Nuit d’Étoiles: The Forgotten Songs of Charles-Marie Widor

Rebecca Wascoe Hays, soprano || Nicole Leupp Hanig, soprano Allen Saunders, bass || Susan McDaniel, piano

WWW.ALBANYRECORDS.COM TROY1813 ALBANY RECORDS U.S. 915 BROADWAY, ALBANY, NY 12207 TEL: 518.436.8814 FAX: 518.436.0643 ALBANY RECORDS U.K. BOX 137, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA8 0XD TEL: 01539 824008 © 2020 ALBANY RECORDS MADE IN THE USA DDD WARNING: COPYRIGHT SUBSISTS IN ALL RECORDINGS ISSUED UNDER THIS LABEL.

Hays_1813_book.indd 1-2 3/3/20 10:13 AM THE PERFORMERS Rebecca Wascoe Hays, soprano brings an innate dramatic intensity and THE COMPOSER musical intelligence to all of her repertoire. Wascoe Hays is an avid promoter of contemporary American composers. She collaborated in commissioning a song cycle from American composer, Libby Larsen, and premiered the work, The Magdalene at Baylor University in 2013 and has since performed it in , (born Feb. 21, 1844, Lyon, France—died venues across the globe. Her CD, A Strange, Wild Song, is available on all Charles-Marie Widor major streaming platforms through Albany Records in which The Magdalene, March 12, 1937, Paris) was a French organist, composer, and teacher. The son and grandson of organ build- two new duets written for the artist, as well as several previously unrecorded ers, Widor began his studies under his father and at the age of 11 became organist at the secondary school operatic arias by the composer are featured. An active recitalist and soloist, she appeared recently at of Lyon. After studies in organ and composition in Brussels, he returned to Lyon (1860) to succeed his father Chicago Symphony Hall with the Elgin Symphony in Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, and with the Lubbock Chorale in Mozart’s Vespers. She has performed the solos in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Mahler’s as organist at Saint-François, where he remained for a decade. In 1870 the post of organist at Saint-Sulpice 3rd Symphony, Rutter’s Magnificat, Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Fauré’s Requiem, and Händel’s in Paris became vacant, and Widor was given the appointment for a year; he left it in 1934. He taught at Messiah amongst others. Dr. Wascoe Hays is the Artistic Director of Music in the Marche, an opera training program for young singers, located in Mondavio, Italy each summer. She serves on the voice faculty of the Conservatory in Paris, succeeding César Franck as professor of organ in 1890 and Théodore Dubois as Texas Tech University. professor of composition in 1896. As a composer Widor is best remembered for his 10 symphonies for organ, although he also wrote two Allen Saunders, bass, combines an active performing schedule with a com- mitment to education of the next generations of singers. Major opera roles he operas, a sizable body of ballet music, and various other vocal and orchestral works. Individual movements has performed include Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Dr. Bartolo in Rossini’s from many of his organ symphonies have become standard elements in recital repertory, most notably the Barber of Seville and The Doctor in Berg’s Wozzeck for the Indiana University Opera Theater. He has also sung Doctor Bartolo in Rossini’s Barber of Seville “Toccata” from the Fifth. With Schweitzer, he edited the first five volumes of a definitive collection of J.S. for Indiana Opera North, and Dr. Grenville in Verdi’s La Traviata and the Bach’s works for organ. Second Man in Armor in Mozart’s The Magic Flute for the Utah Festival Opera. In 2001, Saunders was the bass soloist for two performances of Mozart’s Requiem Mass in Russia with the State Orchestra of Russia in Moscow and with the St. Petersburg State Orchestra in St. Petersburg. Recital appearances include, performances throughout the Southwest United States, Paris, France, and Mondavio, Florence and Bologna, Italy. Saunders has also performed as a soloist

Hays_1813_book.indd 3-4 3/3/20 10:13 AM with the Toledo, Ohio, Lubbock, Texas, and Flagstaff, Arizona symphonies. Saunders is a member of the The Texts voice faculty at the Northern Arizona University School of Music in Flagstaff, Arizona where he teaches Nuit d’étoiles, sous tes voiles – Night of Stars private vocal lessons, master classes, and vocal pedagogy. Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 – 1891) Nuit d’étoiles, sous tes voiles, Night of stars, beneath your shrouds, Soprano, Nicole Leupp Hanig has appeared as a soloist with the Jussi Björling sous ta brise et tes parfums, Beneath your perfumed breezes, Festival in Sweden, the Maggio Musicale Festival in Italy, the Pacific Music Triste lyre qui soupire, A sad harp that sighs, Festival in Japan and Atelier Lyrique in France. She has performed a solo je rêve aux amours défunts. I dream of loves deceased. recital at St. Martin’s in the Field in London, Berg’s Sieben Frühe Lieder at Durham Cathedral in Durham, England and was a soloist in Opera Galas for La sereine mélancolie vient éclore The serene melancholy springs forth Amnesty International at St. James’ Picadilly in London and for the Cairo Opera au fond de mon coeur, From the core of my heart, in Egypt, which was recorded for Egyptian television. Dr. Hanig holds degrees Et j’entends l’âme de ma mie And I hear the spirit of my love from The University of Colorado, and The University of Illinois as well as a Post Tressaillir dans le bois rêveur. Trembling in the dreaming arbor. Graduate Diploma from The Royal Academy of Music in London where she was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy for distinction in performance. Dr. Hanig serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director Dans les ombres de la feuillée, In the shadows of the branches, of Vocal Studies at University of Portland in Portland, Oregon and is an active master class clinician through- Quand tout bas je soupire seul, When I sigh softly, out the United States and Europe. She is the Artistic Director of Opera on the Bluff, a light opera company for Tu reviens, pauvre âme éveillée, You return, poor awakened spirit, emerging singers in Portland, Oregon. In addition, she serves as Artist/Teacher with Music in the Marche, an Toute blanche dans ton linceuil. All white in your shroud. opera training program and festival in Mondavio di Pesaro, Italy. Je revois à notre fontaine I see again at our fountain Susan McDaniel has appeared widely as a solo and collaborative pianist, tes regards bleus comme les cieux; Your eyes gazing, blue like the sky; including regional and national concert tours as well as appearances in Cette rose, c’est ton haleine, This rose, it is your breath, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. She studied piano Et ces étoiles sont tes yeux. And these stars are like your eyes. performance with Jill Timmons and vocal accompanying with Warren Jones at The Manhattan School of Music, and afterwards worked as a member of the music staff at Seattle Opera and Utah Festival Opera. Since returning to Prière de Beauregard (1846-1870) Prayer her home state of Oregon, Susan has maintained an active performing career Comme un enfant, ô divin Père, Like a child, oh divine Father, as a member of the Northwest Piano Trio and Northwest Art Song, and was Je veux t’invoquer. Ma prière I want to summon you. My prayer the resident pianist of All Classical Portland’s live-performance radio show, Thursdays at Three. Currently Monte vers toi! ascends up to you! a lecturer of music in collaborative piano at the University of Portland, she was previously a member of the Répands, de ta main paternelle, Spread, from your fatherly hand, adjunct faculty at Linfield College, and spent five seasons as the head opera coach at the Atlantic Music Beaucoup de ton bonheur sur Elle ; Your great joy upon on Her; Festival in Waterville, Maine. Un peu sur moi! And a little upon me!

