Being in a new country provided Weill with many opportunities and new collaborators, including Ira Gershwin, , Paul Department of Music & Theatre Green, and Maxwell Anderson. , a musical adaptation of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning play of the same name by , was a collaboration between Weill and Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Hughes took Weill to Harlem nightclubs to experience black American jazz and blues, in order to inspire the composer in his score-writing. Street Scene was lauded upon its premiere as a “true American ” that highlighted the epidemic of poverty and greed in America, as well as the plight of immigrants, and remains one of the most often-performed American in the repertoire. Bridget Johnston soprano

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. Bridget is a student of Mary Creswell. Jodi Goble, piano

March 31, 2019 7:30 pm Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall Program Ben Moore is a Syracuse-born American composer, beloved for his Bid the Virtues, bid the Graces expressive, contemporary style within a multitude of vocal works. from Come Ye Sons of Art (1659-1695) Moore grew up in Clinton, NY and holds a bachelor’s degree from College (he also earned an MFA at the Parsons School of Design, and pursues a parallel career as a painter). His works are, Franz Schubert and have been, performed frequently by many of the 20th and 21st Blondel zu Marien (1797-1828) century’s top classical singers, including Audra McDonald, Deborah Gretchen am Spinnrade Voigt, , , Robert White, and , to name a few. Opera News has lauded Moore for the “romantic sweep” and “easy tunefulness” of his compositions, which includes Ma se colpo io non ho! … Batti, batti operas and musical theatre pieces in addition to concert songs. from (1756-1791) Classical Singer had this to say of Moore’s work: “This composer is not afraid of the past, but rather embraces many of the most beautiful aspects of his artistic heritage while imbuing his work with its own personal colors and tones…his music is a breath of fresh air.” “The ***INTERMISSION*** Lake Isle of Innisfree”, “I Am In Need of Music”, and “Content to Be Behind Me” were all written for soprano .

Je suis encor tout étourdie from (1842-1912) was a German composer and anti-Nazi musical activist who found a new home in the American musical theatre and crossover styles. His compositions include , Lady In The Fêtes Galantes I Dark, Love Life, and perhaps most famously, Street Scene. En sourdine (1862-1918) Fantôches Born in Dessau, Weill showed promise as a young composer, organizing Clair de lune concerts in the building his family lived in at only twelve years of age. He attended the Berlin Hochschule für Musik and studied with Engelbert Humperdinck. However, he found the conservatory The lake isle of Innisfree Ben Moore atmosphere “stifling” and left. Weill worked musical odd jobs in his I am in need of music (b. 1960) teens: organist at a German synagogue, German nightclub pianist, and Content to be behind me music theory tutor. A turning point came in Weill’s collaborations with Bertolt Brecht, a What good would the moon be? Kurt Weill political theatre-maker and playwright whose work outraged the from Street Scene (1900-1950) Nazi party. Together, they wrote The Threepenny Opera, an anti-establishment, unapologetically socialist “play with music.” While Weill was intrigued by the world of political theatrics, he and Brecht could not agree on how much music to include in their productions. Targeted by the Nazis and plagued by riots at their shows, they ended their collaboration. Brecht was exiled to Scandinavia and Weill emigrated to the United States. Program Notes and Translations And when, solemn, the evening falls from the black oaks, Henry Purcell was an English composer revered for his dignified, voice of our despair, lively, and uniquely English Baroque style. He is best known for his the nightingale will sing. opera , a work that earned him consistent future commissions from its premiere until his death. He is also known for his theatrical music, which was paired with intermittent dialogue. Purcell is credited with writing over 100 solo songs and 40 duets. Fantoches (String Puppets) Scaramouche and Pulcinella, Bid the Virtues, bid the Graces is from a larger musical composition whom some evil design brought together, titled Come Ye Sons of Art, a work completed in tandem with Irish poet gesticulate, black under the moon. Nahum Tate. It was written to be played at Queen Mary II’s birthday celebration in 1694 (ironically, also the year she died). “Maria’s royal Meanwhile the excellent doctor zeal” in this piece has a dual reference: both Christianity’s Mother Mary from Bologna sluggishly gathers and the queen herself. medicinal herbs amid the brown grass. Then his daughter, pretty minx, clandestinely slips, half-naked, Franz Peter Schubert, a quintessential and prolific Austrian under the hedge, in quest composer of the 19th century, is revered today for his ability to combine both Classical and Romantic conventions within his primarily Of her handsome Spanish pirate, miniature works. for whom an amorous nightingale is calling the distress at the top of its voice. Schubert’s father instructed and encouraged the young Franz to play the piano, violin, and organ, as well as sing. He earned a place in the Vienna Imperial Court chapel at age 11. Though his compositional talent was already being noticed at this early age, Clair de Lune (Moonlight) Schubert’s vocal achievements signaled a possible career as a Your soul is a chosen landscape professional singer. These plans were altered in 1812, when Schubert’s where charming masks and bergamasks pass by, voice broke due to puberty, and he left the choir to pursue teaching. playing the lute and singing and quasi At 16, Schubert composed Gretchen Am Spinnrade, one of his first sad beneath their fantastical disguises. undeniable masterpieces and a pioneering contribution to the German Lied. Gretchen, inspired by Goethe’s novel , sets an early Even as they sing in the minor mode monologue by Marguerite in which she professes her love for Faust. of victorious love and timely life, The unrelenting of the piano’s eight-note arpeggiations They do not seem to believe their good fortune personify her spinning wheel, which goes faster or slower in relation and their song mingles with the moonlight, to her thoughts, as if powered by her devotion. with the calm moonlight, sad and beautiful, This elevation of the piano line is seen not only in relation to objects, which makes the birds in the trees dream but abstract ideas as well. Schubert was unmatched in his ability to and makes the water fountains sob with ecstasy, melodically capture the complexities and contradictions of human the tall slender water fountains amidst the marble statues. emotions- bittersweet love, relief in mourning, futile longing, and above all, undying optimism through darkness and pain. He achieved (translations by Christopher Goldsack) this in part by his mastery of parallel and relative modal shifts between keys within a piece, mostly through his writing of the accompaniment.

