In a stunning display of vocal artistry, Elaine Mitchener has once again challenged the very definition of singing during a landmark performance at London's prestigious Wigmore Hall. This penultimate concert in her five-year tenure as an associate artist for the venue was a masterclass in extended vocal technique, seamlessly blending the human voice with live electronics.
A Spectrum of Sound from Breath to Bel Canto
The evening began with the slow-burn atmosphere of Yvette Janine Jackson's Waiting, where ambient electronic twitters gave way to Mitchener's intimate exploration of breath and mouth sounds. The programme swiftly traversed the full spectrum of vocal possibility. Audiences witnessed everything from the raw, looped intensity of a single word in Laure M Hiendl's White RadianceTM to the sampled baroque strings of Loré Lixenberg's politically charged Cosmic Voice Party.
Each piece served to deconstruct and celebrate the mechanics of the voice. In Corie Rose Soumah's Limpidités VI, Mitchener excavated sips and slurps from within spoken language. For Amadeus Julian Regucera's Bocca Chiusa, she staged a compelling struggle of voice against the physical confines of the mouth. These performances proved every bit as virtuosic and musically compelling as the hall's most venerated classical traditions, despite occasional technical hiccups with the live electronics setup.
The Thrilling Premiere of 'Solo Throat remixed'
The undisputed highlight of the night was the world premiere of Mitchener's own Solo Throat remixed. This work reimagined material from her 2024 album of the same name with dynamic live electronics by Pat Thomas and Shamica Ruddock. Here, Mitchener's multitude of voices – from guttural groans and vocal fry to exquisite bel canto resonance – were woven into a hyper-exuberant electronic soundscape.
Her analogue vocal effects were reflected and multiplied within a synthesised hall of mirrors, creating an immense, exhilarating audio experience. While discernible words occasionally broke through the melee, the meaning of the piece far outstripped its verbal content, culminating in a monumental tour-de-force that left a lasting impression.
A Legacy of Redefining Convention
This concert underscored Elaine Mitchener's unique position as an artist who consistently redefines her craft. Performing at Wigmore Hall, a venue synonymous with the polished conventions of art song, she boldly introduced a radical, contemporary vocabulary of sound. The programme, from its subdued start to its exhilarating finish, was a profound revelation of the human vocal apparatus's potential, cementing Mitchener's reputation as a fearless and essential voice in modern music.
