ANN ARBOR FESTIVAL OF SONG PRESENTS THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL WEEK AFTER ART FA IR SONG FEST FRI D A Y J U L Y 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , 8 : 0 0 P M SPEAK LOW: SONGS OF WEILL AND SONDHEIM KURT WEILL (1900-1950) STEPHEN SONDHEIM (B. 1930) SONDHEIM As the years go by, it gets easier on the love market-- easier to embrace a whole troop there. But it’s amazing how your feelings cool off when you’re stingy with them. (After all, everything gets used up eventually.) From The Frogs: Invocation and Instructions to the Thank God, it all goes by quickly-- both the love and the sorrow. Where are Audience the tears of last night? Where are the snows of years gone by? John Hopkins, tenor And although you learn the tricks of the trade on the love market, it’s never easy to convert lust into small change. Still it can be done, but A West Side Story Medley (Bernstein/Sondheim) meanwhile you get a little older. (After all, you can’t stay seventeen Ellen Strba Scholl, mezzo-soprano forever.) Christopher Scholl, tenor Thank God, it all goes by quickly-- both the love and the sorrow. Where are the tears of last night? Where are the snows of years gone by? WEILL From The Threepenny Opera: Youkali (Tango Habanera; Words by Roger Fernay) Moritat von Mackie Messer/Mack the Knife Laura Reaper, mezzo-soprano Dale Schriemer, baritone Antstatt-dass/Instead Of Wandering at the will of the sea, my vagabond bark Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers, soprano; led me to the end of the world. It’s quite a small island, but the sprite who dwells there Dale Schriemer, baritone politely invites us to tour it. Youkali is the land of our desires. It means happiness and pleasure; Nanna’s Lied (Bertolt Brecht) it is the land where we leave cares behind. It is the beacon in our clouded night, the star we follow; it’s Youkali. Deanna Relyea, mezzo-soprano There we keep our promises. It is the land of shared love. Gentlemen, I was only seventeen when I landed on the love market. And I It means the hope in all human hearts, the rescue we all wait for. learned a lot of things-- mostly bad, but that was the game. Still, I resented much of it. (After all, I am a human being.) Youkali is the land of our desires. It means happiness and pleasure, Thank God, it all goes by quickly-- both the love and the sorrow. Where are but it’s only a dream, a folly. There is no Youkali. the tears of last night? Where are the snows of years gone by? Wie lange noch? (How much longer? Text by Walter Mehring) Jennifer Cresswell, soprano INTERMISSION I will confess there was a night when I willingly gave myself to you. You took me and drove me out of my mind. WEILL I believed that I could not live without you. You promised me blue skies, and I cared for you like my own father. You tormented me--you tore me apart. I would have put the world at your From Lady in the Dark: feet! My Ship Madeline Harts, soprano Look at me. The Saga of Jenny Jenny Cresswell, soprano When will the day come that I will be able to tell you: it's over. When that day comes...I dread it. How much longer? How long? I believed you. I was in a daze from all your talk and your promises. I did whatever you wanted. From One Touch of Venus: Wherever you wanted to go, I was willing to follow. That’s Him Teri Herron, soprano You promised me blue skies, and I--Ah! I didn't even dare to cry. But you have broken your word and your vows. I’m a Stranger Here Myself I have been silent and tortured myself. Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano Look at me! When will the day come that I will be able to tell you: it's over. When that day comes--I dread it. How much longer? How long? From Lost in the Stars: Lost in the Stars Dale Schriemer, baritone SONDHEIM Stay Well Emily Benner, soprano From Into the Woods: On the steps of the palace Hillary LaBonte, soprano I know things now SONDHEIM Monica Swartout-Bebow, mezzo-soprano From Follies: From Anyone Can Whistle: Buddy’s Blues John Hopkins, tenor Everybody says Don’t John Mink, baritone Could I Leave You Teri Herron, soprano Anyone can Whistle Dale Schriemer, baritone Too Many Mornings Jenny Cresswell, soprano From Sunday in the Park with George: John Glann, baritone Everybody Loves Louis Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano From A Little Night Music: From Sweeney Todd: Send in the Clowns Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano Johanna John Glann, baritone From Marry Me a Little: So Many People Rebekah Kroesing, soprano The Girls of Summer Emily Benner, soprano From Company: You Could Drive a Person Crazy Madeline Harts, soprano Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers, soprano Laura Reaper, mezzo-soprano Marry Me a Little John Mink, baritone I’m Not Getting Married Monica Swartout-Bebow, mezzo-soprano assisted by Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers and special guest, Landis Smith .