Donna Brown, Soprano

Visiting Artist Donna Brown,soprano with Stephane Lemelin, piano Friday, March 23, 2001 7:15 pm Pre-Concert Introduction by David Gramit Main floor, Convocation Hall 8:00 pm Concert Arts Building Convocation Hall University of Alberta MMI.gL^ Program / Im Friihling Franz Schubert 2 Der Jiingling auf dem Hiigel (1797-1828) 3 Die Rose ■f Der Jiingling an der Quelle 5" Nacht und Traume ^ An den Mend Franz Schubert T Nachtstiick B Auf dem See ^ Die Vogel Intermission /O Die Lotosblume Robert Schumann (I Roselein, Roselein (1810-1856) f5 Geheimes Flustem hier und dort Clara Schumann / 5 Das ist ein Tag, der klingen mag (1819-1896) O Lust, O Lust iS All mein Gedanken Richard Strauss \y DieZeitlose (1864-1849) I y Allerseelen (g Schdn sind, doch kalt Morgen Der Jiingling auf dem Hiigel (Hiittenbrennerj/The Young Man On the Hill Translation (cont'd.) Ah! now the dampened sound of mourning was heard in the village. Im FrUhling (Schulze)/In the Springtime Already from far away arose a plaintive song; Silently, I sit on the hillside. He now saw the glow of the lights. The sky is so clear. The black funeral procession. The breezes play in the green valley And he started to weep bitterly. Where once, in the first rays of spring, Because his little rose was being carried away. I was, oh, so happy. Now the coffin was lowered. Where I walked by her side The grave digger came. So tender and so close. And gave back to the earth. And saw deep in the dark rocky stream What God had taken. The fair sky, bleu and bright. And her reflected in that sky. Then the young man fell silent. And looked on prayerfully. See how the colourful spring Already thinking of the happy day when they would see each other again. Already peeps from bud and blossom. Not all blossoms are the same to me: And as the stars came. I like most of all to pluck them from the branch And the moon sailed up in the sky. From which she has plucked. He read in the stars the lofty message of hope. For all is still as it was then. Die Rose (Schlegel)/The Rose The Flowers, the fields; Lovely warmth convinced me to risk coming into the light; The sun shines no less brightly. Wild embers where burning there, this will I always bemoan. And no less cheerfully. The sky's blue image bathes in the stream. I could blossom for a long time in the mildly warm days; Now I must wilt early, life passes me by. Only will and delusion change And joy alternates with strife; When dawn came,I did not hesitate and opened my buds , where all my charms were. The happiness of love flies past. I could smell in a friendly way, and wear my crown; And only love remains; Then the sun got too hot, it is it I must therefore accuse. Love and also, sorrow. What could the mild evening do? Oh, if only I were a bird, I must now ask sadly. There on the sloping meadow! It can no longer rescue me, take away my pains. Then I would stay on these branches And sing a sweet song about her Dusk has faded away, soon the cold will nail me. All summer long. As I am dying, I wanted to tell the story of my short and young life. Der Jiingling auf dem Hiigel (Hilttenbrennerj/The Young Man On the Hill Der Jiingling an der Quelle (Salis)/(The Young Man at the Source) A young man sat on the hill with his sorrow; Softly babbling source! You towering, murmuring poplars! His eyes were troubled and full of tears. Your slumber noises only awaken love. 1 sought comfort by you, Saw lambs at play and green rocky slopes. Saw the happy little brook flow along the valley; And I sought to forget her, the indifferent one. But leaves and brook sigh after you, Louise. The butterflies were suckling red flowers. Like morning dreams, clouds were flying around. Nacht und TrSume (v. Collinj/Night and Dreams And everything was so lively, and everything swam in happiness. Holy night, you are falling, It was only in his heart that joy did not gaze. Dreams surge, as your moon light shines through the space. Through the people's quiet heart. Nacht und Traume (v. Collin)/Night and Dreams (cont'd.) Auf dem See (Goethe)/On the Lake They look upon it with joy. Yes, 1 absorb fresh nourishment and new blood from the outdoors; Calling, when the day awakens; How beautiful and kindly is Nature, who clasps me to her breast! Return, holy night! The rocking waves lifl our boat to the beat of the oars. Noble dreams, come back! And