Songs from Fauré and Barber
Songs from French composer Gabriel Fauré and American composer Samuel Barber performed by mezzo-soprano Hannah Klein.
Fauré:”Après un rêve,” Op. 7, No. 1
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
“Après un rêve,” Op. 7, No. 1 is a romantic song published in 1878 and is about a dream of romantic flight with a lover, away from the earth and “Towards the light” and wants desperately to return to the dream once the dreamer awakes.
Fauré:”Green,” Op. 58, No. 3
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
“Green,” Op. 58, No. 3 is also a romantic song, which describes the excitement, calmness and sweetness of a love story.
Fauré:”Au bord de l’eau,” Op. 8, No. 1
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
“Au bord de l’eau,” (At the water’s edge) Op. 8, No. 1 is about watching time pass and paying attention to what is happening in the present.
Fauré:”Automne,” Op. 18, No. 3
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
Sorrow and regret are the themes of this song. Written in 1878 it is believed that it was written during the time of Fauré engagement to be married ended.
Fauré:”Les Berceaux,” Op. 23, No. 1
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
The pain of watching your love one go off to sea and as you see the ships gentle rocking you are not sure your love one will return is the story of Fauré:”Les Berceaux,” (The Cradles) Op. 23, No. 1.
Fauré:”Lydia,” Op. 4, No. 2
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
“Lydia,” Op. 4, No. 2 is simply a love song and uses “death” or “dying” as an indirect way to express desire.
Fauré:”Soir,” Op. 83, No. 2
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
Fauré:”Soir,” Op. 83, No. 2 is about watching the sunset and as the evening appears brings on feelings of sadness.
Barber: Three Songs, Op. 45
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano; Reese Revak, piano
Samuel Barber was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral and piano music. He graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1934. He composed Three Songs, Op 45 in 1972 for voice and piano. The songs are “Now I Have Fed and Eaten Up the Rose”, “A Green Lowland of Pianos” and “O Boundless, Boundless Evening.”
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