A Canadian Opera Aria Anthology for Soprano
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A CANADIAN OPERA ARIA ANTHOLOGY FOR SOPRANO by Stephanie Eiko Nakagawa M.M., Indiana University, 2011 B.Mus., The University of British Columbia, 2009 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Music) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) June 2017 © Stephanie Eiko Nakagawa, 2017 Abstract A problem that Canadian opera faces is that once works are premiered, they rarely receive any further performances. Singers must overcome numerous barriers to sing these works due to limited score accessibility and lack of aria adaptations and recordings. Even if singers feel passionately about Canadian opera, such obstacles may impede their motivation to perform Canadian repertoire. This thesis aims to increase the awareness and accessibility of Canadian opera through the creation of a “Canadian Opera Aria Anthology for Soprano.” The anthology includes background information about the operas, composer and librettist biographies, opera synopses, and aria adaptations. In addition, performance and interpretive guides have been formed from the author’s own research in performing these works, available recordings, and from information gathered from the author’s interviews with the composers and librettists. Hopefully the arias within this anthology will not only provide singers with useful arias for auditions, but also give them and their audience a lens through which they may better understand Canadian opera and culture. Ultimately, this research aims to increase the recognition of Canadian opera and to develop a greater interest and appreciation for these works so that one day, they may become a part of the standard operatic repertoire and reach both Canadian and international stages. ii Lay Summary This thesis aims to increase the awareness and accessibility of Canadian opera through the creation of an anthology of Canadian opera arias for soprano voices. It includes background information about the operas, composer and librettist biographies, opera synopses, aria adaptations, and performance and interpretive guides formed from the author’s own research in performing these works, available recordings, and from information gathered from the author’s interviews with the composers and librettists. The goal of this thesis is to provide singers with useful audition arias and a lens through which they and their audience may better understand Canadian opera and culture. Ultimately, this research aims to increase the recognition of Canadian opera and to develop a greater interest and appreciation for these works so that one day, they may become a part of the standard operatic repertoire and reach both Canadian and international stages. iii Preface This dissertation is the original, unpublished intellectual property of the author, Stephanie Eiko Nakagawa, written under the guidance of professors Dr. David Metzer and Nancy Hermiston. Author interviews were conducted in accordance with the UBC Behavioral Research Ethics Board, Certificate Number H15-03042, under the supervision of Principal Investigator, Dr. David Metzer. Questionnaires distributed at lecture-recital presentations of this research were covered by the UBC Behavioral Research Ethics Board, Certificate Number H16-02793, under the supervision of Principal Investigator, Dr. David Metzer. The author has created all the score adaptations with appropriate copyright permission from creators and/or publishers, except for “The Blades of Grass” aria, which the composer has given permission to include in this thesis. iv Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Lay Summary ........................................................................................................................................ iii Preface .................................................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... ix List of Aria Adaptation Scores .......................................................................................................... x List of Musical Examples ................................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... xvi 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Opera and Aria Selection ................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Structure of the Anthology .............................................................................................. 4 2. DEIRDRE ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Librettist: John Coulter ........................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2 Composer: Healey Willan ...................................................................................................... 14 2.2 List of Lead Characters and Premiere Cast ............................................................ 20 2.3 Synopsis ............................................................................................................................. 21 2.3.1 Tales of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster ..................................................................... 21 2.3.2 Opera Synopsis .......................................................................................................................... 22 2.4 “Deirdre’s Song” .............................................................................................................. 26 2.4.1 Aria Description ........................................................................................................................ 26 2.4.2 Performance and Interpretative Notes ........................................................................... 37 v 2.4.3 Adaptation Notes ...................................................................................................................... 43 2.5 “Deidre’s Lament” ........................................................................................................... 44 2.5.1 Aria description ......................................................................................................................... 44 2.5.2 Performance and Interpretative Notes ........................................................................... 52 2.5.3 Adaptation Notes ...................................................................................................................... 58 3. LOUIS RIEL ..................................................................................................................................... 59 3.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 59 3.1.1 Librettists: Mavor Moore & Jacques Languirand ........................................................ 61 3.1.1.1 Mavor Moore ...................................................................................................................... 61 3.1.1.2 Jacques Languirand ......................................................................................................... 65 3.1.2 Composer: Harry Somers ...................................................................................................... 65 3.2 List of Characters and Premiere Cast ....................................................................... 71 3.3 The Life of Louis Riel ...................................................................................................... 73 3.4 Opera Synopsis ................................................................................................................ 78 3.5 “Kuyas” ............................................................................................................................... 83 3.5.1 Aria Description ........................................................................................................................ 83 3.5.2 Text and Translation ............................................................................................................... 86 3.5.3 “Song of Skateen” ...................................................................................................................... 88 3.5.4 Pronunciation Guide ............................................................................................................... 91 3.5.5 Performance and Interpretive Notes ..............................................................................