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Saturday night audience at the Bell Cultural Events Center was privy to the first in the series of The Joy of Singing recitals by tenors Nathan Granner and Ben Gulley, in collaboration with Dale Morehouse on piano. Both Granner and Gulley are native Kansas Citians and Granner is a member of the American Tenors with whom Gulley performed with as part of their Live on Stage roster. The evening was chock-a-block full of excellent singing and energetic banter.

The concert was divided into two parts, with arias and duets from the operatic canon in the first half and songs from Broadway musical repertoire on the second. Delightful performers, the power of their combined voices was enough to blow you away. I sat near the back of the auditorium and cannot imagine what the front few rows were experiencing.

Granner seemed more comfortable (or maybe just more casual) during the operatic numbers, while Gulley had a more theatrical grasp of the songs from musicals. Gulley was considerably more at ease during the second half. Even Morehouse joined in on the banter, adding a distinctive third voice with his light, even playing.

The song choice was interestingly varied. They began with a series of three Verdi duets: “Di quella pira” from Trovatore, “De miei bollenti spirit” from La traviata, and a boisterios “La donna e’ mobile” from Rigoletto. The solo choices exhibited their individual brilliance. Though they each performed a set of solos, two stood out. Gulley’s “Lamento di Federico” from Cilea’s L’arlesiana was sweet, yet powerful. The best piece from the recital was Granner’s incredible “Salut, demeure chaste et pure” from Gounod’s Faust, which seemed to draw all the light in the room to him with subtle and emotive gestures. They ended the first half with the ubiquitous “Nessun dorma” from Turandot by Puccini. While a lovely song, a quirky final note marred the end.

 “What’s playing at the Roxy” from Loesser’s Guys and Dolls opened the second half and contrasted the heavier fare from before. This duet was not as effective as the operatic pieces, however. Gulley helped get them back on track in his amusing “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” with a funny character voice that didn’t lose anything to diction. Granner’s rendition of “Bill” from Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein was humorous and playful, which nestled with a heart wrenching “If I Loved You,” though the stage gestures were more overt to the point of be distracting. Gulley performed “Mama” from Loesser’s Most Happy Fella similarly to his “Lamento di Federico.” They ended with a series of three duets, which had a nice symmetry to the program: an amusingly overwrought “Agony” from Sondheim’s Into the Woods, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (also from Carousel), and ending strongly with a touching “Somewhere” from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Their encore was a reprise of “Nessun dorma.” Again, the final note landed weirdly and out of place. Such a well-known song, especially if performed twice, needs to be absolutely perfect.

The concert was a treat to attend and I look forward to further performances from this series. It would be more enjoyable if the jokes and comic asides were more focused to the performance. Chattering right up until the first chords was distracting, though I enjoyed the brief introductions and explanations of why specific pieces were chosen. It was obvious that the performers were having a great time singing and sharing their favorite songs.

REVIEW:
Bell Cultural Events Center
Nathan Granner and Ben Gulley with Dale Morehouse
The Joy of Singing
Saturday, November 13, 2010
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Bell Cultural Events Center
2030 East College Way, Olathe, KS
For more visit http://gulleygranner.com/ or www.mnu.edu/bellcenter

By Libby Hanssen

Traditional and New Classical, Theatre Contributor

Libby Hanssen holds degrees from University of Missouri-Kansas City (M.M.) and Ball State University (B.M.) in trombone performance and also studied music education at Indiana University. She has studied trombone with Carl Lenthe, JoDee Davis, John Seidel, John Huntoon and Denis Wick, and music education with Brent Gault, Estelle Jorgensen and Katherine Strand.

While at IU, she taught classes in general music, focusing on listening skills and music fundamentals through practical music usage and exploring new sound constructions. During the course of her studies at UMKC, she performed with many ensembles, including the Conservatory Orchestra and Musica Nova. She has also performed with the Kansas City Puccini Festival, the People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the New Jazz Order, the Indiana Wind Symphony and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

In 2010, she was a fellow (one of 23 journalists selected from across the US) for the seventh annual National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera at Columbia University’s Journalism School in New York City.

Most of her free time is spent with her three boys (son, dog and husband) and camera, exploring the many fine aspects of Kansas City living. She enjoys listening to KKFI - Kansas City Community Radio and KCUR - Kansas City's NPR station, visiting Kansas City's fine collection of museums and galleries, and scavenging in thrift and antique stores to add to her collection of toy instruments.

She writes for the joy of words and the process of constructing a story, maintaining the blog Proust Eats a Sandwich (www.prousteatsasandwich.wordpress.com). She is working on her first book: Murray Goes to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.