“In The Shadows”, Michael Spyres

Here is an exemplary new recital by American tenor Michael Spyres. The general thematic idea is to follow the musical path that historically leads to the profile ofHeldentenor Wagnerian. The route begins with Joseph de Méhul, the musician of the French Revolution (followed by Auber), and went to Germany through Fidelio of Beethoven, the Freischütz by Weber and the much forgotten Heinrich Marschner (Hans Heiling). When it comes to the Italian repertoire, we have Rossini, Meyerbeer and Bellini, with, in the middle, a Spontini (Agnes von Hohenstaufen) in its original German version. All this leads, at the end of the CD, to the first Wagner: Fairies, Rienzi and, ultimately, the sublime My Lieber Schwan of Lohengrin. It’s interesting to see how Spyres’s experiments between baritone and tenor brassy and enriched his voice without dulling the brilliance of his high notes. The mastery of breathing is masterful, accompanied by supreme vocal lines supported here by an orchestra – Les Talens lyriques by Christophe Rousset – more transparent than rich and opulent.

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