Music Review: Katarina Karnéus/Johan Ulléen

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 19:36

KATARINA KARNÉUS / JOHAN ULLÉN **** QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH

THE wisdom of asking singers to perform at 11 o'clock in the morning is questionable, as often their voices need a little more of the day to warm up. Not so with Katarina Karnus, who performed bright and early at the Queen's Hall yesterday. The Swede, a past Cardiff Singer of the World winner, was in top form from the outset. Her mezzo-soprano voice sounded rich, well-rounded and powerful, and she exuded a confidence on stage that is only achievable through intense and immaculate preparation.

Starting with three Italian arias – a form either loved or loathed by just about every student of singing who has ever attempted to establish some sort of vocal technique – these three short pieces demonstrated that Karnus had authoritatively mastered hers.

Their exquisitely controlled lines gave way to the light flutterings of Poulenc's Mtamorphoses, music that showed off the consistency of Karnus's tone from top to bottom of the range, though they were not as achingly moving as the poetry of Louise de Vilmorin might suggest.

In accompanist Johan Ullen, Karnus has a gem of a partner, even though he did rather steal the show in Grieg's Six Songs Op 25.