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4-21-2013 Guest Artists in Recital Nicholas Isherwood

Mark Robson

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Recommended Citation Isherwood, Nicholas and Robson, Mark, "Guest Artists in Recital" (2013). Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format). Paper 1471. http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/music_programs/1471

This Guest Recital is brought to you for free and open access by the Music Performances at Chapman University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format) by an authorized administrator of Chapman University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Guest Artists in Recital Nicholas Isherwood, bass baritone & Mark Robson, piano April 21, 2013

spring 2013 ••CHAPMAN -- UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS SPRING 2013 CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY february April 4-6, 11-13 February 1 Stage Door Hall-Musco by George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber University Singers Post-Tour Dirncted by Nina LeNoir Concert Conservatory of Music April 19-21 Stephen Coker, Conductor Chapman presents February 7 presents a The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar President's Piano Series Peter Atherton, Artistic Director Grace Fong & Louise Thomas, duo piano concert Carol Neblett, Associate Director February 14-16, 21-23 April 24-27 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Student Produced One Acts Directed by Thomas Bradac march may Guest Artist Recital May 8-11 March 7 Spring Dance Concert President's Piano Series Directed by Jennifer Backhaus Sergei Babayan May 11 March 8 Sholund Scholarship Concert Chapman Chamber Orchestra & Daniel Alfred Wachs, Conductor University Singers Nicholas Isherwood, bass-baritone Daniel Alfred Wachs, Music Director and Conductor Stephen Coker, Conductor March 14-16 Concert lntime Directed by Alicia Guy april Mark Robson, piano April 4 President's Piano Series John Perry

C HA p MAN For more information about our events, please visit our website at April 21, 2013 • 8:00 P.M. u N I v E R s I T Y http://www.chapman.edu/copa orcall 714-997-6519 Salmon Recital Hall COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS or email [email protected] Program Artists

No Sun J\fodest Mussorgsky Nicholas Isherwood has sung in the world's leading festivals (Salzburg, Aix, Within four walls (1839-1881) Festival d'Automne, Avignon, Almeida, Biennale di Venezia, Holland Festival, You have not recognized me Munich Biennale, Wien Modern, Handel Festivals in Gottingen and Halle, The noisy festival day is ended Tanglewood, Ravinia, etc.) and opera houses (Royal Opera House, Berlin, Boredom Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Lyon, Chatelet, Theatre des Champs Elegy Elysees, Rome, Torino, Genova, La Fenice, La Sc;ala, etc.), working with By the River conductors such as Joel Cohen, William Christie, Peter Eotvos, Gabriele Ferro, Nicholas McGegan, Paul McCreesh, Zubin Mehta, , Mandoline Claude Debussy /Paul Verlaine Helmuth Rilling, David Robertson, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky and Arturo C'est l'extase (1862-1918) Tamayo. Isherwood has worked closely with composers such as Sylvano Le son du cor Bussotti, , George Crumb. , , En sourdine Gyorgy Kurtag, Steve Lacy, , Giacinto Scelsi and Iannis Chevaux de bois Xenakis.

