Three stars

Trinity Episcopal Church, Nov. 18.

Resident artist Steven Stolen and guest artist Spencer Myer opened the eleventh season of the Meridian Song Project with a sublime program entitled Shakes and Shoes. Especially beautifully matched for piano and vocal interpretations of Robert Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” Opus. 48, texts by Heinrich Heine. This program choice referenced “Old Wicked Songs,” which appeared recently at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Stolen and Myer equally pleased with excerpts from Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate,” and pieces by Roger Quilter and Gerald Finzi. With their ties to Shakespeare’s plays, these selections fit nicely into the framework of Dance Kaleidoscope’s Ashland Dances which appeared on IRT’s Upper Stage, Nov. 15-18. The sensuously rapturous evening closed with a floating arrangement, by Rick Walters, of I Had a Dream from The King and I. Stolen currently is managing director of the IRT. Myer is the American Pianists Association Christel DeHaan Classical Fellow.