A Musical Journey at the Peralta

By Keith Wall*

There will be something to delight all music lovers at a one-evening only recital by two extraordinarily talented and versatile performers next week. Tenor Stanley Wilson and pianist Malcolm Halliday will be at the Angela Peralta Theater on Tuesday at 7p.m., to give a benefit concert for Jóvenes Adelante, A.C. The concert will include offerings from classical European repertoire to American folk and show-tune standards, with a little bit of everything in between.

The program is structured like a journey, beginning in Europe and moving on to the New World. Appropriately, it begins in France with Henri Duparc’s “Invitation to a Voyage” and other musical offerings by Fauré and Debussy, then moves to Germany’s J. S. Bach. A taste of Portugal comes from António Fragoso and then on to Poland with Mr. Halliday’s performance of Frédérick Chopin’s “Ballade in A Flat Minor.” Part One’s musical voyage concludes with a visit to England and pieces by Roger Quilter, also featured on Halliday and Wilson’s latest CD release.

The evening will continue with the uniquely American song, “Simple Gifts,” as well as renditions of “The Water is Wide” and “Shenandoah.” Then they will open the song books of Eric Copeland, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. What a

treat this should be as Wilson, a most versatile vocalist, is particularly noted for his interpretations of the songs of Cole Porter, with his 2006 release of “Stanley Wilson Sings Cole Porter.” The program will close with selections from the American piano repertoire performed by Halliday, including works by Leo Southerby.

Halliday and Wilson live in Massachusetts where they teach, perform and conduct. They have both traveled and recorded extensively and performed individually and in concert, and decided to perform a benefit concert for Jóvenes Adelante when they learned of the organization during a visit to San Miguel last year.

Halliday is an award-winning organist as well as pianist and is also well known as a conductor of adult and children’s choirs. Having served as resident pianist of the American Schubert Institute, he presently directs the Master Singers of Worcester, Massachusetts, and is a member of the Blackstone Trio with mezzo-soprano D’Anna Fortunato and clarinetist Chester Brezniak.

Tenor Wilson regularly performs a wide range of repertoire. Opera credits include Basilio and Don Curzio in “The Marriage of Figaro” and Bardolfo in “Falstaff.” He has performed the tenor roles in the major oratorios of Bach, Handel, Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Equally comfortable performing in musical theater, Wilson has appeared in the roles of Eddie Ryan in “Funny Girl,” Sasha in “Fiddler on the Roof” and the MC in “Cabaret.”

“We are extremely grateful to these artists for giving this concert to benefit our students,” says Phyllis Culp, JA vice president of fundraising. Jóvenes Adelante currently provides university scholarships to just under 100 students from San Miguel and Guanajuato who are pursuing professional degrees in universities throughout Mexico. Funds raised from this concert will help make some dreams come true for new students in 2011.

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