Huw Montague Rendall, Contemplation Review

by Constance Tucker

Huw Montague Rendall’s debut album Contemplation, released by Warner Classics, delivers a stunning array of baritone brilliance, showcasing his technical skills and his remarkable emotional depth. As a rising star in the classical world, Montague Rendall has already captivated audiences on prestigious stages worldwide, and this album offers a personal glimpse into his artistic journey.

From the opening notes of Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet, the listener is immediately drawn into Montague Rendall’s rich, velvety tone. His capacity to imbue Hamlet’s iconic soliloquy, “Être ou ne pas être,” with vulnerability and power is striking. Montague Rendall’s phrasing is precise, yet his delivery is infused with a raw, emotional gravity that brings Shakespeare’s tragic hero to life in an intensely personal way. It’s as though the baritone invites us to traverse Hamlet’s existential dilemma with him, transforming a familiar aria into a fresh, moving experience.

In contrast, his portrayal of Gounod’s Faust offers a sensitive and spiritual Valentin in “Avant de quitter ces lieux.” Here, Montague Rendall’s vocal lightness shines, effortlessly blending warmth with technical precision. His legato line, especially in this aria, allows for a smooth, uninterrupted flow that enhances the emotional sincerity of the prayer. This sensitivity to phrasing, combined with his inherent musicianship, turns each note into a contemplative reflection of Valentin’s inner turmoil.

His versatility shines further in Korngold’s Die tote Stadt, where Montague Rendall explores Fritz’s bittersweet longing in “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen.” The aria demands not just technical ability, but a delicate balance of color and nuance to express the full emotional weight of Fritz’s introspection. Montague Rendall navigates the emotional melody with an effortless legato and a subtle pianissimo that lingers hauntingly in the listener’s ear, showing his ability to embody the various shades of his characters fully.

Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen is a particularly engaging segment of the album, offering a deeply contemplative journey. In “Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht,” Montague Rendall’s interpretation of heartache is profound, delivered with a quiet intensity that lures the listener into the depths of Mahler’s melancholy. Each song is treated as a personal reflection, with Montague Rendall’s voice perfectly calibrated to bring out the nuance in Mahler’s orchestral writing.

The album’s most unexpected and equally impressive turn comes with Richard Rodgers’ Carousel. In “Soliloquy,” Montague Rendall shifts gears from opera to Broadway with astonishing ease. His portrayal of Billy Bigelow’s internal monologue is captivating, filled with the same emotional honesty that permeates his operatic repertoire. The text comes alive in Montague Rendall’s hands, his voice perfectly suited to the expressive demands of the musical theater genre, bridging the gap between classical and contemporary with grace.

In Contemplation, Montague Rendall’s attention to text and his ability to merge his voice with the emotional core of each piece make this album an exceptional listening experience. His partnership with the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen Normandie, under the direction of Ben Glassberg, offers a lush, sensitive orchestral backdrop, allowing Montague Rendall’s voice to shine in all its glory.

Huw Montague Rendall is one of the most exciting baritones of his generation and Contemplation is an invitation for listeners to join him on a musical journey of vocal artistry, where technical skill and emotional connection meet in perfect harmony.