Well-known for her performing in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, Sue Mathys has been given an impressive New York introduction at a concert (September 22, 2008) at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, presented by The Swiss Society of New York, Robert R. Blume and Les Schecter. Mathys proves to be an engaging and powerful performer with a strong voice and the ability to act out a number with showmanship.
Concentrating on Broadway show tunes, songs associated with Edith Piaf and others suited to her range, Mathys delivered with a minimum of talk and a no-nonsense approach. She let her ability to movingly interpret a lyric convey her talent and audience appeal.
Mathys performed the role of Norma Desmond in a German production of “Sunset Boulevard,” reflected forcefully by the two numbers she sang from that show—“As If We Never Said Good-bye,” and “With One Look.” She further showed her affinity for Broadway musicals with a versatile selection that included the sarcastic “Could I Leave You” from Sondheim’s “Follies,” “What Was a Woman to Do” from ”Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” from “Pal Joey,” among others
She revealed a lilting romantic bent with “Who Knows” from “I Can Get It for You Wholesale” at the outset, then sailed into “Some People” from “Gypsy.” That’s a tough number to tackle as there needs to be a dramatic build-up for the full flavor, but when she later did a bit of an acting introduction to “Rose’s Turn” from “Gypsy” she showed a firmer ability to be both actress and singer. She won’t edge out Patti LuPone, but Mathys pours plenty of heart into her own brassy, passionate rendition.
She also demonstrated an affinity for Weill and Brecht with her “Seeräuberjenny” in German from the Threepenny Opera. As for Piaf, Mathys sang her “Hymm a L’Amour,” and did two other Piaf-associated numbers as encores.
Mathys demonstrated a welcome talent for turning on an audience by the way she gives her all to a song, and her fluency singing in English plus her obvious musical theater acting ability make her a candidate for a successful career in the United States.
Skillfully accompanying her on the piano was music director Jay Dias. The concert was directed by Len Pfluger.