As the week comes to an end, I couldn’t help but include fellow baritone of Canadian heritage and a true vocal powerhouse of stage and screen, Robert Goulet. Here he is singing the well known song from Camelot on the Ed Sullivan show, for a segment celebrating the fifth anniversary of My Fair Lady. For the broadcast, instead of featuring songs from that show, they chose instead to perform four highlights from Camelot including “If Ever I Would Leave You”.
Read MoreI have always loved this melody, and in particular this version by superstar baritone Bryn Terfel. “Oh Shenandoah” (also called simply “Shenandoah” or “Across the Wide Missouri”) is a traditional American folk song dating to the early 19th century.
Read MoreThere is something truly magical about this song. I first discovered it as a young boy soprano, growing up in Ottawa, Canada. Known to me only as a choral work, I was surprised to see a recent revival by a number of solo artists and YouTubers. The text became even more poignant and personal for me while working abroad and chasing a new adventure, yet missing home.
Read MoreI grew up with such a eclectic mix of music. From early on, my father would play everything in my basement in Canada, from Saturday Afternoon at the Opera to Roy Orbison, Elton John, Phil Collins and Simon & Garfunkel.
“The Sound of Silence” reminds me of those listening days, weekends at home with my family and though a somewhat reflective even sad lyric, the simplicity of its melody and vocal harmonies has stuck with me.
Read MoreI had the great fortune of attending one of the final performances of ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ staring Steven Pasquale and the incredible Kelli O’Hara, who I met while singing for a past NYFOS fundraiser. Based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel, with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, the musical premiered on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on February 20, 2014, and closed on May 18, 2014 after only 137 performances.
Read More