Maple Leaves Charles Ives Mark Robson has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a pianist with Evening (1874-1954) "one of the great techniques," "an inquiring mind" and a performer capable Afterglow of evoking an "exquisite engulfing pastel haze," and he continues to impress Thoreau with his multi-faceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Mr. The Indians Robson is equally comfortable in styles ranging from early music played on Like a Sick Eagle the harpsichord and organ to the great Romantic repertoire and beyond to A Farewell to Land contemporary piano works demanding theatrical participation from the performer. As a collaborative artist with singers and instrumentalists, he Uroarmana [Moon of Fate] (2012), world premiere Jeffrey Holmes commands the respect of his peers in both the recital and chamber settings. (b. 1971) He presents an annual recital for the LA series Piano Spheres and has performed for Jacaranda on numerous occasions. As an organist, he has also appeared as a soloist in the Minimalist Jukebox at Disney Hall and has performed on the organ in Mahler's 8th Symphony at the Hollywood Bowl in their 2008 season. Program Notes Program Notes Nicholas Isherwood and Mark Robson lived down the hall from each other in French House at Alas, those are only ghosts! As if again breathing in the poison Oberlin. This is the first time they have performed together. I am bored with this dead crowd, Of spring's amorous dreams, And the noise of their old chatter I resurrect in my soul the stream Claude Debussy had the score for Mussorgsky's U/ithout Stt11 on his piano. His piece Nuages for Already has no power over me. Of hopes, surges, illusions ... orchestra, later transcribed for two pianos, includes a quote from No Sun. Jeffrey Holmes is a Wag- nerian, like Debussy. Charles Ives was one of the most innovative composers of the history of And bravely I gave to her alone Only one shadow, the only one of all, American music. Holmes carries this spirit forwards. All my soul in a silent tear, Appeared to me, breathing with love, and, Unseen by no one, full of happiness, Like a true friend of the past days, Evening and approaching night, often as a metaphor for death, the night and the moon are themes In a tear I saved for so long! Bent down by the bedstead. throughout the concert. It is the protagonist of J?y the Rivet~ the last and most famous song in No Sun, transcribed and often performed by Horowitz. The Watteau "commedia dell'arte" characters 4) in Debussy's lvfandolin "whirl around in the ecstasy of a pink and grey moon." The night is present Be bored. You were created for boredom. Be bored. Be bored listening to words of love, throughout the Ives group, especially in his greatest song, A Fareivell to Land, in which "Yon sun Without burning feelings there is no joy, In1mersed in the stillness of your empty heart, that sets upon the sea, We follow in his flight." The text closely resembles those in No Stm. Jeffrey As there is no reunion without separation, Responding with a fake greeting Holmes piece has the moon in its title. The winter and ravens as harbingers of death clearly illus- As without struggle there are no victories. To the truth of an innocent dream. trate the night as endless darkness. Be bored. From birth to the grave Enjoy the night of this austere program, \vith its glimmer of hope in the music of Debussy, as the Your path is written beforehand: moon nses ... Drop by drop you'll waste your powers, -Nicholas Isherwood Then you'll die, and God be with you ... And God be with you!

