Boswell Hall was filled with anticipative silence, Thursday, Sept. 29, for the Music Department’s first Lobby Recital of the semester. At noon, an audience of about 35-40 people gathered in a crescent of benches and chairs to watch two NIC students perform.
Bonnie Mitson, 17, Post Falls, dual enrolled performed a viola duet with NIC music instructor and recital organizer Gerard Mathes. They performed the “Pavane, Op. 50,” by French composer Gabriel Fauré.
Mathes described the piece as “transparent” because of its difficulty. Mitson played the melody, while Mathes plucked the viola like a guitar. The result was a slow, somewhat haunting and somber performance.
This was not Mitson’s first recital, but it was the first time she performed with Mathes. Mitson, who has studied viola for six years, said she practiced the piece for three weeks and hopes to perform at next month’s recital.
“It went good,” Mitson said. “I would have liked to practice a bit more though.”
Vocalist Wesley Saunders performed second. Saunders, 20, music, Moscow, decided the day before that he wanted to perform “Orpheus and his Lute” in the recital.
“I really want to get as much experience as I can performing,” Saunders said. “I knew this song well and I had a lot of confidence and I’m very ambitious and outgoing so I wanted to take advantage of all opportunities.”
The Shakespearean song revolved around the character Orpheus and his mesmerizing lute playing.
Saunders said his first professional performance in last weekend’s production of “Faust” was the inspiration for his impromptu recital performance.
“It was very amazing,” Saunders said. “I talked to the principle artists and they said if you really want to excel at your instrument, you want to seek out all opportunities you can find to perform.”
Although Saunders had been working on “Orpheus and his Lute” all summer, it was his first time performing it with a pianist.
Although the first recital of the year is usually short, this one was particularly short due to cancellations from sick students. Mathes contends that throughout the semester, the recitals get increasingly full.
“Oh it went, great!” Mathes said. “Its quite informal, but it’s a good way for the music students to get performance experience.”
Music students and staff can volunteer to perform at the recitals. Next months recital is expected to have a chamber orchestra, a possible performance from drama instructor Joe Jacoby, and Mathes will play fiddle music.
Lobby recitals are the last Thursday of every month in Boswell Hall. They are free and open to all. The next recital will be Oct. 27.
