things that go 'wow' in the night (or day)!

-jeffery mcnary

A fascination with French and Spanish painters shouldn't lead to a shove off of American artists. Lately I've come into a phenomenal cadre of new and appealing talent, musical, visual, and of stage, screen and the written word. For fun, I'll start a listing of those who defintely merit attention. Lets start with Abigail, as in absolutely... terrific!! Bach surely had her in mind when crafting, "Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen', and, and, and.....

ABIGAIL HAYNES LENNOX (soprano)

Acclaimed as angelic and stylish in her interpretations of Bach and Mozart, is equally at home with genres ranging from early plainchant to 19th-century mélodie to improvised avant-garde. Originally from Bartlett, Tennessee, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where, after finishing her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Michigan, she served as music director for the Wesley Foundation of First Methodist, performed with the Michigan Opera Theater under Stephen Lord, and was a frequent soloist appearing on premier recordings of contemporary works. In May 2007, Abigail completed her master’s degree in voice at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where she studied under James Taylor, Ted Taylor, and Judith Malafronte. In addition to participating in master classes with Martin Katz, Stephen Layton, and David Daniels, she has performed as soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion and Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri under Simon Carrington, Mozart Vespers with Sir David Willcocks and again with Sir Neville Marriner, Bach’s Magnificat in E-flat Major with Helmuth Rilling, Beethoven’s Mass in C and multiple Bach cantatas with Yale ensembles, and a program of French Baroque music with the Ensemble Européen William Byrd. Inspired by such ensemble experiences, Lennox enjoys teaching young musicians in the DC area, where she now lives, and engaging in collaborative projects with fellow artists in addition to pursuing a solo career. She made her debut with American Bach Soloists as a soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in January 2007.

take a listen....

http://www.americanbach.org/player/index.htm

(courtesy of American Bach Soloists)