2008 Woodie Awards
Alum vocal artist stuns
Meg Granum
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Arts
To say that the audience was captivated would be an understatement. To say that his tone was nice and his voice pleasing is almost satirical. The music performed by Lawrence Wiliford '99 was something which words will fail to fully articulate.
Music in its purest form is heard first from the heart. However, we often try to deny this instinct and make the experience more rational and logical, thinking more and feeling less. It is the rare performance which takes away this mental aspect; this rare performance which is so perfectly and seamlessly performed that one is left in awe at the sheer splendor of sound and power of music. It takes a special voice to be able to achieve such a feat.
Wiliford has such a voice, and on Sept. 24, he reminded all seated in Urness Recital Hall exactly why we as humans became so enamored with music in the first place.
His performance, entitled "Music for a While: an English Song Recital," left very little to be desired. His voice, with such power and control, maintained an incredible sweetness and elasticity throughout his entire range, something for which every vocal student yearns. Wiliford is exceptional in part because of his charm and ability to communicate to the audience deeper meanings than notes on a page. For instance, during the piece "Canticle I 'My Beloved is Mine,'" by Benjamin Britten, his voice held such a light frivolity within a deep-rooted strength that the beauty of the meaning of love was understood by all before the words were even comprehensible to the brain.
Wiliford's ability to communicate ideas and emotions through his body is what makes him such an enticing performer. He is able to transition from major opera work to light tenor aria seemingly effortlessly, which is partially why he is in such high demand as a soloist around the continent. His flexibility in sentiment and in sound allows him to connect on a deeper level with his audience, allowing them to experience music on a more emotional plane. Similarly, the way he dialogues with other musicians is a thing of beauty.
Music in its purest form is heard first from the heart. However, we often try to deny this instinct and make the experience more rational and logical, thinking more and feeling less. It is the rare performance which takes away this mental aspect; this rare performance which is so perfectly and seamlessly performed that one is left in awe at the sheer splendor of sound and power of music. It takes a special voice to be able to achieve such a feat.
Wiliford has such a voice, and on Sept. 24, he reminded all seated in Urness Recital Hall exactly why we as humans became so enamored with music in the first place.
His performance, entitled "Music for a While: an English Song Recital," left very little to be desired. His voice, with such power and control, maintained an incredible sweetness and elasticity throughout his entire range, something for which every vocal student yearns. Wiliford is exceptional in part because of his charm and ability to communicate to the audience deeper meanings than notes on a page. For instance, during the piece "Canticle I 'My Beloved is Mine,'" by Benjamin Britten, his voice held such a light frivolity within a deep-rooted strength that the beauty of the meaning of love was understood by all before the words were even comprehensible to the brain.
Wiliford's ability to communicate ideas and emotions through his body is what makes him such an enticing performer. He is able to transition from major opera work to light tenor aria seemingly effortlessly, which is partially why he is in such high demand as a soloist around the continent. His flexibility in sentiment and in sound allows him to connect on a deeper level with his audience, allowing them to experience music on a more emotional plane. Similarly, the way he dialogues with other musicians is a thing of beauty.
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