The three Los Angeles Baritones” Cedric T. Berry, Donald Perry, and Richard E. Taylor assisted by distinguished pianists Susan Grace and Clarence McDonald performed Friday night, November 7th at the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College. They sang a beautifully balanced program of songs, duets and trios ranging from excerpts from operas by Handel, Mozart, Verdi and William Grant Stills to newer hymns, spirituals and songs, many by African-American composers or set to poems by African-American poets.

I’d like to be able to say which singer was my favorite, but I can’t.  Each one is an excellent musician with a beautiful ringing baritone voice and a great sense of style. They are terrific actors who really know how to present a song, and each one has his own quirky sense of humor to delight us all. Together they are dynamite!!

The spirited finale an arrangement for the three baritones of "If I got my Ticket" brought us all to our feet in a standing ovation.  So, lucky for us, they returned for an encore, a beautiful arrangement of "America , the Beautiful", which brought us to our feet again, this time with tears in our eyes!!

As I look back at the concert (after 10 days) I have to admit that Richard Taylor’s poignant singing of "Cortigiani" from Verdi’s Rigoletto is still ringing in my ears -- as well as the lovely trio arrangement of "Ave Maria" from Stills’ opera Costaso. But, in truth, the whole concert was wonderful!!

Look for more great music coming in 2009 in the Shivers Concert Series.