A concert saluting pianist and pedagogue Mikael Eliasen's silver anniversary with the school. Mr. Eliasen is Artistic Director of the Curtis Opera Theatre and Head-of-Department Chair in Vocal Studies. The program:
Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes
Elizabeth Reiter, soprano; Jaziminia MacNeil, mezzo-soprano; Diego Silva, tenor; Brandon Cedel, bass-baritone; Danielle Orlando & Mikael Eliasen, pianos
It has been suggested that Brahms penned this choral suite of songs in 1868 as a confession of love for Julia, the daughter of Clara Schumann. Unfortunately for Brahms, Julia ultimately chose another man for her groom. In any event, this sweet-natured work serves as a perfect celebration of Mikael Eliasen's 25 years at Curtis.
Rorem: Aftermath (excerpts)
Elliot Madore, baritone; Pamela Frank, violin; Jeong-Hyoun Lee, cello; Mikael Eliasen, piano
Rising operatic star Elliot Madore returns to his alma mater to honor Mikael Eliasen with excerpts from this searing song cycle by another Curtis grad, Ned Rorem. Written on commission shortly following the attacks of September 11th, Aftermath addresses the composer's feelings of sadness and loss, set to a series of anti-war poems. Of this cycle, Rorem has said "If I was to be remembered only by one piece, it would be this piece, out of the several thousand works that I've written."
Richard Strauss: Two Songs (Die Nacht and Morgen)
Layla Claire, soprano; Mikael Eliasen, piano
Another rising young singer and Curtis grad, Layla Claire joins Mikael Eliasen for two beautiful and elegiac songs by Richard Strauss.
Musical Word of the Week: Solfege
Vocal exercises sung to the solmization syllables (do, re, mi, etc.) and, by extension, vocalizes, or exercises sung to a single vowel, often florid and difficult to master. The word solfege sometimes refers to an intensive course in the knowledge of musical intervals and their notation. (from Encyclopedia Brittanica)
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