5) The irrepressible whisper of life's banality, In the mist the night is in slumber. Silent star And the grim ringing of death!.. Flickering, lonely, through the veil of clouds. Modest Mussorgsky, No Sun A rising star, as if full of shyness, Sorrowfully ringing their bells in the distance, Is hiding her bright face in a joyless mist, 1) 2) Herds of grazing horses. Like my future, mute and impenetrable. A tiny room, quiet and pleasant, You have not recognized me in the crowd, As night clouds my changing thoughts An impenetrable darkness, irresponsive darkness; Your glance did not say anything. Fly above me, disturbed and gloomy; A deep thought, a sorrowful song; But I felt wonder and fright There are gleams of hopes in them, A treasured hope in the beating heart; When I caught it: which were once dear, Which are long lost, long dead. Speedy flight of moment after moment; It was only a moment; There are regrets in them... and tears. A petrified glance at a far-away happiness; But believe me, within it I re-lived again Thoughts rush along endlessly; Plenty of doubt, plenty of endurance. All the delights of past love, At times, transformed into features of a loved face, Here it is, my night, night of solitude. All the bitterness of oblivion and tears! They call for me, awakening in my soul former dreams again, 3) At times, rnerged into black darkness, full of silent threat, Over is the idle and clamorous day; But sleep escapes from my eyes. Frighten my timid mind with the future's struggle, Human life has fallen silent and a-slumber. And by the rays of the next dawn And I hear in the distance life's discordant noise, Everything is quiet. The shadow of the May night My imagination is leafing through Laughter of the soulless crowd, the muttering of Embraces the sleeping capital. The pages of the lost years. treacherous feuding, Program Notes Program Notes 6) Pensive moon crescent, far-away stars The Sound of the Horn Admiring the waters from a blue sky. The horn sounds its distress call over by the woods To enhance this drowsy lament I look in silence at the deep waters; With a cry of grief like that of an orphan The snow is falling as long shreds of linen My heart senses magical secrets in them. And comes to die at the foot of the hill Across the blood-red sunset, They splash mysteriously, tender-caressing waves; Where the roaming north wind wails in brief outbursts. There is much mystical power in their muttering. And the air has the air of an autumn sigh, I hear boundless thoughts and passions ... The soul of the wolf is weeping in that voice So mild is this monotonous evening Unknown voice, which stirs my soul, Which rises with the sun that sinks In which a slow landscape coddles itself. Caresses, frightens, and evokes doubts. With an agony that seems somehow soothing When it commands me to listen -- I can't move; And at once delights and distresses. When it drives me away -- I want to run in fear; When it calls into the depths -- I want to jump without hesitation. Muted Debussy /Vedaine Calm in the half-day Let us abandon ourselves Mandolin That the high branches make, To the breeze, rocking and soft, \Xlhich comes to your feet to wrinkle The givers of serenades A chorus of tiny voices. Let us soak \vell our love The waves of auburn lawns. And the lovely women who listen In this profound silence. Oh, what a frail and fresh murmur! Exchange insipid words And when, solemnly, the evening It babbles and whispers, Let us mingle our souls, our hearts Under the singing branches. From the black oaks falls, It resembles the soft noise And our ecstatic senses The voice of our despair, There is Thyrsis and Amyntas That waving grass exhales. Among the vague langours The nightingale, will sing. And there's the eternal Clytander, You might say it were, under the bending Of the pines and the bushes. And there's Damis who, for many a streatn, Close your eyes halfway, Heartless woman, wrote many a tender verse. The muffled sound of rolling pebbles. Cross your arms on your breast, Their short silk coats, This soul, which laments And from your sleeping heart Their long dresses with trains, And this dormant moan, Chase away forever all plans. Their elegance, their joy It is ours, is it not? And their soft blue shadows, Is it [not] mine[?] -- tell [me] -- and yours, Whose humble anthem we breathe Wooden Horses Whirl around in the ecstasy On this mild evening, so very quietly? Of a pink and grey moon, Turn, turn, good horses of wood, Turn, turn, horses of their hearts, And the mandolin prattles turn a hundred turns, turn a thousand turns, while all around your turning Among the shivers from the breeze. turn often and turn always, squints the sly pickpocket's eye -- turn, turn to the sound of the oboes. turn to the sound of the victorious cornet. It is the langorous extasy The red-faced child and pale mother, It is astonishing how it intoxicates you It is the langorous ecstasy, the boy in black and the girl in pink, to go around this way in a stupid circle, It is the fatigue after love, the one pursuing and the other posing, nothing in your tummy and an ache in your It is all the rustling of the wood, each getting a penny's worth of Sunday fun. head, In the embrace of breezes; very sick and having lots of fun. It is near the gray branches: Program Notes Program Notes

