Summary of Dissertation Recitals One Operatic Role and Two Programs of Vocal Music

Abstract

One operatic role and two vocal recitals were performed in lieu of a written dissertation.

The operatic role was Don Alfonso in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte. It demonstrated knowledge of classical style, mastery of stagecraft, and proficiency in Italian. The first recital, Green Springs the Tree, explored diverse themes – including political oppression, war, nostalgia, folk song, and nature imagery – through twentieth-century Russian, Czech, British, and American works. The second recital, Liederkreis, explored the song cycle through three contrasting representative examples of the genre.

Thursday, March 24, 2016, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 26, 2016, 8:00 p.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Kathleen Kelly, conductor. Omer Ben Seadia, director. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte. Role performed: Don Alfonso.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 7:30 p.m., Britton Recital Hall. Blair Salter, piano. Dmitri Shostakovich, Six Romances to Words by British Poets, op. 62: Sir Walter Raleigh to His Sonne, O wert thou in the cauld blast, Macpherson’s Farewell, Jenny, Sonnet LXVI, The King’s Campaign. Petr Eben, Písně z Těšínska: Ten těšinsky mostek; Tam z tej strony jeźora; Za gorum, za vodum; Śvětě marny. Gerald Finzi, Let Us Garlands Bring, op. 18: Come away, come away, death; Who is Silvia?; Fear no more the heat o’ the sun; O Mistress mine; It was a lover and his lass. Aaron Copland: Zion’s Walls; Ned Rorem: An Incident; Aaron Copland: The Boatmen’s Dance; Richard Cumming: A Sight in Camp; Charles Ives, Charlie Rutlage.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017, 8:00 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House. Blair Salter, piano. Francis Poulenc, Le Bestiaire, ou Cortège d’Orphée: Le Dromadaire, La Chèvre du Thibet, La Sauterelle, Le Dauphin, L’Écrevisse, La Carpe. Ned Rorem, Flight for Heaven: To Music, to becalm his Fever; Cherry-Ripe; Upon Julia’s Clothes; To Daisies, no to shut so Soon; Epitaph upon a Child that died; Another Epitaph; To the Willow-tree; Comfort to a Youth that had lost his Love; (Piano Interlude); To Anthea, who may command him Anything. Robert Schumann, Liederkreis, op. 39: In der Fremde, Intermezzo, Waldesgespräch, Die Stille, Mondnacht, Schöne Fremde, Auf einer Burg, In der Fremde, Wehmut, Zwielicht, Im Walde, Frühlingsnacht.