Mesa native Angela Brower is making her second Tucson Desert Song Festival appearance this week and will do something she’s never done in her nearly decade-long career: perform a recital accompanied by guitar.
She admits she’s nervous, but after meeting Judicaël Perroy, her partner in the Tucson Guitar Society adventure, in his native Paris, excitement has taken the edge off some of that nervousness.
“His reputation precedes him. He’s all over YouTube and he’s got an exceptional reputation. I’m just so excited to work with him,” the mezzo-soprano said during a phone call from her parents home.
The pair will perform a program Thursday, Jan. 19, that includes works by Henry Purcell, John Dowland, Gabriel Fauré and Fernando Sor. Perroy is expected to toss in a few surprises, as well, including guitar arrangements of Bach and Albeniz.
Thursday’s concert at Holsclaw Hall will be Perroy’s third in Tucson.
Brower made her Tucson and Arizona debuts at the 2015 festival, singing the role of Octavian in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s concert performance of Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier.” She spent eight years on the roster at Germany’s prestigious Bavarian State Opera before striking out on her own last year to freelance with other European companies. Last year, she also made more inroads into the U.S., performing Handel’s “Messiah” with the Philadelphia Orchestra last November.
But this recital Thursday puts her in an altogether new situation: front and center with no orchestra or character to hide behind.
“This is completely different than the ‘Rosenkavalier’ that we did three years ago,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m a little nervous. I don’t know quite what to expect. I’ve never done anything with guitar so I’m really excited to dive into this new repertoire.”
