Star soprano, Canadian Measha Brueggergosman, thrilled her capacity audience at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton when she joined with the Ensemble Singers in a programme entitled A Concert of Choral Music, on April 22.

She offered a programme of French Art Songs, Lieder, and Negro Spirituals, and was supported by pianist David Eliakis and the superb Ensemble Singers, under Lloyd Matthew's masterful direction. Mr Eliakis is a top ranked concert accompanist, the first choice of the very finest singers and highly sought after. His contribution to the evening was inestimable, and flawlessly, sensitively, executed.

In fact it was the Ensemble Singers who began the evening with two anthems, one by Gerald Finzi, who died 50 years ago this year, and the other by the great Canadian organist composer Healy Willan; 'My Spirit Sang All Day', and 'Rise Up, My love, My Fair One', respectively. It is interesting to note the versatility of this chorus. These were quintessentially English choral works, sung with great respect for their genre. Later they would sing Spirituals with the same musical intelligence and passion.

Ms Brueggergosman then appeared and sang a selection of songs by the Venezuelan born French composer, Reynaldo Hahn, a friend of Proust, and music critic for Le Figaro, and two by Franz Schubert. The singer possesses as fine a voice as Bermudian audiences will have heard in a very long time; gorgeous, full bodied, and colourful.

In an interview that appeared in opera news a few years ago Ms Brueggergosman quite frankly stated: "Being a recitalist has quite spoiled me. I get to pick what I want to wear, I get to pick who I want to work with, and I get to pick what I want to sing."

What she chose to sing showed a refreshing breath of choice. For example hearing her sing Hahn's setting of Paul Verlaine's 'L'Heure exquise' was a very special experience, even if like me you don't have French. The provided translations served their purpose very well.

The Ensemble Singers then joined the soprano soloist to sing Schubert's 'Ave Maria', providing a sumptuous quiet backdrop for Measha's incandescent voice, the church filling with the beautiful sound.

In 'Hear ye, Israel' the only lapse in the soprano's control occurred when she seemed to falter on a particularly high passage. It was brief, and instantly forgotten in the golden flow of her voice that followed.

Ms Brueggergosman and The Ensemble Singers ended the first half of the programme with R Nathaniel Dett's 'Listen To The Lambs'. Dett was a renowned Afro Canadian composer who specialised in African American music, especially spirituals. It is commendable that The Ensemble Singers director, Mr. Lloyd Matthew, and the evening's soloist, Ms Brueggergosman thought to bring before the concert-going public works such as this, and to remind us of the vast treasury of music that seems underexposed in these times.

The second half of the programme was given over entirely to Negro Spirituals, and featured the work of a galaxy of famed black composers: William Dawson, Hall Johnson, and Moses Hogan, ( who had a special relationship with The Ensemble Singers before his untimely death) to name but three.

When the programme resumed there was a trio of spirituals: 'Deep River', 'Ride The Chariot' and 'Ain't Got Time to Die.' This was followed by 'Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit', and featured the Ensemble's baritone soloist, Matthew Nestor.

Ms Bruggergosman then sang, 'Sometimes I feel Like A Motherless Child', possibly her own arrangement of the classic, and she is known to arrange spirituals, and there was no arranger credited in the programme for this piece. This was followed by the hauntingly beautiful, 'Fix Me, Jesus'.

'Who built the Ark', rendered by The Ensemble Singers followed, and for the finale, 'Ride on King Jesus', maestro Matthew himself sat at the piano for this Moses Hogan arrangement, while the soloist conducted from the side.

Ms Bruggergosman had her audience on their feet several times during the performance, and they rose again for this finale.

She established a warm rapport with her audience, praising the warmth of the reception she'd received in Bermuda, and extolling Bermuda's charms. She promised it would not be her last visit.

When she returns the unfortunates who missed this excellent concert will have been forewarned, no doubt, and will have taken the appropriate measures. This singer is not to be missed once, let alone twice. She's an obvious Bermuda Festival choice and kudos to Mr. Matthew and the president of The Ensemble Singers, Gary Phillips, for getting her here first.