Fall Recital · German Lieder Rarities
Music by Beethoven, Weber, Schubert, Berg, and Korngold
Pianist and Music Director: Luke Housner
December 3–5, 2019
This season, we continue our exploration of art song with a selection of rarely performed lieder. All performances are held in AVA’s intimate Helen Corning Warden Theater.
For our patrons needing an accessible entrance, AVA has ramp access in the back of our building on 19th and Delancey. For questions and to schedule access, please contact AVA Box Office Manager Bill Buddendorf at bbuddendorf@avaopera.org or 215-735-1685 ext. 17
Program
Claire de Monteil (soprano)
- “Ah! perfido.” Op. 65 | Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Composed only 9 years after Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Beethoven’s tour de force concert aria “Ah! Perfido” is the perfect blend of Donna Anna and Donna Elvira, both dramatically and musically.
Alice Chung (mezzo-soprano)
- Bei der Musik des Prinzen Louis Ferdinand von Preussen, Op. 43 Leyer und Schwert
- Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
Weber’s Leyer und Schwert is a musical tribute to Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. Prince Louis was an extremely gifted pianist and composer who was killed in battle at the age of 34. Both Beethoven and Liszt also paid respects by dedicating several of their compositions to Prince Louis.
Oliver Sewell (tenor)
- Abendstern, D.806
- Nachtstück, D.67
- Abendbilder, D.650
- Wanderers Nachtlied, D.768
- Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
The four lieder chosen for this program demonstrate the mastery of Schubert as story teller and musical illustrator as he depicts man’s relationship with nature and mortality.
Griffen Hogan Tracy (bass)
- Schlummerlose Nächte
- Traurigkeit
- Über den Bergen, weit zu wandern
- Abschied
- Schließe mir die Augen beide
- Im Morgengrauen
- Ferne Lieder
- Alban Berg (1885-1935)
We have selected a handful of Berg’s 46 Jugendlieder which he composed in his early 20’s as he was exploring various compositional styles. The mostly one-page gems are certainly unique and are evocative of various folk-like melodies.
Anne Marie Stanley (mezzo-soprano)
- Unvergänglichkeit, Op. 27, #1
- Schneeglöckchen, Op. 9, #1
- Liebesbriefchen, Op. 9, #4
- Der Kranke, Op. 38, #2
- Sommer, Op. 9, #6
- Welt ist stille eingeschlafen, op. 22, #3
- Erich Korngold (1897-1957)
The collection of Korngold lieder are musically lush and are reminiscent of his Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, opera Die tote Stadt, as well as harmonic strains/strands of Kurt Weill.
