Sand City Opera Company
At Suzka Studio in Sand City, CA
Saturday March 14, 2009 at 7 p.m.
La Serenata ~ Francesco P. Tosti
Tosti (1846-1916), singing teacher to the court of queen Victoria was knighted by
Edward VII, died back in Italy during the first world war. He never wrote any operas
but was respected by Verdi as a teacher.
This song was a favorite of the great soprano Adelina Patti.
La farfalletta ~ Vincenzo Bellini
Bellini (1801-1835), a contemporary of Chopin, was the supreme opera melodist of
his time. Unlike other composers he generally restricted his output to one opera a
year. Bellini was a protégé of Rossini in Paris. Rossini was mortified when the young
Bellini died of some strange intestinal disease.
A child protégé, Bellini wrote this little song at age twelve.
Mentre ti lascio ~ Wolfgang A. Mozart
Mozart(1756-1791) wrote this great concert aria, K513 in 1779. The text was taken
from Sant'Angiolo-Morbilli's libretto for Paisello's "La disfata di Dario"(Darius's defeat)
It was written for the great bass, Gottfried von Jacquin.
l'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra ~ Francesco P. Tosti
Probably Tosti's best song with glorious lyrics by Gabrielle D'Annunzio.
"Dawn separates the light from t06.07.09 Sous les pieds ~ "La reine de Saba" ~ Charles Gounod
Gounod(1818-1893) wrote "The Queen of Sheba" in 1862. This opera was almost
universally condemned by the Parisian critics and it was withdrawn after only fifteen
performances. An English version incorporating some features of freemasonry was
no more successful.
This beautiful bass aria and a tenor aria, a favorite of Caruso's, are almost the only
extracts of this opera ever heard today.
L'onde fremit, l'onde s'agite ~ "Lelio" ~ Hector Berlioz
Berlioz(1803-1869) wrote Lelio as a monodramatic continuation of his Symphonie
fantastique. Lelio was, in part, inspired by Berlioz's unhappy love affair with
Camille Moke, as the Symphonie Fantastique was inspired by Berlioz's wife, the
Irish Shakespearian actress, Harriet Smithson.This opening aria is a setting of a
poem by Goethe.
Aleko's cavatina ~ "Aleko" ~ Sergei Rachmaninov
Rachmaninov(1873-1943) wrote Aleko as a graduation piece in 1892.
It is the first of Rachmaninov' S three operas.
Pace, Gran Dio; Tenda natal ~ "Il Figliuol Prodigo" ~ Amilcare Ponchielli
Ponchielli(1834-1886) was not pleased with the violence and bloodshed displayed
in his only known opera "La Giaconda". The "La Giaconda" libretto had been
written by Boito who went on to write the librettos for "Otello" and "Falstaff" for
Verdi. Ponchielli thought that people should want music more"calm and pastoral".
"Il Figliuol Prodigo" (The Prodigal Son) was the result. The beautiful aria
"Tenda natal" (tent of my birthplace) occasionally survives to this day Ponchielli
went on to become a teacher of composition. Among his students were Puccini
and Mascagni.
Ideale ~ Francesco P. Tosti
Another of Tosti's great songs. A favorite of Caruso's.
S'e spento il sol ~ "Silvano" ~ Pietro Mascagni
Mascagni(1863-1945)wrote "Silvano" in an attempt to repeat the success of
"Cavalleria Rusticana". It was not a success in spite of much beautiful music
including this lovely aria "The sun has set far away in the placid ocean".
Sogno ~ Francesco P. Tosti
"Dream", another of Tosti's well known songs.
Non t'amo piu ~ Francesco P. Tosti
"I don't love you any more"' yet another of Tosti's well known songs.
Chitarrata abruzzese ~ Francesco P. Tosti
"Abruzzese guitar". I have never heard this glorious song sung by anybody else.
We have another program planned for May 10th at 3 p.m.. at Randy Puckett's
fabulous whale studio. Also a light program in Carmel t.b.a., probably in
June. April will be a blank because of James's commitments at San Jose Opera.
E-mail to alfredharris@montereybay.com. |
