Opera fans in the area know the name Madeleine Gray very well. The mezzo-soprano memorably sang several roles with the sadly expired Baltimore Opera Company. She has also done notable work locally with Washington National Opera, Opera Vivente and Young Victorian Theatre Company.
There's an enticing opportunity to hear her on Sunday in a program at Harford Community College tailor-made for Halloween, featuring songs inspired by life and words of Baltimore icon Edgar Allan Poe: "Telltale Hearts and Twilight Fancies."
Gray will be accompanied by pianist Bill Scanlan Murphy with what is bound to be great care -- he's her husband, not to mention music director of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, a composer for BBC shows and a naval historian on the side.
The singer got the idea for the recital from last season's vibrant Poe exhibit at the BMA, which stressed his widespread influence. The happy coincidence of a concert date on Oct. 31 sealed the deal -- it was a perfect time for some Poe-found music.
It looks like a very cool selection of repertoire, starting with
a song said to be Poe's own favorite. Settings of Poe poems by a favorite composer of the Victorians, Michael Balfe, will be included, along with recent examples of the author's words turned into music.
There's room, too, for pieces by Schubert, Schumann, Mahler, Duparc and others that contain spooky, Poe-like texts. And, to show that Poe's brand of horror still has legs (or necks), Gray will also sing "Have a Little Priest" from Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd."
The recital is at 3 p.m. Sunday, leaving plenty of time for trick-or-treating later on.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELEINEGRAY.COM