Photo: Michael J. Lutch
Songs of Love and Farewell
A Liederabend of Korngold and Ullmann
Music by one who left, and by one who could not
Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, internationally acclaimed soprano, and Michael Recchiuti, award winning conductor and pianist will explore the art and context of the Late Romantic 20th century German Lied.
The program will present a selection of outstanding songs based on two of the eternal themes of life and art: love and parting. Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Viktor Ullmann, both born in the Czech portion of the Austrian Empire before its ultimate collapse after the First World War, and both Jewish, lived, studied and worked in Vienna, cultural capital of the empire. As musical heirs of Dvořák, Brahms, and Wagner they each developed their own personal style of Late Romanticism. Time, politics and war would destroy their world and lead each to a dramatically different destiny.
PROGRAM
I
Viktor Ullmann
Hölderlin Lieder
Songs on Hölderlin Poems
1. Sonnenuntergang (Sunset)
2. Der Frühling (Spring)
3. Abendphantasie (Evening fantasy)
II
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Lieder des Abschieds
Songs of Farewell op. 14
1. Sterblied (Death song) (Rosetti - Kerr)
2. Dies eine kann mein Sehnen nimmer fassen (This one thing my soul can’t grasp) (Ronsperger)
3. Mond, so gehst du wieder auf (Moon, thus you rise again) (Lothar)
4. Gefasster Abschied (A calm farewell) (Lothar)
— intermission —
III
Viktor Ullmann
Fünf Liebeslieder von Ricarda Huch
Five Love Songs on Ricarda Huch
1. Wo hast du all die Schönheit hergenommen (Where did you gather your beauty)
2. Am Klavier (At the piano)
3. Sturmlied (Storm song)
4. Wenn je ein Schönes mir zu bilden glückte (If ever I made something beautiful)
5. O schöne Hand (Oh, beautiful hand)
IV
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Drei Lieder op. 22
Three Songs op. 22
1. Was du mir bist (What are you to me) (Van der Straaten)
2. Mir Dir zu Schweigen (With you in the silence) (Kobald)
3. Welt ist stille eingeschlafen (When the world is asleep) (Kobald)
General admission: $30; seniors, students: $20. Tickets may be purchased online through Eventbrite (plus the processing fee), or at the door at the time of the event (cash only).
ABOUT
ELIZABETH BLANCKE-BIGGS is recognized as one of the most exciting sopranos on the international scene today. Critics have praised her virtuosic bel canto technique, the beauty of her voice, her pyrotechnic coloratura, and her unerring theatricality. A brilliant interpreter of the most demanding roles in the spinto-drammatico soprano repertory, she was heard at the Metropolitan Opera in Verdi’s La Traviata, and on the Met’s Sirius International Satellite Broadcast as Puccini’s Tosca. She recently appeared as Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West in Sergio Vela’s production at Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, and with Lorin Maazel at his Castleton Festival, Turandot in a new production mounted for her by Andre Heller-Lopez at the Theatro Municipal of Sao Paolo, Brazil, for the Gala opening of the new opera house in Xian, China, and Shanghai’s Grand Theater. She appeared as Bellini’s Norma at the season opening at the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, Strauss’ Elektra in the “Premio Abbiati” award winning production of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and Salome with the Orchesta Sinfonica Nacional at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and the Den Norsk Opera in Oslo.
MICHAEL RECCHIUTI is active internationally as a conductor, pianist, and accompanist. He has collaborated with artists of the international opera stage, and Grammy and Tony Award winners such as Carlo Bergonzi, Giuseppe Giacomini, Placid Domingo, and Roberta Peters. He was the winner of the International Conductors Competition at Siena’s Accademia Chigiana, where he studied with Carlo Maria Giulini, Franco Ferrara, and Bruno Bartoletti, and was head of the musical staff at Venice’s Gran Teatro La Fenice. He has conducted and concertized extensively in North America and Europe, and his live concert recording with tenor Chris Merritt was chosen as “Best CD of the Year” by Opera News, and won the Palme d’Or. He frequently appears in recital with American soprano Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs. Their critically acclaimed recording “Vaghissima Sembianza...Arie di Stile Antico di Stefano Donaudy” is available on all music platforms.
Program in Commemoration of the End of World War II
Erich Wolfgang Korngold 1897-1957, Viktor Ullmann 1898-1944. Both featured composers, born in the Czech lands of Jewish heritage, would have their lives upended by politics and history: Korngold forced to flee Europe, and Ullmann’s life tragically ended at the hands of the Nazis.
This event is presented by the Dvořák American Heritage Association in commemoration of the end of World War II, in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic, with support of Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association. Ms. Blancke-Biggs and Mr. Recchiuti’s appearance is made possible by the Terezin Music Foundation.