Jointly organized by the United States Embassy and Chiang
Mai University (CMU), an evening of Variation on America was staged at
Chiang Mai University Convention Center on December 16.
The
soprano, Teresa Seidl and pianist, John Ferguson performing at the concert.
US Consul General Bea Camp, Assoc Prof Thanat
Anumarnrachathon, CMU’s deputy president and Hagen Dirksen, German
Honorary Consul were amongst those who attended the musical performance.
It was a concert with much variety, from Scott Joplin to
George Gershwin. It covered Broadway show music, spirituals, ragtime and
American Opera. However, soprano Teresa Seidl, seemed to be having some
voice problems as many vocals listed were deleted from the program. An
accomplished singer, Seidl is one of the sopranos whose performances have
received critical acclaim throughout Europe.
Pianist John Ferguson was excellent although choosing to
leave out ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, for many people a great representation of
American music and George Gershwin. Ferguson is an artistic director and
founder of the American Voices Foundation to fulfill the need for quality
and constructive American cultural programming in any country where a
scarcity of exposure to American culture exists.
Part of the American Voices Foundation’s program,
included performances by Teresa Seidl and pianist, John Ferguson, with
numbers such as ‘Can’t Help Loving Dat Man’ by Jerome Kern, ‘If I
Loved You’ by Richard Rogers, ‘I Got the Sun in the Morning’ by Irving
Berlin and many more American favorites.
The sound at the small auditorium at the CMU Convention Center is good,
the seats were comfortable, it was easy to find, there was plenty of parking
and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Children
with Santa Claus