Hays_1813_book.indd 5-6 3/3/20 10:13 AM Que son âme vers toi s’élance, Let her soul rush towards you, E poi ci voglio sparger l’aqua santa. And then I want to spread the holy water. Et qu’Elle vive en ta présence, And may She live in your presence, Per quanti passi ho fatto per Lia, per quanti passi, For how many steps I have taken for Lia, for how Suivant ta loi! According to your law! e per quante parole, many steps, and how many words spoken, Lia is Quand son amour à toi s’élève, When her love rises to you, Lia è morta, io son senza core! dead, I am without a heart! Fais-en retomber, comme un rêve, Make it fall like a dream, Un peu sur moi! A little bit about me! Me sventurato per sempre l’ho perduta, Lia è Unfortunate forever I have lost her, Lia is dead, I morta, io sto per morire. am going to die. Morire ah! Die ah! Ave Maria (traditional) Ave Maria Ave Maria gratia plena Hail Mary, full of grace, Dominus tecum. the Lord is with thee. Il tempo passato- Canzona Toscana Time passes Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Blessed art thou among women, Speranza del mio cor e riuna volta or ti sei fatto Hope of my heart, once you gave hope to others, Et benedictus fructus [ventris] tui Jesus. and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. speranza al trui, Sancta Maria, [Mater Dei], Holy Mary, no ti ricordi piu di quella volta ch’eramo you don’t remember more than that time when we Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Mother of God, innamorati tutti e due, were both in love, Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. pray for us sinners, Non ti ricordi piu di quei bei giorni? Do you not remember those good days? now and at the hour of our death. Ah! Tempo passato, perché non ritorni? Ah! Time passes, why do you not return? Ti ho scritto tante volte inutilmente I have written to you many times in vain e sempre in vano attendo la riposte, and always in vain I await the answer, Lia è Morta- canto popolare Lia is dead dimmi pur che ti sono indifferente, tell me that I am indifferent Passo, ripasso, e la finestra e chiusa, veder non I pass, I go over, and the window is closed, I can’t ma scrivi per pieta, cosa ti costa? but write to me out of pity, what does it cost you? posso ; a mia’nnamorata; see; see my love; Domand’ al vicino se l’ha veduta, la diletta mia, I asked the neighbor if he saw her, my beloved, he Il primo amore- Canzona Napolitana First Love credo che stia nelloletto ammalata. believes she is in the sick bed. Gianetta bella ascolta mi, non mi lasciar dolente; Beautiful Gianetta, listen to me, don’t leave me S’affacia la sua madre, lacrimosa: Her mother tearfully affirms: hurting; “Quell ache Cerchi tu, è sotto terra!” “That which you are searching for is under the Io venni espressamente, per teco favellar. I came purposefully, as a favor to be with you. ground!” E deggio ognor ripeterti quello che ho fitto in core: And I must repeat to you what I feel in my heart: Vado in chiesa, domando al pievano dove è la I go to church, I ask the parish priest where the É caro il primo amore e non si puo scordar… First love is dear and you can’t forget it ... fossa della bella mia; perchè io bramo e mirto e grave of my dear one is; because I brought myrtle Ho sempre alla memoria quand’ era fanciullino; I always remember when I was a boy; rose, coglier per Essa! and roses, to place upon it!

Hays_1813_book.indd 7-8 3/3/20 10:13 AM Che da quwl finestrino venivi a chiacchierar. That you came to chat from this window. La Bianchina- Canzona Toscana The pale girl Scherzavasia nascondersi come fratelli e suore; é It was like a game, hiding like priests and nuns; your Avete pure un pallido visino che fa tutte le genti Your pale face makes all people fall in love with caro il primo amore e non si puo scordar… first love is dear and you can’t forget ... innamorare parete sulla siepe gelsomino, you near the jasmine hedge, e la bianchina vivoglio chiamare e se voleste and the pale girl calls to me, and if you wanted to dar mi un po d’amore vichiamerei la donna give me some love I would call you Dimmi perché – Canto di Aleardo Aleardi Tell me why del mio core, the woman of my heart, (1812-1878) Donnate mi una ciocca di capelli che per memoria Give me a lock of your hair as a memory to keep Dimmi perché, se a la campagna io sento un Tell me why, if in the countryside I hear a sound, a gli terro sul core, in my heart, suono, un canto, tu mi vieni in mente? song, do you come to my mind? voltate verso me que gli occhi belli turn towards me those beautiful eyes and Dimmi perché se guardo il firmamento, in ogni Tell me why, if I look to the heavens, you are pres- mi sentirete sospirar d’amore, you will hear me sigh with love, stella tu mi sei presente? ent in every star? sospirar mi sentirete se un baccio, angiolo mio, you will hear me sighing if a kiss, my angel, you Dimmi perché, da qualche dimimi pare, che il Tell me why, for some time you’ve said to me, that voi mi d’arete, d’amore sospirar mi sentirete, give me, mondo, non sia fato che dite? in the world there is no fate? se un bacio angiolo mio mi darete. you will sigh with love and you will hear me too— Tu nei fior, nei fior nell aere. You are in the flowers, in the flowers and in the air. if a kiss, my angel, you will give me. Sorridi a dunque tu lo sai perché. Smile, for you know why. (translations by Rebecca Wascoe Hays)

Soupir – Théophile Gautier (1811-1872) Sigh J’ai laissé de mon sein de neige I left my breast of snow Tomber un oeillet rouge à l’eau. Drop a red carnation in the water. Hélas ! comment le reprendrai-je Alas! how will I take it back Mouillé par l’onde du ruisseau? Wet by the wave of the stream? Voilà le courant qui l’entraîne! This is the current that drives it! Bel oeillet aux vives couleurs, Beautiful carnation with bright colors, Pourquoi tomber dans la fontaine? Why fall into the fountain? Pour t’arroser j’avais mes pleurs! To water you I had my tears!

