Songbird, Anina Wassermann to charm in Unforgettable concert (23 May)

With a voice and presence that are undeniably memorable, soprano Anina Wassermann makes her Johannesburg debut as a soloist on 23 May 2009 in a recital aptly titled Unforgettable.

Wassermann is one of South Africa’s leading classical singers, having charmed audiences in operatic productions such as La Traviata, Rigoletto and Lucia di Lammermoor. Now based in the Western Cape, this popular coloratura soprano is well known among Pretoria audiences and has also appeared in stage productions at Johannesburg theatres such as the Civic and Pro Musica.

However, her recital on Saturday, 23 May, at the historic Fontainebleau Community Church chapel in Rabie Road, Randburg will mark her public concert performance debut in Johannesburg. With her accompanist on the night, Michael Watt, and guest artist Herman Theron both hailing from Johannesburg, the show promises to be an extra-special treat for residents.

Wassermann’s petite stature belies her impressive, wondrous voice, which can always be relied on to enthral. Coupled with her zesty personality and play-acting, her performances are never dull.

The theme of her programme for the evening is Unforgettable, and unforgettable it will no doubt be. A compilation of excerpts from opera, operetta, Neapolitan songs and Broadway hits, this recital will be a romantic evening of song, serenade and music in the company of Wassermann and friends.

Audiences can expect to swoon to Wassermann delivering the passionate, beautiful aria Je veux vivre (I want to live) from Gounod’s Romeo & Juliette; be enchanted by the sweet, simple musicality of Tosti’s La Serenata; and swing to Gershwin’s jazzy Summertime.

A bonus will be the presence of Wassermann’s long-time Pretoria stage associate Theron, who will join her for the famous Libiamo “drinking song” or brindisi duet from Verdi’s La Traviata, extolling everyone to embrace life and love. He will also lend his lyric, spinto tenor tones to Tornami a dir from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, a duet that is widely regarded as the epitome of romantic bel canto music.

To reveal more would spoil the surprise, but suffice to say that Wassermann has assembled an entertaining and eclectic programme set to thrill Johannesburg’s classical music enthusiasts.

Wassermann has an illustrious pedigree, accumulating several awards on her mantelpiece since making her professional debut while still studying at the Tshwane University of Technology’s opera department. She has established herself as a favourite with audiences in the fields of opera, operetta, concert and oratorio.

She has attended master classes in Italy and was accepted to attend the Academia Verdiana in Busetto, Italy. During June 2009, she will be heading to Italy once more to undertake a specialist vocal course with Luciana Serra, the world-renowned coloratura soprano.

Pianist Michael Watt has performed extensively as a soloist and accompanist in concerts, broadcasts and recordings locally and abroad, and also teaches music at Wits University. For his part, Theron has only been singing full-time for five years but has already racked up an impressive resumé of top roles in South Africa and Europe, most recently singing the part of Alfredo in La Traviata in Switzerland.

With such an array of music talent on offer, the recital on 23 May at 8pm is well on track to live up to its name – Unforgettable.