MUSIC REVIEW : Wagner Impressive Yet Spotty in Recital

A song recital is an oddly cut garment, perfectly suited to some singers but at once too loose and too tight on others. Soprano Lauren Wagner, a talented young winner of a number of national competitions and awards, doesn’t seem to have the right vocal physique for it, at least not yet.

Appearing in a Pro Musicis recital in Bing Theater at the L.A. County Museum of Art Wednesday, Wagner gave an often impressive display of her vocal attainments, but the music itself emerged convincing only here and there.

In folk-song arrangements by Brahms, Canteloube and G. G. Ferrari (these last accompanied by William Kanengiser on guitar), she showed little sense of simplicity or intimacy. These were generally oversung, phrases pressed beyond their gentle curves and technically effortful.

Two songs from Wolf’s “Spanisches Liederbuch” and three songs by Puccini--”Morire?,” “E l’uccellino” and “Storiella d’amore”--found her in more comfortable interpretive territory, capturing the dramatic breadth of the Wolf and lyric sweep of the Puccini in robustly delivered, big-boned, operatic readings.

Wagner’s soprano opens up impressively up high and she has plenty of power at her disposal. Though her breathing seems sometimes too noticeable, she gets around her instrument easily and clearly enough. Pianist Frederick Weldy offered steady and tasteful accompaniment.

A witty and lovable collection of Ives songs, including such gems as “The Side Show” and “On the Counter,” were effectively and sensitively sung, especially her well-wrought rendition of the spiritual “In the Morning.”

Songs by American composers Lori Laitman, Richard Hundley, Richard Thomas, Gershwin (“Fascinatin’ Rhythm”) and Kern (“Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”) wound up the evening, the latter two in that debatable opera-singer-does-Broadway mode. Would we suffer Liza Minnelli in Mozart?

* Lauren Wagner, as part of her Pro Musicis Foundation residency, will perform for the homeless today from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Weingart Center Cafe, 566 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. Frederick Weldy will accompany. (213) 627-8068. Admission is free. Parking is available at 6th and San Pedro streets.