MUSIC lovers were treated to the songs and story of one of America’s most celebrated composers when the Celebrating Trio performed for Cowal Music Club last weekend.
Mezzo-soprano Jane Monari, tenor Christian Schneeberger and pianist Ed Cohen presented a programme devoted to the life and music of Irving Berlin at Sunday’s concert.
Appearing in association with Classical Musicians Scotland, the trio combined performances of some of Berlin’s best-known music with stories and anecdotes charting the composer’s remarkable life and career.
Two members of the trio have close connections with Scottish Opera, while Philadelphia-born Monari brought her own American connection to a programme celebrating one of the country’s most influential songwriters.
The performance featured Monari and Schneeberger both individually and in duet, accompanied by Cohen at the piano.
Cohen had stepped into the performance at short notice after original pianist Derek Clark became indisposed, but his playing proved an important part of the afternoon’s success.
All three performers also took turns introducing the music and narrating Berlin’s story, giving the audience an insight into the man behind a catalogue of songs which became familiar around the world.
Among the music featured during the afternoon were Blue Skies, Say It Isn’t So and Easter Parade.
The performance received an enthusiastic response from the audience, with sustained applause prompting the trio to return for an encore.
They brought the afternoon to a suitably upbeat conclusion with one of Berlin’s most recognisable numbers, There’s No Business Like Show Business.
Cowal Music Club will return with its next concert on Sunday, November 29, at 2.30pm, when the Resol String Quartet will perform.
