Saturday, September 19.

*** Soprano Marcelle Clamens received a rapturous reception from a packed audience at City Hall when she appeared in concert with pianist Jane Farge on Saturday evening.

There is a certain romance in the history of this singer in that she was `discovered' by the great Bermuda public when she made her debut in Verdi's Requiem two years ago. In reality, of course, Marcelle Clamens has been singing all her life and spent ten years of it under the tutelage of Daniel Hill. Since her debut with the Bermuda Philharmonic, however, she has become a hot property, with several musical experts prophesying a possible international career. This was her last appearance in Bermuda before she starts a degree course in voice and music, so there was a sense of unusual expectancy among the audience.

They were not disappointed. Marcelle Clamens has an extraordinary talent, the possessor of a voice with tremendous power and range which is quite spine-tingling when she soars into and sustains those high notes. Her repertoire was equally varied, ranging from the 17th century songs of Handel and Stradella to grand opera of the 19th century as well as the modern music of Gershwin and Samuel Barber. While this varied bouquet of offerings certainly underline a natural versatility, she is clearly not completely at ease with the linguistic requirements of German lieder and Italian opera. This is hardly surprising, as apparently these branches of the soprano repertoire were an unknown world to her just two years ago.

The full impact of her voice was at its most dramatic in the aria which closed the first half of her programme. This was from Charpentier's Depuis le jour from Louise, where a tender sweetness gave way to a veritable tour de force as she held the climactic last notes.

The other surprise of the evening, for at least some of the audience, was the artistry of pianist Jane Farge. Quietly, but with infinite sensitivity, she had accompanied Ms. Clamens in the first group of songs. Then she took centre stage with a virtuoso display of glittering technique which confirmed that this was indeed a celebration of not one, but two remarkable talents.

Her first two pieces were by Russian composers Khachaturian and the delightful Fantastic Dances by Shostakovich, the latter exploring with brilliant clarity, the rhythms of the waltz and the more intricate cadences of the polka.

Debussy's Prelude No. 12, Feux d'Artifice, earned its name, displaying rather more obvious fireworks than this impressionistic composer normally offers, and finally, a marvellously fluid interpretation of Chopin's Etude No. 12.

Marcelle Clamens then sang a set of three arias by Puccini, from Tosca, Suor Angelica and the famous Quando m'en vo soletta from La Boheme. A tremendous effort and enough power to fill an opera house but her phrasing, in particular, still needs much work to acquire the patina of professionalism.

She was, perhaps, at her best in the closing section of the concert which consisted of American songs, including an impassioned and gloriously toned rendition of My Man's Gone Now from Gershwin's opera, Porgy and Bess. And in a moving finale, she captured perfectly the simple beauty of the negro spiritual. Sweet Jesus and He's Got the Whole World were sung with effortless ease.

Both artists gave their services in aid of the Geoffrey Tankard Foundation which provides funds for music scholarships.

PATRICIA CALNAN.

MARCELLE'S MAGIC -- Soprano Marcelle Clamens thrilled her audience at City Hall when she appeared in concert with pianist Jane Farge. The duo recital was presented by the Geoffrey Tankard Foundation.