"Hansa Haus goes Classic"
again!

When Walter Kornelson announces a classical concert in the Hansa Haus the hall is always full. Such a concert usually takes place on a Sunday afternoon and starts with the opening of the club at noon for dinner with an always scrumptious variety of meals. The bar is open to wash all that good food down with and the ambience is friendly and casual. There are no parking problems, no heavy traffic obstacles and it is light when the patrons arrive as well as when they leave. All these are plusses that cannot be beat, because for $25.00 patrons get to have an experience that is close to the skin. Artists cannot just be heard and seen, they can be met but touched if you wish; they will shake hands, they let you come close, they will talk to you.

In such an environment it is easy to express admiration, which of course is worth as much if not more than all the tea in China to an artist. Well, they do like the cheque that comes with performing of course, but nothing, nothing beats appreciation that is adequately expressed in applause. If artist could live off applause alone they would but our world is not build that way. Personally I feel that artists are never adequately rewarded in monetary funds, save a very few. Most of them, no matter how good they are, have to do other things besides their art. And that is a shame. In the case of the last classical concert at the Hansa House the 25.00 dollars paid at the door, even if the house is full, is not enough to share among such fine talent. I really feel we should have collected something extra. Perhaps I should bring a Chapeau Claque the next time we have such a concert and ask for donations. That will establish the amount of appreciation the audience really has for such a performance.

Vanessa Grant, mezzo-soprano

This time the fare was not as light as usual, but contained more serious arias, such as “OMBRA MAI FU” from Handel’s Xerces, brilliantly performed by mezzo-soprano Vanessa Grant, causing goose bumps. Her voice adds drama to the concert that would be missing something without her.

Wendy Dobson & Brenna Robins, sopranos

“SIGNORE ASCOLTA” from Puccini’s Turandot was sung by Wendy Dobson and showed off her amazing soprano voice with fantastic control. The fine nuances in such high registers were sung with such ease it sounded ethereal. She is amazingly versatile and always surprises with her huge repertoire sung almost always without a book.

Douglas Tranquada, bariton

Douglas Tranquada, whose baritone voice lends itself to sing a broad range of arias that lead into the range of a tenor as well as a bass, is always welcome where he goes. Warm and charming his performances have spark and he does not mind going for a laugh, which is perfect, especially in a setting such as this. His rendition from Mozart’s Zauberflöte, Verdi’s La Traviata and others were simply wonderful.

Brenna Robins, soprano

Then there was Brenda Robins, who we had heard before and we were astounded how much she had advanced in her repertoire and ability to handle bigger arias. Her teacher, Wendy Dobson can be justly proud of her and we can hardly wait the see her develop her voice and her talent further. Her “Mein Herr Marquis” from Strauss’ Fledermaus was quite believable and so were her other selections. Her voice is pure and reminds of silver bells.

James Ciantar, tenor

Any good concert has to have a tenor and we had James Ciantar who is always a delight. His passion rouses even the most apathetic listener to enthusiasm. His very classical Italian tenor voice causes not only the ladies to exclaim loudly their approval. When he sings CELEST AIDA from Verdi’s Aida or TORNA A SORRIENTO, the popular Neapolitan folksong, the applause was thunderous. And when he added on the probably most famous tenor aria from Turandot “NESSUN DORMA” the crowd was on its feet.

William Shookhoff, musical director

All his would only be half as good if there was not a brilliant accompanist like William Shookhoff and of course the man who conceived the program, hired the artists and narrated it with witty and informative commentary, Water Kornelson.

Scenes with James Ciantar, tenor; Douglas Tranquada, bariton; Wendy Dobson, soprano; Vanessa Grant, mezzo-soprano; Brenna Robins, soprano
...and a participating audience

This afternoon was immensely gratifying for all. Thank you! Please come back soon!

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister

Saying thank you to the artists

See these videos that we posted on YouTube: