Published by the American Union of Swedish Singers In its 1 13th year of Performing Svenska Sangerm America

Volume CXI 11 February, 2005 No. 2 President's Corner This time of year in the cyclical march of sea- Mezzo-soprano von Otter at the Met sons is one of hope as mother nature teases us with a few days of springlike temperatures be- fore chilling those hopes with another deep By Eva Stenskar freeze or snowstorm. This is also a season of New York Swedish mezzo- hope in the AUSS. Each chorus begins prepa- soprano Anne Sofie ration for its spring concert, our Financial Sec- The popular Swedish mezzo-soprano von Otter recently performed at the retary, the Musiktidning Business Manager and Anne Sofie von Otter was recently back Metropolitan Opera in Cultural Heritage Foundation Membership at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, New York City. In Chair are on the lookout for the payments of singing Melisande in Debussy's Pelleas December 2004, dues and subscriptions that must be to them et Melisande, a part that turned out to be Rockford College in very, very soon, Division convention commit- more difficult than some. "Swedish" Rockford, tees are working hard to nail down the major "There isn't any pattern in this opera, it Illinois awarded her locales and events for 2006, the Sweden Tour the Jane Addams doesn't automatically fall into place. It Medal for taking a Committee waits was also hard to memorize. So I had to stand in her life that for deposits to be re- just rub, rub, rub..." she said about the required critical turned, and those rehearsal period. thinking and planning on going Von Otter was born in Stockholm in courageous to Sweden this 1955, the daughter of a diplomat, and action. summer are anx- grew up in Bonn, London, and Stock- iously awaiting holm. word that Tour "I always sang, but I started singing se- 2005 is a go. riously at the age of 17. My mother Even those not di- played the piano - which I did too, but I rectly involved in didn't really like it. We played and sang most of the above together - Evert Taube, Christmas carols, activities must feel things like that." the surge of excite- Later von Otter studied at the Guildhall ment radiating School of Music and Drama in London, throughout the AUSS as we come closer to re- and made her debut as Alcina in Haydn's affirming our intent to "promote and perpetu- Orlando Paladino in Basel. Von Otter's ate Swedish choral singing" by renewing our repertoire encompasses a wide range of memberships and preparing for that annual works from the Baroque period to 20th- event which publicly proclaims the primary goal of our organization. In addition, this year, century music. She has sung several Tour 2005 gives us the opportunity to demon- "trouser"parts -male roles written for fe- strate to the people of Sweden that their long male mezzo-sopranos - like that of time tradition of choral singing is alive and well Cherubino in Mozart's Marriage of Figa- in America among the descendants of their ro and Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel emigrants and friends of these descendants. und Gretel. But von Otter still has unfin- If you are still on the fence about going to ished business. Sweden this summer talk to someone hi your "My dream role was Carmen, and now chorus who went on one of the last couple of I've done that. And I've done Der Rosen- tours. If no one from your chorus went before, kavalier, which is very demanding. I find an old copy of Musiktidning and read about know that Puccini and Verdi aren't for the marvelous times enjoyed by prior groups. me. But I'd like to learn jazz and Ameri- Or, you could simply decide that this is the can standards. There's a treasure in those The Jane Addams Medal to von Otter year you are going to see firsthand the country songs, as well as the French chansons Grammy Award winner and Swed- 1944 by a Rockford College trustee, that gave us the tradition of choral singing we and Swedish folk songs. I'd like to do ish mezzo-soprano vocalist Anne George Frazer, and the medal was de- proudly continue whether or not we are of more things like that, which is something Sofie von Otter was awarded the signed by Chicago artist Andrene Kauf- Swedish ancestry. All you have to do to be- I must work on because it's very different Jane Addams Medal just prior to in- fman. Each bronze-cast medal is sepa- come a part of this year's tour is to cut out, fill from opera. When I listen to music it's termission of her "Home for the rately inscribed with the name of the out and return the application found in this or usually popular music and jazz." Holidays" concert in December recipient and presented at a special cer- earlier issues to our good friend and travel agent Von Otter is known not only for her 2004 at the Coronado Theatre in emony. without peer, Don Ahlm at Nelson's Scandi- spectacular voice and flexibility but also for her versatility. Apart from opera, Rockford, 111. The medal was first awarded to Dr. navia in Chicago. You could even take the sec- The Jane Addams Medal was pre- Florence Rena Sabin during the Col- ond step and enclose your deposit of $ 350 per concerts and recitals she has worked with person so that you are truly li sted as a member pop icon Elvis Costello and she has re- sented to her by Rockford College lege's Centennial Celebration on May of Tour 2005. corded Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly President Paul C. Pribbenow. Rock- 3, 1947. Since that time the Jane Add- Right now we have at least fifty participants, Sins. In 2000 she won a Grammy for her ford was one of five of von Otter's ams Medal has been awarded to more but we do have room for more. Sign up, pre- work with Claudio Abbado in Schubert U.S. performance stops in 2004. than 30 of the world's most outstand- tend it's convention year and make lists of what Lieder with Orchestra. In order to take She also stopped in New York City ing women in science, education, hu- you need or want to take with you, so come care of her voice, von Otter continues to and San Francisco. manities, arts, law, literature, and oth- late June you'll be able to pack quickly and be take lessons, makes sure her vocal cords The Jane Addams Medal is award- er fields of endeavor. sure you haven't forgotten anything when you get rest and says she builds them up with ed to women who have taken stands Anne Sofie von Otter, the daughter of arrive at the airport in Newark, Chicago or Se- the proper technique. in their lives that required critical a diplomat, grew up in Bonn, London attle on July 4. "I am scared to death to tear my vocal thinking and courageous action. and Stockholm, she began her study of As a help in getting ready to sing this spring cords," she said. "As a singer you must Medal recipients, in the tradition of the performing arts at the Guildhall or summer, I will be mailing out to the male be very careful not to talk and scream too Jane Addams, are pioneers in their School of Music and Drama in London, and mixed choruses the sample first tenor CDs much! I also like to move around on professions, outstanding in charac- England. For more than 20 years she from Sweden very soon. If a chorus wishes to stage and not just be standing there, so ter, and recognized for their contri- has appeared in the major operas of order CDs for all four male voices you may it's lovely here in New York to take butions to the arts, sciences, and so- Berlin, Munich, Rome and La Scala. use the order form found on another page. We walks in Central Park and get some exer- ciety. The award was established in Her roles include Dorabella, Ramiro, are waiting for an answer from Sweden on the cise that way." Ariodante, Sesto, Ismene, Octavian, possibility of a similar set of practice CDs for When not singing, von Otter likes to The Composer, Charlotte, Marguerite, the women. read, enjoys nature, cooking, and spend- Tancredi and many more. As one of Lastly, in this season during which hope ing time with her family. today's most respected, innovative and springs eternal and we see new life appear from She lives in Stockholm with her hus- mother earth with each warmer day, is it too sought-after soloists, Anne Sofie von band, a stage designer, and their two chil- Otter boasts a repertoire encompassing much to hope for some new life, new blood in dren. our choruses. My greatest hope for the AUSS a wide variety of works from the Ba- Von Otter was recently awarded the roque period to 20th century music. this spring is to see such an increase in each Jane Addams medal in Rockford, 111. The chorus' membership that it will need a larger The Rockford Community Concert Medal is awarded to women who have Association director, Mary Ann Smith, location this year for its spring concert than it taken stands in their lives that required did last year. was a guiding force behind von Otter's critical thinking and courageous action visit and concert in Rockford. Joe O'Leary (see related article to the right).