Sarah Mann, soprano with Ella Luhtasaari at the piano. Photo: Len Power.
On Thursday 6 July, the sold-out Voice Unwrapped concert took place the Larry Sitsky Recital Room. In his review, Len Power wrote:
"Sarah Mann, soprano, is an accomplished performer, teacher and administrator. She has performed more than 26 principal soprano roles in opera, operetta and oratorio, as well as performances with state and national arts organisations.
She teaches classical singing at the ANU School of Music and is researching singing perception. This concert is part of her PhD project exploring the ways the operatic singing technique is perceived and processed by listeners.
Ella Luhtasaari is a collaborative pianist and teacher based in Canberra. She completed bachelor degrees in music and psychology at the ANU and completed post-graduate studies in Austria and the UK. She is a vocal and language coach at the ANU School Of Music.
...[School of Music Honours student] Milan Kolundzija and his clarinet then joined the singer with Schubert’s “Shepherd on the Rock”. Mood, thoughts and imaginary conversation were evoked by this work, as well as the coming of spring. Hauntingly played and sung, it was a highlight of the concert.
...Luhtasaari’s accompaniment on piano was excellent throughout.
For the rousing “To part is such sweet sorrow” from “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss, Mann was joined by Alira Prideaux, soprano, and [School of Music alumnus] Sitiveni Talei, baritone. Together, they gave this bright work its full sense of good cheer, the perfect end to a highly enjoyable concert."