WORLD-RENOWNED bass-baritone Sir Willard White says Sunday’s performance at the National Chorale of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary concert will always be among his fondest memories.

“It was one of the most exciting times for me. I’ve had so much fun singing in my country over the years and it was just great to share in the celebrations,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Sir Willard was joined onstage by his wife, mezzo-soprano Lady Sylvia Kevorkian-White, as well as the National Chorale of Jamaica.

The event — held at the UWI Chapel on the Mona Campus, St Andrew — was under the distinguished patronage of former Governor General Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall.

Sir Willard, who was knighted in the Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honours in 2004, last performed in Jamaica in 2015. He said the highlight of the evening for him was sharing the stage with his significant other.

“The high point for me was when my wife came out to join me. It was very lovely,” he said.

The couple performed Mozart’s La ci darem, and excerpts of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, including Bess, You Is My Woman Now, and Oh, Lawd I’m on My Way along with the National Chorale.

Sir Willard showed his vocal range on songs including Der Wanderer, Das Fischer Madchen, Schubert’s Who is Sylvia, Mozart’s Madamina, The Boatman’s Dance, Long Time Ago, and I Bought Me A Cat.

Sir Willard trained at the Jamaica School of Music before moving to New York. In May 1971, White made his début as the runaway slave Jim in Hall Overton’s opera Huckleberry Finn. He next appeared in the New York City Opera production of La Boheme, playing Collinne (1974).

He would make his English début in 1976, with the English National Opera as Seneca in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazi di Poppea, having also starred alongside Leona Mitchell that year in the first truly complete recording of Porgy and Bess. He has since graced the major opera houses and music festivals of the world.

Sir Willard’s voice was featured in the Oscar-winning biopic Amadeus and, in 2019, he had the honour of interpreting in French the popular Chant de Partisans as part of the 75th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landing during WWII.

Winston Ewart, musical director-conductor of the National Chorale of Jamaica since 1997, was pleased with Sunday’s event.

“There were so many highlights. I enjoyed everything. It’s not often that we hear this kind of music Jamaica. Sunday’s concert was like going through a journey of various emotions. When Sir Willard White sang with Lady Sylvia, and in the end with the Chorale, that was a nice combination,” he told the Observer.

Having been one of the founding members, Ewart added that the National Chorale of Jamaica has been extensively influential in Jamaica over the five decades.

“We may not have achieved all of our objectives, but we have done a lot in bringing the music to the nooks and crannies of Jamaica. We have upheld the high standards of music, so we have nailed those objectives. I think the main thing is our musical performances, because you are as good as your last performance,” he said.

Ewart said there will be another musical showcase in November to celebrate the 50-year milestone.

“We will be performing the Magnificat and the Song Of Thanksgiving and Dawn Marie [James] will be back in Jamaica to perform in the Magnificat with us. We aspire to live up to our name,” the conductor added.