Kimmel Center Blog

Thomas Hampson, Library of Congress Concert, January 8th

This Sunday baritone Thomas Hampson fills Verizon Hall with the sound of classic American song: works by Foster, Copland, Ives, Rorem and texts by Whitman, Blake, E. A. Robinson. In addition to Hampson's performance, the Library of Congress will exhibit manuscripts, some of which have never left the Library of Congress, including, Samuel Barber's Sure on this Shining Night (from Four Songs, two pages); Henry Burleigh's Ethiopia Saluting the Colors; Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring (pages 68 and 69) and letter from Martha Graham to Mrs. Coolidge; Stephen Foster's Beautiful Dreamer (First Edition) and The Voices That Are Gone (2 pages); George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (title page); and Leonard Bernstein's To What You Said (from Songfest, one page).

How was the show? Did you have a chance to meet Hampson either during his masterclass or his CD signing?

I think it took a lot of guts to plan a tour with music of which much is unfamiliar to most audiences of classical and vocal music. I would like to hear more recitals with at least some American songs. When sung by an artist such as Mr.Hampson they are every bit as moving and beautiful as the French and German songs and frankly I am getting tired of hearing the Dichterliebe, Wintereisse, Chausson, Duparc etc.recitals. I am grateful that Schubert sells tix but regrettably Hoiby and Lenny don't. For the former I can stay home and listen to Fischer-Dieskau, Prey, Schwartzkopf Souzay,Baker, Norman,etc. As demonstrated in his master class students do wish to learn our "native" repertoire.

What an incredible two days Philly has been treated to by Tom Hampson and the Library of Congress!

His master class was just that... we all learned from a master who clearly loves to teach, loves the voice, loves the music and has boundless energy and resources with which to do so. Every student left the room a better singer than they entered it and we, the audience were the 100 happy flies on the wall.

Sunday's concert revealed a singer at the top of his form (as is usual with Hampson) but there was another element pushing him to greater heights. Hampson is clearly passionate about the American Songs he is singing on this tour. He knows them intimately, has reserched their texts and contexts. But singing songs by Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein in Philadelphia, the city that had such an impact on each of their lives, brought even more resonance to the proceedings - somehow we audience members all knew we were getting more than ticket buyers in San Jose, Kansas City or Dallas.

I also had the enormous pleasure of getting to know Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, who is the keeper of the millions of archived treasures housed in Washington and the driving force behind the tour. Dr. Billington is a graduate of Lower Merion HS and admitted that he had not really lived in Philly for over 50 years. His brothers, children and grand children were in attendance and I sensed a great pride as he stood on the Perelman Theater stage to welcome the home town audience to 'his' show.

The Library was instrumental in bring Hampson and the music to the Kimmel and I assured the librarian that we look forward to the Woody Guthrie Tour, the Louis Armstrong Tour, the Stephen Sondheim Tour and the Library of Congress' Bruce Springsteen Tour as soon as he can get them done.

Thomas Hampson's concert was a rare treat. In the intimate setting of the Perelman Theater, I felt that Hampson was singing directly to me, alone. Listening to such songs in recordings is no substitute whatsoever for a performance such as this one.

The seldom-heard American songs were well chosen and masterfully sung by Hampson. His singing in English, rather than German, Italian or French, gave me an even greater appreciation of his talent. I have never heard a more moving rendition of "Beautiful Dreamer." The songs he sang, many unfamiliar, made me wonder how many more precious songs are housed in the Library of Congress, waiting to be sung by leading singers and appreciated by American audiences. Hampson himself made a strong case for singing them rather than just archiving them.

Hampson's pianist was also outstanding, and it was a joy to watch the two perform together. It came close to the Hampson and Sawallisch pairing at the Kimmel Center a few years ago.

The Kimmel Center should feel proud to have brought this extraordinary concert to Philadelphia. Although it may have appealed to only a small audience and thus may not have been a big money-maker,it surely enhances Philadelphia's reputation as a sophisticated, music-loving city, as it enhances the Kimmel Center's reputation with local music-lovers. The few hundred lucky people who attended clearly enjoyed the experience.

I'm sorry I missed the master class, which should have been better publicized.