Schubert spent the later years of his short life in constant agony from women lying languidly among trees and courtyards, drinking severe depression, and from what some scholars theorize to be the champagne and mingling with noble and wealthy bachelors. It was art tertiary stage of syphilis (the original reports officially declared his such as Watteau’s that directly inspired esteemed French poet Paul death a result of typhoid fever). Regardless of circumstances prior to Verlaine (1844-1896) to write a collection of poetry describing the his death, and his vehement wish to die in his letters to friends and scenes that were so abundant in French art galleries. In 1869, the poet family, Schubert remained one of the most prolific composers in published a book of these writings under the obviously inspired title, Europe, composing an astounding 600 songs alone, with an almost Fêtes Galantes. These poems were imbued with Verlaine’s own equal number of piano pieces. Sadly, Schubert never saw the vast interpretations, influenced bythe inf de siècle (“end of an era”) culture majority of these works published. of the time. This culture cultivated feelings of political pessimism, subjectivism, and ennui in the face of growing resentment towards the French bourgeoisie. Such sentiments are articulated through Verlaine’s bittersweet descriptions and vaguely depressed Ave Maria” or Ellens Dritter Gesang (“” or Ellen’s Third Song) narration of Watteau’s seemingly beautiful and wealthy subjects. Hail Mary, maiden mild, Listen to a maiden’s prayer, Throughout his composing years, Debussy continued this lineage of Heard through the rigid rocks and the wild, inspiration, setting a large number of Verlaine’s Fêtes Galantes to music. My prayer drifts to you. Debussy’s musical interpretation of the poetry perfectly marries We sleep soundly until morning, Watteau’s lavishness and Verlaine’s aching despondence through waves Though mankind is so horrid. of color chords, liberated rhythms, and vague tonality. O maiden, hear a maiden’s plea, O Mother, hear a begging child. Hail Mary. En Sourdine (Muted) Hail Mary, undefiled. Peaceful in the half-light When we sink down into the rock to sleep, that the high branches cast, While in your protection, let us imbue our love its hardness softens in our minds. with this deep silence. Your smiling perfume wafts through the murky cavern. Let us fuse our souls, our hearts O Mother, hear a maiden’s pleading. and our enraptured senses, O maiden, a maiden calls to you! amidst the vague languors Hail Mary. of the pines and the arbutus. Hail Mary, pure maiden. Half close your eyes, The demons of the earth and sky fold your arms on your breast, By your gracious eyes are driven away. and from your sleeping heart They cannot be where you dwell. banish all purpose for ever. We seek still to turn away from our fate, And from your Holy solace; Let us be enticed The maiden will save those in her favor, by the gentle rocking breath The children who, to their Father, implore! which comes to your feet, to ripple Hail Mary. the waves of russet grass. “Blondel zu Marien” (Blondel to Marie) The coach had scarcely started to move In the gloomy night when I opened my eyes wide watching when sadness draws about my loving heart the little villages, the forest, the plains, and the light of fortune flees the passengers, both young and old- with its splendour, Ah! My cousin, forgive me, far away there shines I’ve just been on my first voyage! with fiery, delightful resplendence, I watched curiously as trees rush by, like a radiant wreath of love, trembling in the wind. a friendly star. And I forgot, overwhelmed with joy, that I was leaving for the convent... And, ever pure, Faced with so many new things, amid bliss and amid pain don't laugh when I tell you in my faithful, love-filled heart, that I thought I had wings its reflection lives. and was flying to paradise! Thus, sweet and tranquil, Yes, cousin! full of solace Then, I felt a moment of sadness, even when I am far away, I cried, I don't know what about. your magical image will be with me. Then the very next minute, I confess I was laughing, ha, ha, ha! I was laughing, but without knowing why! “Gretchen Am Spinnrade” (Gretchen At the Spinning Wheel) Oh, my cousin, excuse me, My peace is gone, my heart is heavy. Oh my cousin, forgive me! I find it never, nevermore. I'm still completely dizzy, Wherever I do not have him, I’m still completely numb all over! For me, is the grave. The entire world is bitter to me. Please forgive me for my chattering, My poor head is insane, I’ve