Charles Ives Like a sick eagle The spirit is too weak; Maple Leaves mortality weighs heavily on me like unwilling sleep, October turned my maple's leaves to gold; and each imagined pinnacle and steep of Godlike hardship tells me I must die, The rest are gone now; here and there one lingers: like a sick eagle looking towards the sky. Soon these will slip from out the twig's weak hold, Like coins between a dying miser's fingers. A Farewell to Land Adieu, adieu! Evening My native shore Fades o'er the waters blue; Now came still Evening on, The night winds sigh, the breakers roar and Twilight gray had in her sober libery all things clad; And shrieks the wild seamew. Silence accompanied; for the beast and bird- Yon sun that sets upon the sea, They to their grassy couch, these to their nests were slunk, We follow in his flight; but the wakeful nighingale; She all night long her Farewell awhile to him and thee, amorous descant sung; my native Land, Goodnight! Silence is pleased: Jeffrey Holmes, Uroarmana (Moon ofPate) Afterglow I. Pat vera Uroarmana. Ok var bxoi hregg ok rota ... at Uroarmana kom inn hvert kveld sem annat. At the quiet close of day, Gently yet the willows sway; [It was a moon offate. Amidst both wind and rain ... the moon offate appeared every night as before.] When the sunset light is low, Lingers still the afterglow; II. Vetr pann ... sjuknuo. Mun her eptir koma manndouor. Beauty tarries loth to die, /Winter-time ... a great sickness. People will die here now.] Every lightest fantasy lovelier grows in memory, Where the truer beauties lie. III. Ok var bxoi hregg ok rota ... Geirs Drottinn vaknaoi, ok lez verr vera vio Kristr alla tima sioan. [A.midst both wind and rain ... Lord of the Spear awoke and said that from now on things would be worse between him Thoreau and Christ} His meditations were interrupted only by the faint sound of the Concord bell, "A melody, as it IV. Vind ek kyrri, vagi a, ok svxfik allan sx. were, imported into the wilderness. At a distance over the woods the sound acquires a certain [I calm the wine£ and the waves) and soften the whole sea.] vibratory hum as if the pine needles in the horizon were the strings of a harp which it swept ... a vibration of the universal lyre, just as the intervening atmosphere makes a distant ridge of earth, V. Sva se yor ollum innan rifja, sem per i maura mornio haugi. Spa. Blot. Rict g61 (Viorir). Ramt g61 interesting to the eyes by the azure tint it imparts. (l>undr). Bitra galdra. [lviqy you seffer within your rih your mound an anthill where you rot~ Prophery. Sacrifice. Mighti/y chanted (Storm er). He grew in those seasons like corn in the night, Magical/y chanted (Thunderer). Poweiful charms.] Rapt in revery, on the Walden shore, amidst the sumachs, pines and hickories, VI. Einn, harmdrogg sleginn, grimmon tarom, hvert fellr bl6ouct, ursvalt, innfialgt. in undisturbed solitude. [A.lone) shroud in the dew of sorrow) the bitter tears) are drops of bloocl cold as rain) heary.J

