Richard Moschel Memorial Recital
Everett Jewish Life Center
Sunday, July 14, 2024- 1:00 p.m.
Kelsey Watts, soprano
Eric Botto, tenor
Alex Granito, baritone
Miriam Charney, piano
“TELLING THE STORY”
A concert dedicated to Richard Moschel and his love of opera and of a good Story. Ultimately the musical journey that a singer embarks on is one of finding different ways to Tell that Story, in songs and in opera. It’s also the essence of Chautauqua: Lost and Found, “Love and Longing by the Lake,” relationships that stay “Closer than Ever”, friendships that seem like destiny - no matter what.
We start with two good friends who love the same woman and how they work that one out.
Then to a man’s first operatic falling in love – and then to a mini-Boheme of sorts
Schaunard discusses his conquest (to get money this time, not a girl), Musetta discussing her constant conquest of those who admire her, and then our new lovers, Mimi and Rodolfo, having just discovered each other, as one only can in opera.
“Au fond du temple saint” from Les Pecheurs de Perles
Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
Mr Botto and Mr. Granito
A Mini La Bohème
Giacomo Puccini (1958-1924)
Schaunard's entrance aria Act I -- "Or vi dirò"
Mr. Granito
"Quando me'n vo" Act II
Ms. Watts
"O soave fanciulla" Act I
Ms. Watts and Mr. Botto
Moving on to different kinds and perceptions of longing …., more contemporary aspects, spiritual, maternal, fraternal, all parts of the bigger story of relationships, operatic and in real life.
“Blue” from Cabaret Songs
William Bolcom (b. 1938):
Mr. Granito
“Verborgenheit”
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903):
Mr. Botto
“Wiegenlied” (Okolébavka)
Gideon Klein (1919-1945)
Ms. Watts
“Maria” from West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Mr. Botto
“There” from Closer than Ever
David Shire (b.1937):
Ms Watts and Mr. Granito
“Chanson Triste”
Henri Duparc (1848-1933)
Mr. Granito
“Del Destino” from Florencia en el Amazonas
Daniel Catán (1949-2011)
Mr. Botto
“Les chemins de l’amour”
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Ms. Watts
Papageno/Papagena Duet from The Magic Flute
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Ms. Watts and Mr. Granito
“Hard Times Come Again No More”
Text and music by Stephen Foster (1826-1864)
Mr. Botto, Mr. Granito, Ms. Watts
Leadership & Staff:
General & Artistic Director: Steven Osgood
Arts Marketing Specialist: Makayla Santiago-Froebel
Music Administrator/Chorus Master: Carol Rausch
Director of Production: Michael Baumgarten
Manager: Helen Hassinger
Office Manager: Vivian Hunt
Company Scheduler: Rick Hoffenberg
Marketing Associate: Julia Gorske
Opera Guild Intern: Michael Burns
PAVA Intern: Elliot Borden
Music Staff:
Coach/Pianists: Carol Rausch, Allison Voth, Rick Hoffenberg
| Text | Translation | ||||
| "Au fond du temple saint" from Les Pecheurs de Perles Libretto by Michel Carré, Eugène Cormon NADIR Au fond du temple saint Paré de fleurs et d'or, Une femme apparaît! Je crois la voir encore! ZURGA Une femme apparaît! Je crois la voir encore! NADIR La foule prosternée La regarde, etonnée, Et murmure tous bas: Voyez, c'est la déesse! Qui dans l'ombre se dresse Et vers nous tend les bras! ZURGA Son voile se soulève! Ô vision! ô rêve! La foule est à genoux! TOGETHER Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse plus charmante et plus belle! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse qui descend parmi nous! Son voile se soulève et la foule est à genoux! NADIR Mais à travers la foule Elle s'ouvre un passage! ZURGA Son long voile déjà Nous cache son visage! NADIR Mon regard, hélas! La cherche en vain! ZURGA Elle fuit! NADIR Elle fuit! Mais dans mon âme soudain Quelle étrange ardeur s'allume! ZURGA Quel feu nouveau me consume! NADIR Ta main repousse ma main! ZURGA Ta main repousse ma main! NADIR De nos cœurs l'amour s'empare Et nous change en ennemis! ZURGA Non, que rien ne nous sépare! NADIR Non, rien! TOGETHER Jurons de rester amis! Oh oui, jurons de rester amis! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse! En ce jour qui vient nous unir, Et fidèle à ma promesse, Comme un frère je veux te chérir! C'est elle, c'est la déesse Qui vient en ce jour nous unir! Oui, partageons le même sort, Soyons unis jusqu'à la mort! | Pearl Fishers Duet Translation from Opera-Arias.com | ||||
