Photo: Michael J. Lutch
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 Dvorak, 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).
This event is presented by the Dvorak American Heritage Association in commemoration of the 80th anniversary 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.
For more information about the event, visit DAHA website.