The Indians VII. Vindr var a hvass, ok fauk askan vioa. Hann la par ok horfOi i lopt upp ok gapoi bxoi munni ok Alas! For them their day is o'er, nosum ok puloi nokkut. Uroarmana. No more, no more for them the wild deer bounds, fA- brutal gale began to blow. He lqy on the peak of a clift staring up at the sky with his mouth wide open) reciting The plough is on their hunting grounds; something. Moon of Fate.] The pale man's axe rings through their woods, VIII. 1>6 k6mu par fljugandi hrafnar tveir ok gullu hatt. Uroarmana. The pale man's sail skims o'er their floods; [A.midst both wind and rain ... Two ravens flew f;ry and cawed loud/y. Moon of Fate.] Beyond the mountains of the west Their children go to die. IX. Vilk ek eigi gop geyja ... sem pu feldir mer far af hondum. [I will not blaspheme the gods ... as you saved me from near death.] Mr. and Mrs. Donald Barda Mrs. Jane K. Grier Ms. Susan Pedroza Thank you to our Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Berriman Dr. Thomas Gordon Hall & Pfizer Foundation Mrs. Willy Hall '64* Ms. Geraldine M. Bowden* Mrs. Sallie Piccorillo* Dr. Harry L. Hamilton & Fund for Excellence Supporters Mr. Thomas Bradac Ms. Kelly Radetich* Mrs. Mary E. Hamilton Harsh J. Brown & Amalia & Samuel Rainey Frances V. Brown Mr. Ronald A. Hill & Dr. Irving Rappaport Mrs. Cheryl B. Hill & The College of Performing Arts relies on your generous support of the Fund for Betty L. Burtis Dr. Julia Rappaport* Dr. Frederic T. Hite, D.D.S.* Excellence, help~ng to provide our students with valuable learning experiences as Mr. Michael J. Byrne '67 & Mr. Kenneth W. Reed '61 Mrs. Susan Byrne Mr. and Mrs. David J. Hock they become artists. We gratefully recognize each and every one of our donors for Dr. Robert Reid, LMFT '59 Helen K. Carbon* Dr. Charles E. Hoger & their contributions to our Fund for Excellence. For more information on how to make Mrs. Anita Hoger Ms. Karen Ringer* In Honor of Chase Cargill a donation, please visit: www.chapman.edu/copa and click "Support Our Programs." Mrs. Susan Hook* Peter & Valerie Rogers Mr. Renato M. Castaneda & Mrs. Betty Bayram Sirri Josefina R. Castaneda Mrs. Carol Howard* Southern California Junior Mr. Alan Caddick & In Memory of Janet Crozer Dr. and Mrs. Anthony R. lllo Dean's Circle Ms. Claire Chambless* Bach Festival $2,499 and above Mrs. Charlene Caddick Mrs. Barbara Harris Stephen and Janalee Johnson Mr. Rick F. Christophersen '94 Mr. Christopher D. Spaulding Anonymous Ors. Lynne & Jim Doti Melissa and Gregg Jacobson Mr. Christopher S. Kawai & City of Orange Public Library Mrs. Beverly Spring Mrs. Elaine M. Kawai Rhea Black Family Mr. Thomas Durante '97 & Paul and Kelley Lagudi Foundation Ms. Susan L. Stanton '82 Mrs. Amanda Durante Prof. and Mrs. John Koshak Covington Schumacher Mrs. Patricia Melsheime '62 Mr. William P. Conlin & Mr. George F. Sterne '78 & Concert Series* Mr. Charles W. Ellwanger & Mrs. Laila Conlin Mr. Robert Lepore & Northwestern Mutual Ms. Nicole Boxer Mrs. Kimberly T. Ellwanger Mrs. Lori Lepore Patrick & Mary Dirk/ TROY Group* Mr. Gregory G. Norton '84 Suzanne C. Crandall Dr. Frank Frisch* Robert and Jodi Stiffelman Mrs. Kaye DeVries '70 Mr. Arnnold R. Levine & Glass Family Trust Bill Parker '52 & Dr. William Hall & Mrs. Irma Levine* Dr. Nicholas Terry & Mr. David A. Janes & Barbara Parker '64 Mr. Michael 0. Drummy '73 & Dr. Emily Rosario Mr. David M. Masone Mr. and Mrs. James W. Ley Mrs. Donna Janes* Mrs. Patricia L. Drummy '81 Mrs. Anastacio Rivera '62 Mrs. Alyce M. Thomas '96 Mr. Jerry M. Harrington & Mr. and Mrs. William S. Linn Jr. Mr. Bruce C. Lineberger '76 Mr. Stephen L. Dublin '70 Mrs. Maralou Harrington Mr. Eric M. Scandrett Mey Ling Tsai & Mrs. Gina Lineberger* Mrs. Linda Duttenhaver* Ms. Kathleen Malcolmb St. John's Lutheran Church Dr. and Mrs. Joaquin Siles, D.D.S. Ms. Doreen W. Vail* Mr. Donald Marabella & Marina Vocal Arts Booster Club Mr. Stephen Smith & Echols Family Trust Mrs. Luciana Marabella* The Lux Productions Mrs. Jenifer van Meenen '94* Mrs. Kristen Falde Smith* Ms. Irene Eckfeldt Dr. Joseph V. Matthews Mr. Carlson H. Mengert* Linda Vinopal & Robert Fodor & Marybelle & Sebastian P. Musco* Mr. Lee A. McCabe '93 & In Memory of Erika Solti Shaeffer* Pamela Ezell and Jim Lichacz Paige Fodor '12 Music Teachers Association Office Solutions Mrs. Racheal M. Rodriguez-McCabe Mr. David A. Weatherill '51 & Laila & Dudley Frank David and Judith Vogel of California Mr. Ronald D. Rotunda & Mr. Jim McKeehan Mrs. Beverly J. Weatherill '50 Ms. Kyndra K. Rotunda Mr. Joseph A. Gatto* Opera 100 Mr. Ales Vysin & Mr. Royce A. Wise & Mr. Alfred Neukuckatz Mr. and Mrs. Rande I. Shaffer Harold and Jo Gidish Mrs. Janice Vysin Honorable H. Warren Siegel & Mrs. Darlene Wise NHS Choral Music Boosters Mrs. Jan Siegel* Mr. Milo Sieve & Golden Rain Foundation Ms. Janet K. Waiblinger Ms. Anna Marie Novick Mrs. Rosemary Sieve of Laguna Hills The SJL Foundation Arts Sponsor Christine Tunison Wait Jay Grauer, in honor of Mrs. Allison Novosel* Mrs. Ruth E. Stewart The Theodore Family $100-$499 Ms. Darlene J. Ware* Edgar Sholund Orange County Playwrights Arlin Pedrick Trocme Anne Wood '54 '72 Mr. Kenneth E. Aaron & Mr. Milton S. Grier, Jr. & Alliance Arts Patron Schools First Federal Credit Union Mrs. Sheila L. Aaron $1,000-$2,499 Wendy and Thomas Ahlering Arts Benefactor Dr. Nicolaos Alexopoulos & Mr. Thomas M. Akashi & $500-$999 Mrs. Sue Alexopoulos* Mrs. Karen K. Akashi *Members of the Opera Chapman Guild Mr. Benton Bejach & Dr. John A. Carbon Ms. Christina A. Alexopoulos* C PMAN UNIVERSITY effort has been made to ensure that all donor names are included and Mrs. Wanlyn Bejach* Mr. Jeffrey Cogan '92 & Mr. William B. Armstrong listed correctly. If you notice any errors or omissions, please call the College The Bruenell Family Mrs. Carol Cogan COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS Bank of America Foundation* of Arts Development Office at (714) 289-2085. Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends:

