare from which this song was adapted spoke of a love that was untrue.
Finally, Lynch closed his recital with “Is she not Passing Fair” by English composer Sir Edward Elgar, which was inspired by the poetry of French nobleman Charles, Duke of Orleans and the English adaptation by Louisa Stuart Costello. He received a standing ovation and lots of applause from the audience after finishing a remarkable and challenging repertoire.
After his performance, Lynch reflected on his experience with the Conservatory. “I feel absolutely blessed to be able to perform for the Conservatory,” he stated moments after leaving the stage. “All the professors here have given me so much and made me into the person I am today. I wouldn’t rather perform in any other place and I feel great about my performance.”
