Performance Report 1

Introduction

I attended Shakespeare in Song, a performance by the UTDallas Chamber Singers, on Friday, March 26^th at 8pm in the Jonnson Performance Hall. The Chamber Singers are a group that is composed of 20 to 24 students that must audition to be admitted to the class/group (http://www.utdallas.edu/ah/programs/arts/musi/chambersingers.html). They perform both on and off campus and have performed a variety of concerts with a variety of different musical styles depending on the season and performance.

Music

The performance included 17 songs. “The authentic songs which accompany his plays, the solo songs of the British composer Roger Quilter, and the choral arrangements of the songs of Shakespeare by Juilliard graduate Matthew Harris” were chosen for this performance (http://www.utdallas.edu/calendar/event.php?id=1220061121). There were several solo performances with accompaniment by piano as well as songs performed by the whole choir. There was a variety of rhythms in the songs. Solo performances had a thinner texture with only a soloist and the piano. The full chorus numbers were much thicker with the piano accompaniment as well as various sections singing in different ranges and also sometimes singing different lyrics or melodies.

Performers

The performers were UTDallas students who are a part of the Chamber Singers and vocal students of Kathryn Evans, the director of the performance and Associate Dean for the Arts at UT Dallas. There was also an accompanying pianist. All performers including the director and pianist were dressed up in attire reminiscent of Shakespeare’s time. The costumes helped to set the tone for the performance. The pianist’s outfit was a bright turquoise which made him stand out and become a part of the performance instead of him just wearing all black and being just a part of the background. Almost all of the performers appeared to be in their early twenties with about two people appearing older. One of the female performers was blind and used a special machine to follow along with music. In between songs, one or a few of the choral members would come down off the bleachers and recite pieces of the original plays to set the context of a particular song.

Audience

The audience was mostly students. Several older people who I assume to be teachers, parents, and grandparents were in attendance. I only saw one child there who was about ten years old and it was a struggle for her mother to keep her focus on the performance. By the end of the performance she was working on a workbook. Several students there were taking notes and other seemed to be there to watch their friends or because they are former Chamber Singers out to support the new group. Several audience members whistled, clapped, and yelled out people’s names when the performers took the stage after the intermission and at the end of the performance. Approximately 100 people attended the performance. The performance was open to anyone who wanted to attend.

Time and Space

The fact that the concert was on campus and free encouraged more people to come than probably would have if it had been off campus or if there was a set ticket price. Since the Chamber Singers practice in Jonnson Performance Hall on a regular basis it was familiar to them and there should have been no surprises to the performers acoustically or functionally.

Conclusion

There was a variety of songs from several different Shakespearean plays. Some songs were performed by soloists or by the whole group which aided in providing variety. In between songs the singers would recite small pieces of the play to put the pieces in context as well as fill any awkward gaps in the performance.