Hays_1813_book.indd 9-10 3/3/20 10:13 AM Avril - Lucien Paté (1845-1939) April Le temps également de vos senteurs divines The time also of your divine scents L’oiseau gazouille, la feuille brille The bird chirps, the leaf shines A desséché la source au fond de vos poitrines... Dried the source at the bottom of your breasts ... Des frimas avril est vainqueur, Frosty April is the winner, et mon coeur toujours est vivant and my heart is still alive. Et moi je t’aime, ô jeune fille, And I love you, oh young girl, (translations by Allen Saunders) C’est avril aussi dans mon cœur. It’s also April in my heart.

When I Loved Les blés sont murs, le bois est sombre, The wheat is ripe, the wood is dark, Quand J’aimais, Soirs d’été - Paul Bourget (1852- L’onde à peine a quelque fraicheur, The wave hardly has any freshness, 1935) When I loved, when I was loved, innocent joy L’été partout fait chercher l›ombre, Summer everywhere makes you look for shade, Quand j’aimais, quand j’étais aimé, joie innocente, Must my heart never feel you again? C’est encore avril en mon cœur. It’s still April in my heart. Faut-il que plus jamais mon cœur ne te ressente? Les arbres où passait l’âme des vents glacés The trees, where pass the soul of icy winds Won’t sadden my eyes Le ciel est gris , la plaine est blanche, The sky is gray, the plain is white, N’attristaient pas mes yeux Ah! Beautiful mornings past! L’hiver sévit dans sa rigueur, Winter is raging in its harshness, Ah! Beaux matins passés! Dans les monts rugit l’avalanche, In the mountains roars the avalanche, C’est toujours avril en mon cœur! It’s always April in my heart! L’âme des lys, Soirs d’été – The Soul of Lillies Paul Bourget (1852-1935) Le Bouquet - Élie Cabrol (1829-1905) The Bouquet L’âme évaporée et souffrante, The vanishing and suffering soul, Oui je t’ai conservé, cher bouquet de verveines, Yes, I have kept you, dear bouquet of verbena, L’âme douce, l’âme odorante The sweet soul, the soul perfumed Que ses petites mains laissèrent dans les miennes, That his little hands left in mine, Des lys divins que j’ai cueillis By the divine lilies I gathered Dans le jardin de ta pensée In the garden of your thoughts, À l’heure triste du départ. At the sad time of departure. Où donc les vents l’ont-ils chassée Where the winds have chased them, Fleurs d’un jour, ce jour-là si fraîches et pimpantes! Flowers for a day, that day so fresh and dapper! Cette âme adorable des lys? This adorable lilies’ soul? Vous courbez maintenant vos têtes languissantes, You now bow your languid heads, Et charmez encor mon regard. And still charm my eyes. N’est-il plus un parfum qui reste Does not a single scent remain De la suavité celeste Of the heavenly sweetness Je cherche vainement sur vos feuilles flétries I search in vain on your withered leaves Des jours où m’enveloppais Of the days when I wrapped myself La trace des baisers que ses lèvres palies The trace of the kisses that his pale lips D’une vapeur surnaturelle, In a supernatural mist, Y mirent au dernier instant! Put it there at the last moment! Faite d’espoir, d’amour fidèle Made of hope, of faithful love, De beatitude et de paix? Of bliss and of peace?

Hays_1813_book.indd 11-12 3/3/20 10:13 AM Cœur gai, cœur triste, Soirs d’été – Happy Heart, Sad Heart J’étais seul près des flots – Victor Hugo (1802-1885) I was alone near the waves Paul Bourget (1852-1935) J’étais seul près des flots I was alone near the waves Le cœur gai s’enivre de l’heure The happy heart gets drunk on the hour Par une nuit d’étoiles, Against a night of stars, Qu’embaume le beau soir d’été, That preserves a beautiful summer evening Pas un nuage aux dieux, Not a cloud in the heavens, Où le rossignol a chanté Where the nightingale sang Sur les mers pas de voiles; On the seas no sails: Dans l’arbre que la brise effleure In the tree that the breeze brushes Mes yeux plongeaient plus loin My eyes dive further Le cœur triste souffre de l’heure The sad heart suffers from the hour Que le monde réel, Than the real word Qu’attendrit le beau soir d’été, That softens the beautiful summer evening, Touchant comme un amour quitté Touching like love left Et les bois, et les monts, And the woods and the mountains Et long comme un baiser qui leure And as long as an alluring kiss Et toute la nature, And all of nature, Semblaient interroger Seemed to ask Le cœur dégouté voit dans l’heure The disgusted heart sees in the hour Dans un lointain murmure In a distant whisper Qu’apaise le beau soir d’été That soothes the lovely summer evening La muette sérénité The serene silent one Les flots des mers, The waves of the seas Du vrai sage attendant qu’il meure The true wise one waiting for him to die Les feux du ciel The lights of the sky