mountains, rising heavenward through the clouds, come to meet us as we proceed. An den Mond (HSIty)/To the Moon Why are you cast down, my eyes? Once more you quietly fill bush and valley with a misty glow, Are you retuming once more, golden dreams? And at last you completely unbind my soul as well; Away with you, dreams! You soothingly extend your gaze over my fields. Golden though you may be, here too there is love and life. Just as my companion's eyes rest gently upon my fate. On the waves a thousand floating starts twinkle; My heart feels every reverberation of happy and sad times; On all sides soft mists absorb the towering mountains in the distance; I walk in solitude between joy and sorrow. A moming breeze whips around the shadowed bay. Flow, flow, dear river! I will never be happy; And the ripening fmit is reflected on the lake. That is how our sporting and kissing slipped away, and faithfulness as well. (And yet I did once possess that most precious thing! Die VSgel(Sch!egei)/The Birds Why is it, to one's sorrow, that one can never forget it!) How wonderful, how joyful it is to soar and to sing. To look down upon the earth from lofty heights! Babble, river, down the valley without pause or letup. Babble, whisper melodies for my song. People are crazy. They cannot fly. When in winter nights you rage and overflow your banks. They moan with worry, we flutter into the sky. Or when you purl around the springtime splendor of young buds. The hunter wants to kill, we would rather peck at fruit; Happy is the person v/ho shuts himself off from the world without hatred. We must mock him and get our booty! Clasps a friend to his heart and with him enjoys that which, unknown or disregarded by people. Die Lotosblume(Heine)/The Lotus Flower Walks in the night through the labyrinth of the heart. The lotus flower is troubled by the sun's splendor And,dreaming with lowered head, she awaits the night. Nachtstiick (Mayrhofer)/Night Piece The moon is her paramour; When fog spreads over the mountains. He wakes her with his light, and to him she gladly unveils her dutiful flower-face. And the moon fights with the clouds. She blossoms and glows and beams, and gazes silently upward; Then the old man takes up his harp, She emits fragrance and weeps and trembles with love and love's pain. walks, and sings softly into the woods: Rdselein, Roselein!(v. d. Neun)/Little Rose, Little Rose! "You holy night! It is almost over. Little rose, little rose, must there be thorns? Soon I will sleep the long slumber. 1 once was sleeping by the shadowed brook, dreaming sweetly. Which will release me from my grief." And 1 saw in the golden sunshine a thomless rose, 1 picked it and kissed it; "thomless little rose!". The green trees then murmur; "Sleep well, you old and good man"; 1 awoke and looked around; The grass whispers, swaying gently; "1 did have it! Where can it be?" "We will cover his resting place"; All around in the sunshine there were only rose with thoms! And a loving bird calls; "O,let him rest on a grassy bed!" The brook laughed at me; "Let go of your dreams! The old man listens. And take good note, The old man is silent Roses must have thoms!" Death has bowed down to him. Geheimes Fltistern hier und dort/Secret Whispering Here and There All mein Gedanken (Dahn)/All My Thoughts Secret whispering here and there, All my thoughts, my heart and my senses. The murmur of hidden sources, Are wandering there where my beloved is. 0 woods, sacred place, They go their way through wall and gate. Let me gaze at the purest truth oflife No locks nor moats can stand in the way; In the branches and leaves. They fly like little birds through the air. They need no bridges over the water and chasms. As I walk into the woods They find the little town, they find the house. 1 am greeted by the trees. They seek out her window from among all others. You dear, free house of God, And knock and call: Open, let us enter. With your powerful storm you embrace me We come from your beloved and greet you. In your cool spaces. Open, open, let us enter. The soft noises and sounds that surround me, Die Zeitlose (v. Gilm)/The Saffron I want to be true to them. In a freshly mown meadow And what reaches me deep in the heart. Stands a lonely saffron. Moved by the spirit of love, With the body of a lily.

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