just been on my first voyage! My poor spirit is cut to pieces. My peace is gone, my heart is heavy. I find it never, nevermore. Claude Debussy For him only do I search through the window. was a highly influential French composer, credited For him only do I leave this house. with fathering the Impressionist musical style that formed a bridge His tall gait, between the Romantic and Modern eras of music. His song cycle, Fêtes His noble figure. Galantes- translated as gallant festivities or courtship festivities - is a His mouth’s smile, prime example of the unique harmonic palette that is hallmarks his His eyes dominating, artistic influence within music history. And his speech’s magic flow, The touch of his hand, The term “un Fête galante” was first used to categorize an aesthetic And ah, his kiss! trend of painting made popular by artist Antoine Watteau during the My peace is gone, my heart is heavy. French Decadent Movement. These paintings, rooted in realism and I find it never, nevermore. rich in lush, earthy colors, depicted the popular garden parties often My bosom urges itself towards him. held by 19th century French aristocracy, with indulgently-dressed Ah, might I clasp and hold him! So that, as I wish, Ah, I see he has not got the heart. By his kiss will I perish. Peace, peace, oh my life! Oh, might I kiss him, In happiness and joy, So that, as I wish, let’s pass our days and nights together. By his kiss shall I perish. My peace is gone, my heart is heavy! (translation by Emily Ezust ) Jules Massenet was a prolific French composer of opera in the French Belle Époque (Beautiful Era) within the larger Romantic Era. This was ’s golden age of art, music, and literature, prior to the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is perhaps the most recognized composer devastations that would follow in World War I. A talented pianist and from the Classical Era, and of all time. He was a prodigy by age 5, composer, Massenet attended the Conservatoire where he was playing before European royalty in his adolescence. His father Leopold recognized and awarded greatly for his musical talents. Massenet saw strongly encouraged his son, as well as Wolfgang’s sister, , , and as his musical Maria Anna, and paraded them around western Europe as child heroes, and was influenced by their compositional grandeur. prodigies. (The stiflingly sexist values of Leopold led to Maria Anna no longer being invited on such trips with her father or encouraged to By 1867, at 25, he was commissioned to write a one-act opera for pursue music; likely the reason she did not achieve historical the Opéra-Comique in Paris. But is greatest success came with his notoriety). Mozart, on the other hand, would go on to compose over composition of Manon, an opera based on the 1731 novel Manon 600 works of music in an impressive spread of genres, from operatic Lescaut by Antoine François Prévost. Massenet’s Manon premiered in and choral works to chamber pieces and concerti. One of Mozart’s 1884 to infectious applause that spanned all the way to the crowning operatic achievements was Don Giovanni. It premiered in United States. raved that with the success of 1787, with a by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Manon, Massenet had “resolutely declared himself a melodist of undoubted consistency and of remarkable inspiration.” This opera is The aria Batti, batti o bel Masetto is delivered in Act I by the young seen as one of the major cornerstones of French , along bride Zerlina to her fiancé, Masetto, after she is caught being seduced with Gounod’s Faust and Bizet’s . Massenet would go on to by Don Giovanni on their wedding day. She pleads her innocence, write more than thirty operas throughout his career, including , affirming that nothing damning had happened between them while Cendrillion, and Thaïs before eventually succumbing to soothing Masetto’s jealous heart. abdominal cancer at age 70. His funeral, by the composer’s request, did not have a single note of music played.

“Batti, batti o bel Masetto” : Beat me, beat me, dear Masetto, “Je suis encore tout étourdie” beat your poor Zerlina! I’m still completely dizzy, I’ll stand here like a little lamb, I’m still completely numb all over! to await your blows. Ah, my cousin, forgive me! Beat me, beat your dear Zerlina. Excuse a moment of emotion! I’ll just stand here I’m still completely dizzy! to await your blows. Please forgive me for my chattering, You can pull out my hair. I have just been on my first voyage! Pull out my eyes, and I’ll still gladly kiss kiss your dear hands.