Performances from the Vocal Studies Department

Mikael Eliasen Dean of Vocal Studies steers the program from Kirsten MacKinnon discovering Gershwin to Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel sung by Vartan Gabrielian, bass-baritone. The program:

Reynaldo Hahn: “A Chloris”; “Si mes vers avaient des ailes”; “Fêtes galantes”
Sophia Fiuza Hunt, mezzo-soprano; Mikael Eliasen, piano

We begin the evening with a group of songs from Reynaldo Hahn, best known for his composition of songs. “Si mes vers avaient des ailes”, was an instant success when it was published in 1888, composed to a poem by Victor Hugo. Mezzo-soprano Sophia Fiuza Hunt performs this group of songs with accompaniment from Mikael Eliasen, piano.

Kurt Weill: “Lost in the Stars” from Lost in the Stars
Sophia Fiuza Hunt, mezzo-soprano; Mikael Eliasen, piano

Mezzo-soprano Sophia Fiuza Hunt next switches gears with “Lost in the Stars” from Lost in the Stars musical, which was writer Kurt Weill’s last work for Broadway composed in 1949.

Strauss: Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Op. 67
Emily Pogorelc, soprano; Mikael Eliasen, piano

It is said that Richard Strauss had a deep respect for the soprano voice and wrote compositions that demonstrated its pure vocal range.

Gershwin: “Someone to Watch Over Me”; “The Man I Love”
Kirsten MacKinnon, soprano; Mikael Eliasen, piano

Canadian Kirsten MacKinnon recently discovered Gershwin. Mikael Eliasen said “the best way to get a song into your heart that you love is to sing it”. “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “The Man I Love” both composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by brother Ira Gershwin.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel
Vartan Gabrielian, bass-baritone; Mikael Eliasen, piano

Songs of Travel are a group of nine songs composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams from the collection Songs of Travel and Other Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.