Et sur son aile errante l’heure And the hour, on it’s errant wing Et les étoiles d’or, légions infinies And the stars of gold, endless legions Emporte avec le soir d’été, Carried with the summer evening À voix haute, à voix basse, avec mille harmonies In a high voice, a low voice, with a thousand Le cœur gai, le cœur triste ou dégouté The happy heart, the sad heart or disgusted one harmonies Vers la meme obscure demeure. Towards the same obscure dwelling. Disaient en inclinant leur couronne de feu: Spoke, tilting their crown of fire C’est le Seigneur, le Seigeur Dieu! It’s the Lord, the Lord God!

Et les flot bleus que rien ne gouverne et n’arrête, And the blue waves governed and stopped by nothing

Disaient en recourbant l’écume de leur crète: Spoke by bending the foam of their crest: C’est le Seigneur, le Seigneur Dieu! It’s the Lord, the Lord God! (translations by Nicole Leupp Hanig)

Hays_1813_book.indd 13-14 3/3/20 10:13 AM Acknowledgments

Recording Engineer: Micah Hayes (www.micahhayes.com) Mixing Engineer: Micah Hayes Assistant Engineers: Melissa Barron, Tori Varnes, Stevie-Rae Krieger, Jesse Kats, Hannah Vale Mastering Engineer: Silas Brown, Legacy Sound (wwwlegacysound.net) Editor: Micah Hayes Recorded in Studio 301 at the University of Texas at Arlington Album Art: Sara Lynne Lindsay (www.saralynnelindsay.com) Texas Tech University’s Scholarship Catalyst Program Photo Credits: Rebecca Wascoe Hays: Tiffany Holmes (ifholmes.smugmug.com) Allen Saunders: Ricardo Pereira Nicole Leupp Hanig: Richard Poppino

Hays_1813_book.indd 15-16 3/3/20 10:13 AM NUIT D’ÉTOILES: FORGOTTEN SONGS OF CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR NUIT D’ÉTOILES: FORGOTTEN SONGS OF CHARLES-MARIE Nuit d’Étoiles: TROY1813 The Forgotten Songs of Charles-Marie Widor

1 Nuit d’Étoiles [2:53] 12 Quand j’aimais [1:23] 2 Prière [2:37] 13 L’âme de lys [2:13] 3 Ave Maria [3:37] 14 Coeur gai [3:06] 4 Lia è morta [3:26] Nicole Leupp Hanig, soprano Susan McDaniel, piano 5 Il tempo passato [3:19] 15 J’étais seul près des flots [4:10] 6 Il primo amore [2:07] Allen Saunders, bass 7 Dimmi perche [2:37] Nicole Leupp Hanig, soprano 8 La Bianchina [2:06] Susan McDaniel, piano Rebecca Wascoe Hays, soprano 16 Je nes croyais pas au bonheur [2:09] Susan McDaniel, piano Nicole Leupp Hanig, soprano 9 Soupir [2:16] Rebecca Wascoe Hays, soprano 10 Avril [2:19] Susan McDaniel, piano

11 Le bouquet [2:51] Total Time = 43:17 Allen Saunders, bass Susan McDaniel, piano

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TROY1813 ALBANY RECORDS U.S. TROY1813 915 BROADWAY, ALBANY, NY 12207 TEL: 518.436.8814 FAX: 518.436.0643 ALBANY RECORDS U.K. BOX 137, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA8 0XD TEL: 01539 824008 © 2020 ALBANY RECORDS MADE IN THE USA DDD WARNING: COPYRIGHT SUBSISTS IN ALL RECORDINGS ISSUED UNDER THIS LABEL. NUIT D’ÉTOILES: FORGOTTEN SONGS OF CHARLES-MARIE FORGOTTEN NUIT D’ÉTOILES: WIDOR

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