Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen
Since seeing his performance as Oberon in A Midsummer’s Night Dream in the Adelaide Festival, I have been looking forward to hearing Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen in concert. I was not disappointed; Cohen has a voice as pure and rich as liquid gold!
Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is a night of vocal diversity, Shakespeare songs by Roger Quilter, songs by black American composers, Brahms, songs from Cohen’s Jewish heritage, Handel, Henri Duparc, and a tribute to the great American songbook.
Traditionally the counter tenor’s repertoire centres on the 17th Century, but from the second half of the 20th century there has been a resurgence of interest in this voice type. Cohen has taken full advantage of this and presented works ranging over two hundred years.
He is accompanied by Adelaide based and international award-winning pianist Konstantin Shamray. The chemistry between the two is palpable, they seem to perform as one.
Cohen’s Shakespeare songs range from the sombre ‘Come Away, Death’ to the playful ‘O Mistress Mine’.
To highlight the continuing reckoning with racism in the United States, his repertoire includes songs by black female American composers Leslie Adams and Florence Price. ‘Night’ is particularly memorable; intense and moving.
The four songs by Brahms highlight Cohen’s vocal flexibility and Shamray’s dexterity, particularly ‘Mein wundes Herz’ and ‘Unbewegte laue Luft’.
Completing the first half of this memorable recital are ‘Avinu Malkeinu’ and the electric ‘Kaddish’ from ‘Deux Melodies hebrai’ques’ by Maurice Ravel. Cohen draws from his faith and pours his heart into ‘Kaddish’. The work is haunting, uplifting and reverential.
The two Handel arias - ‘O Lord Whose Mercies Numberless’ from Saul and ‘Vivi, Trianno’ from Rodelinda give Cohen ample opportunity to demonstrate his flawless technique. Handel’s florid passages are a test for any counter tenor and Cohen executes these with flawless articulation aided by Shamray’s dynamic accompaniment.
Henri Duparc’s three songs change the pace to a more reflective mood and are an excellent example of the late Romantic period.To complete the evening three songs from iconic American composers Erroll Garner, Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart, and the legendary Cole Porter.
‘Misty’ is dedicated to Cohen’s fiancée. ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ (from Pal Joey) and I Get a Kick out of You’ (from Anything Goes) give us a different side to Cohen’s voice; breathy, mellow and intimate. He proves that counter tenors can sing cabaret.
An encore dedicated to Adelaide brings a memorable evening to a close.
Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is an evening of vocal delight and gives a fascinating glimpse into the life of an extraordinary young singer!
Barry Hill
Photographer: Dario Acosta
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