On behalf of our faculty, staff and students, thank you for joining us for this exciting presentation. I am grateful to all the members of our College of Performing Arts family for the support that allows us to continue to present great performances like the one your are about to see. in our next generation of artists. Preparing the next generation of performers and artists takes the support of all of us who Invest are passionate about the performing arts and who value its presence in our lives. As a The College of Performing Arts brings you die most vital and supporter of the arts, you have a crucial role to play to ensure the success of the College of Performing Arts and the students who are at the heart of all we do. Your financial support powerful part of our curriculum - live performances of dance, allows the College of Performing Arts to provide the kind of educational and performing music and theatre. This extraordinary hands-on training opportunities crucial to our students' growth into artists. Please join our community of for our next generation of artists is possible only through loyal alumni, parents and community partners devoted to developing the talents of the next generation of artists with a gift to the Fund for Excellence. your generosity.

The Fund for Excellence supports College of Performing Arts initiatives that enhance our By helping to maintain the resources essential to our students' experience. Your gift to the Fund for Excellence has a tremendous impact on all curriculum, you allow the College to offer a dynamic learning of our programs by: environment that nurtures the creativity of our students with • Providing our students with opportunities to work with professional artists; one-on-one training, ensuring they master their craft. We can • Ensuring top notch community performances of classic and contemporary art; produce exceptional performances like what you are about to • Strengthening our programs by maintaining our ability to attract the brightest and most talented students from across the country. see only with support from people committed to excellence in performing arts. People just like you. No matter what level you choose to support the College of Performing Arts, you will be a part of a family of individuals who demonstrate, year after year, that they are fully commit- Help support the College of Performing Arts' talented young ted to developing the talents of young artists. And most importantly, I hope you make your gift because you value the arts and want to invest in our next generation of artists. students as they transform into tomorrow's professional artists. To learn more about giving to the College of Performing Arts, Enjoy the performance, and I look forward to seeing you again throughout the season. please contact Liz Crozer, Director of Development, at (714) 289-2085 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dale A. Merrill, Dean