HOT SPRINGS – Residents of Hot Springs had the opportunity to see a local student perform an opera recital last Friday evening.

Albert Williams, a junior at Hot Springs High School, was the main attraction last week as he performed for the first time outside of a classroom setting.

The interior of the Symes Hotel was jam packed, and as the lights were dimmed and the evening’s performers took center stage, the assembled crowd grew quite and directed their attention to Williams.

Well dressed and with a deep singing voice suited to the various pieces he performed as part of the program, the featured soloist, Williams put on quite a performance singing in several different languages throughout the course of the evening.

After introducing himself, an action accompanied by a warm round of applause from those in attendance, Williams began the recital with a German piece.

Following the introductory performance, Williams effortlessly transitioned to a string of Italian pieces, starting with Caro mio ben, (my dear beloved), a song written by Neapolitan composer Giuseppe Giordani.

Williams followed this performance with two more songs in Italian before ending his first set of the evening with a piece in German.  

Following the intermission, Williams kicked off the second half of the performance with a German piece before singing in Latin and French, and closing out the show with two songs in English

Williams has been sponsored by the Hot Springs Artist Society to take classes in Opera at the University of Missoula.

Prior to his classes at the U of M, Williams received a year of instruction with Bonnie Jean Triplett of Hot Springs.

In Missoula Williams has taken five opera lessons so far, studying with vocal music professor Anne Basinski.

According to Triplett the artist society hopes to sponsor two lessons a month for williams, and to raise donations to finance his studies through 2015.  

Williams was very appreciative of the opportunity to learn his chosen art in Missoula.

“It’s been great, everyone has been really helpful,” Williams said.

According to the young soloist, he was not interested in classical music until he was in eighth grade.

Though he performs in many different languages, Williams was adamant his favorite pieces were German compositions.

“I enjoy the sound of the language in the songs,” Williams said.

Throughout his performance Williams was accompanied by Dixie S. Hall on the piano.

Hall, received her Master’s degree in Piano Accompanying and Coaching at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and taught at several schools and performed at the Lincoln Center In New York and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, before starting her second career in finance and eventually returning to Montana.

Williams’ vocal music recital was presented by the Hot Springs Artists’ Society.