Despite unforeseen circumstances on Monday, Oct. 25, the department of fine and performing arts presented a joint recital with Southeastern alums Cedric Bridges and Tyler Smith as part of Fanfare’s silver anniversary.
The recital, originally scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., was delayed due to a power outage that occurred and left Pottle Music Building and the majority of campus in darkness. However, the show went on, as those in attendance were told that the performance was to be held in the lobby of Pottle.
Audience members gathered outside the auditorium and watched from the stairs on both sides of the lobby, the balcony on the second floor, as well as the first floor where the singers performed. Instead of playing on the concert grand piano that was on the auditorium stage, staff accompanist Raisa Voldman played on a piano that was brought from one of the practice rooms.
Music professor Chuck Effler explained how the move was made.
“The decision to move came from the performers,” said Effler. “Raisa Voldman noticed that there were two emergency lights in the foyer of the lobby and decided that she’d be able to read the music in that light, and the two singers were eager to sing, even in the lobby. They are both alumni of this music department and wanted very much to sing for the current students as well as the faculty and community members that fostered their talents and watched them grow as musicians when they were younger.”
Smith and Bridges performed four songs each, such as “O Boundless, Boundless Evening,” “How Fair This Spot,” and “Cacilie.” To conclude the recital, they performed “Lily’s Eyes,” which is a song from the 1991 Broadway musical “The Secret Garden.”
Bridges has performed onstage with numerous companies, including the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre and the New Orleans Opera. He has appeared as tenor soloist for performances of both Mozart’s and Verdi’s “Requiem” pieces as well as Handel’s “Messiah.”
Smith has appeared in operatic and concert performances throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He has covered the leading tenor roles in “Otello,” “The Masked Ball,” “Tosca” and “Der Freischutz.”
Regardless of the unique setting, Smith, Bridges and Voldman received a standing ovation from audience members who enjoyed the show.
“In my opinion, the move to the lobby gave the recital an intimate setting,” said Lisa Matthews, a Hammond resident. “Being so close to them definitely was a nice change from sitting in seats while they perform onstage.”
“I think that both of them did a great job of performing considering the last minute changes that were made,” said Amber Perry, sophomore sociology major. “Instead of postponing it, they went ahead and did it for the audience, which is something I admired.”