Not surprisingly, many voices have come from Pace University's underground (literally, the Schimmel Center for the Arts sits below the campus' main building), and as it continued into another year, the Voce: Rising Opera Stars in Recital series remained a staple at Pace's iconic theater for voices like Julia Bullock and Paul Appleby.
The "recital," per a few music writers, has been watermarked as a dying, or dead, tradition. In the eyes of the audience, the patience that is required of both parties on and off stage is marred by the disinterest of the viewer. Opera seems to have taken on a costume of its own.
But as a performer, especially in young, budding talent, these recitals play a significant role in the maturation of their career. Finding their own voice requires the dreaded discipline needed to reach a high point of expertise. This allows one to find the intimacy needed to connect with their audience.
One contender in this year's performance included soprano Julia Bullock, whose name comes from the Juilliard School for her recent productions including Massenet's Cendrillon and Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen.
Another, tenor Paul Appleby, who filled in tenor Joseph Kaiser who withdrew days before, also shared the stage.
New York Times contributor Vivian Schweitzer reviewed the performance here.
But for now, here's a bit of Bullock.
