Avery Lafrentz showcased her operatic talents for hometown fans Thursday night when she performed her graduation recital at St. Paul’s United Church.
Lafrentz, a soprano who recently graduated from the University of Toronto, sang for about an hour in front of friends, family and music lovers. It was a showcase of her opera skills, as she sang in several different languages, but humour was also a big part of the show, as she kept the audience laughing with Whatever you Say, he Sings and selections from Missed Connections.
She was accompanied Weyburn’s Cherith Alexander on the piano.
A brief reception followed the concert, when Lafrentz greeted the audience.
“I am overwhelmed with how much support is here tonight,” said Lafrentz. “It’s so heart--warming. I had a little tear up in the backroom. I was watching people as they were coming to the church, and I was emotional because it’s just unreal to be supported like this.”
Lafrentz estimates that about half of the people present were those who she knew previously.
The performance in Estevan will be part of a busy spring and summer for Lafrentz. She will attend the prestigious SongFest art song festival at the Colburn School in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been selected as one of the 40 singers to go and put on a bunch of concerts in the month of June,” said Lafrentz.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
