In “From Ordinary Things,” Cello, Soprano, and Piano Unite as One Instrument

Excerpts from review by Charles Burns

SF Classical Voice

Seth Parker Woods, Conor Hanick, Julia Bullock in performance at the Nimoy Theater. | Credit: Chanel Foster

On Jan. 15, soprano Julia Bullock, cellist Seth Parker Woods, and pianist Conor Hanick presented the recital, “From Ordinary Things,” at UCLA’s Nimoy Theater. Their vast technical prowess and deep musical sensibilities were palpable from the first note to the last.

The wide-ranging program moved fluidly among art song, modernism, and the American songbook, opening with Nina Simone’s “Images.” The haunting resonance of Bullock’s a cappella voice segued seamlessly into the trio’s offering of Maurice Ravel’s “Nahandove” from his Chansons madécasses. The deft juxtaposition of these two works rarified the atmosphere, a spell that would remain unbroken throughout the evening.

...Conor Hanick’s piano playing was crystal clear and nothing short of virtuosic. However, he seemed perfectly content to simply lend support to his fellow performers instead of taking the spotlight, accompanying them with generous sensitivity. This is not to say that his performance was not equally dazzling; his touch and sense of meter revealed a musician whose virtuosity was inseparable from his attentiveness to the ensemble. His playing on Nina Simone’s “Four Women” demonstrated a mastery of color and pacing, without sacrificing the swing.

Read review in full here