A musical feast!

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Kingston, my dears, and its inhabitants are ready for a concert hall and performing centre.

It is also ready to embrace the diversity of world culture, including the opera, classics; musicals and high-quality theatre. Sadly, what is lacking is not the appreciation of these art forms but the understanding of the guardians of cultural policies to make adequate accommodation to showcase these art forms!

Without this facility, the population continues making do in the less-than-ideal circumstances by facilitating and supporting these performers, whenever they are called upon to do so, for entertainment, but especially in the name of charity, with last week Sunday being a case in point!

Sir Willard, the world-renowned bass baritone, is one of the most sought-after opera performers and with the body of work to prove it! What makes him special to Jamaicans who appreciate the classics and operatic performances is that he is Jamaican born and bred. He hails from Spanish Town and began his musical journey with formal training at the Jamaica School of Music, (now the Edna Manley School of Music). He went on to study with such luminaries as Alexander Kipinis, Beverley Johnson, and Giorgio Tazzi, then on to a scholarship at the world-famous Julliard.

On completion of his formal studies, Sir Willard embarked on a musical career, which saw him establishing himself as one of the pre-eminent bass baritones, with an imperial voice that became the toast of the operatic world, with many scholars and aficionados regarding him as the ultimate classicist and perfectionist. For this fabulous talent, he received a knightood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 for his service to music.

A founding member of the Jamaica Folk Singers, while Sir Willard has been touring the world and performing, sadly Jamaicans were not afforded the opportunity to behold the majesty of the undoubtedly great Sir Willard.

On Sunday, August 14, under the auspices of the Arts Foundation of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Jamaican fans and lovers of the opera, were treated to a rare treat of Sir Willard in concert at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Now dears, when it was first noised abroad that indeed Sir Willard would be making his 'debut' on Jamaican soil, the buzz was far and wide. The high-priced tickets went like hot loaves, and then some! My dears, we are talking oversubscribed and nothing but! And on the day of the concert itself, calls there were aplenty by many searching for tickets.

And it was a sold-out audience that packed into the hotel and pumpkins, what a treat it was!

The concert commenced half an hour late and with the audience restless, Sir Willard duly obliged after introductions by compère, the elegant Paula-Anne Porter-Jones.

His musical instrument - a voice as majestic as it was textured and as arrogant in its promise, it was clear that this was one of the musical wonders of the world! And dears, there have been precious few bass baritones who have risen to that distinguished commanding height!

Sir Willard was that much more fabulous because of the ease of his execution, while not taking away from his magisterial style!

Talk about a seminal experience! My dears, this was one, and it was not lost. The social denizens, lions and lionesses, the musical fraternity - performers, composers and tutors were out in force, and Sir Willard, in his own inimitable mode not only entertained, but educated them. His repertoire included samplings from Robert Schumann; Benjamin Britten, Mozart, Aaron Copeland, Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, and a collection of Negro spirituals that had his audience drooling!

Accompanied by Roger Williams on piano, it was when he dueted with French soprano, the beautiful Sylvia Kevorkian, in La ci clarem (Don Giovani) and You Is My Woman Now (Porgy and Bess), that they stirred the soul as luvs, Kervorkian is a diva in styling and then some. A title she lay claim to, with her encore - with her rendition of Casta Diva, from Bellini's Norma!

Oh my word, what a treat she was!

Sir Willard, came, saw and he conquered. His was the hardest task, performing at home before an audience that while enthusiastic, was not necessarily at home in his genre. And knowing this, he began with a German suite (Schumann) before going to the more accessible Benjamin Britten, and by midway through the programme when he did Some Enchanted Evening and If I Were A Rich Man, he had his audience on the edge of their chairs and itching to applaud his every word (and some did too).

After the intermission, he was clearly in his element, musically and anecdotally, sharing some rather funny stories of his experiences around the globe as a Jamaican opera singer, but dears, in closing with Ole Man River, not only did he resurrect the spirit of the late Paul Robeson, he had made song and audience his own. Naturally, he received a standing ovation!

It was a "feast".

Among those spotted included chair of the Arts Foundation, Pat Ramsay; chair of the Edna Manley College of the Visual Arts Paul Issa; Senate President Professor Dr Oswald Harding and wife, custos of St Andrew, Marigold Harding; the Custos of Kingston, Steadman and Sonia Fuller; High Court judge Hilary Phillips; Ambassador Elinor Felix; British High Commissioner Howard and Jill Drake; Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi; German Ambassador Josef Beck and wife Gudrun; Brazilian Ambassador Silva Neto; Jasper Burnett and wife Syringa Marshall-Burnett; former parliamentarian, Karlene Kirlew; the esteemed Dr Olive Lewin; The Honourable Maurice and Valerie Facey, and daughter, Laura Facey Cooper, Kenny Benjamin and his companion the fab Aloima Suarez and his niece, the lovely Ashleigh Fernandez; Earl Jarrett, and wife Judy; Ruby Martin; chair of the NCB Foundation, businesswoman Thalia Lyn; celebrated artist Barry Watson and wife Doreen; Alvaro and Jean Casserly; Gloria Moodie, in from Toronto, Canada; Peter and Margaret Jarvis; Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon of the Mustard Seed Charities.

We saw Susan Scott; Dr Vin and Beverley Lawrence; Norman Wright QC, and wife Jean; musicologist Dr Carol Ball; the charming Dr Blossom O'Meally-Nelson; musicologist Noel Dexter; chairman of the NDTC Geoff Cobham; Angela Neita and her sibling Janet Morrison; Dr Wesley and Carol Hughes; Herman McLarty and wife Dorothy Pine-McLarty and their children, Matthew McLarty and Rachel McLarty; Lois Sherwood; Carl Lewin and wife Rita Humphries-Lewin; the charming Scarlet Gillings.

Also out were Noel and Jacqueline DaCosta; Cecilia Levy; Frank and Ann Ventura; Ian and Brenda Wong; Arlene Campbell and daughter Simona Campbell; Howard and Camille Facey; the elegant Sheila Graham; Maritza Warwar; Harold Brady; the très élégante Minna Israel; Patrick Bailey; the lovely Paula Kerr-Jarrett; Dr Nigel Clarke and wife Rupeka; Wayne Chen and wife Dr Diana Thorbourn Chen; Rocky and Samantha Charles; Noel Barker and wife Rosie McDonald-Barker; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello-Greenland; Diana Fredericks; Dr Curtis Watson; Major Joe and Dahlia Williams; Dr Hopeton Dunn and wife Dr Leith Dunn; Dr Lorna Simmonds.