| Schaunard's entrance aria Act 1 - "Or vi dirò" Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica RODOLFO Legna! MARCELLO Sigari! COLLINE Bordò! TUTTI Le dovizie d'una fiera il destin ci destinò. SCHAUNARD La Banca di Francia per voi si sbilancia. COLLINE Raccatta, raccatta! MARCELLO Son pezzi di latta!... SCHAUNARD Sei sordo?... Sei lippo? Quest'uomo chi è? RODOLFO Luigi Filippo! M'inchino al mio Re! TUTTI Sta Luigi Filippo ai nostri pie' SCHAUNARD Or vi dirò: quest'oro, o meglio argento, ha la sua brava storia... MARCELLO Riscaldiamo il camino! COLLINE Tanto freddo ha sofferto. SCHAUNARD Un inglese... un signor... lord o milord che sia, voleva un musicista... MARCELLO Via! Prepariamo la tavola! SCHAUNARD Io? volo! RODOLFO L'esca dov'è? COLLINE Là. MARCELLO Qua. SCHAUNARD E mi presento. M'accetta: gli domando... COLLINE Arrosto freddo! MARCELLO Pasticcio dolce! SCHAUNARD A quando le lezioni?... Risponde: «Incominciam... Guardare!» (e un pappagallo m'addita al primo piano), poi soggiunge: «Voi suonare finché quello morire!». RODOLFO Fulgida folgori la sala splendida. MARCELLO Or le candele! SCHAUNARD E fu così: Suonai tre lunghi dì... Allora usai l'incanto di mia presenza bella... Affascinai l'ancella... Gli propinai prezzemolo!... Lorito allargò l'ali, Lorito il becco aprì, da Socrate morì! COLLINE Pasticcio dolce! MARCELLO Mangiar senza tovaglia? RODOLFO Un'idea... COLLINE e MARCELLO Il «Costituzional!» RODOLFO Ottima carta... Si mangia e si divora un'appendice ! COLLINE Chi?!... SCHAUNARD Che il diavolo vi porti tutti quanti! Ed or che fate? No! Queste cibarie sono la salmeria pei dì futuri tenebrosi e oscuri. Pranzare in casa il dì della vigilia mentre il Quartier Latino le sue vie addobba di salsicce e leccornie? Quando un olezzo di frittelle imbalsama le vecchie strade? ALL La vigilia di Natal! SCHAUNARD Là le ragazze cantano contente ed han per eco ognuna uno studente! Un po' di religione, o miei signori: si beva in casa, ma si pranzi fuori. | Schaunard's entrance aria Act 1 - "Or vi dirò" Translation from Opera-Arias.com
ALL THREE SCHAUNARD SCHAUNARD
COLLINE RODOLFO
ALL | ||||
Quando m'en vo Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica MUSETTA Quando m’en vo soletta per la via, La gente sosta e mira E la bellezza mia tutta ricerca in me Da capo a pie'... Ed assaporo allor la bramosia Sottil, che da gli occhi traspira E dai palesi vezzi intender sa Alle occulte beltà. Così l'effluvio del desìo tutta m'aggira, Felice mi fa! E tu che sai, che memori e ti struggi Da me tanto rifuggi? So ben le angoscie tue non le vuoi dir, Ma ti senti morir! | Musetta's Waltz Translations by Opera-Arias.com MUSETTA When I go all by myself through the street, People stop and look, and everyone looks at my beauty from head to foot. And therefore I savor the subtle desire which emanates from their eyes, and from the obvious charms is understood the hidden beauty. Like this the flood of desire surround me, it makes me happy! And you who know, so that memory is tearing you up Why do you fly from me so much again? I know very well that you don't want to speak about your agony, But feel yourself dying! | ||||
| "O soave fanciulla" Act 1 Libretto by Illica and Giacosa RODOLFO O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso di mite circonfuso alba lunar in te, vivo ravviso il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar! Fremon già nell'anima le dolcezze estreme, nel bacio freme amor! MIMÌ Ah! tu sol comandi, amor!... RODOLFO Fremon già nell'anima le dolcezze estreme. MIMÌ (Oh! come dolci scendono le sue lusinghe al core... tu sol comandi, amore!...) RODOLFO Nel bacio freme amor! MIMÌ No, per pietà! RODOLFO Sei mia! MIMÌ V'aspettan gli amici... RODOLFO Già mi mandi via? MIMÌ Vorrei dir... ma non oso... RODOLFO Con gentilezza MIMÌ Se venissi con voi? RODOLFO Che?... Mimì? Sarebbe così dolce restar qui. C'è freddo fuori. MIMÌ Vi starò vicina!... RODOLFO E al ritorno? MIMÌ Curioso! RODOLFO Dammi il braccio, mia piccina. MIMÌ Obbedisco, signor! RODOLFO Che m'ami di'... MIMÌ Io t'amo! RODOLFO Amore ! MIMÌ Amor! | Translation by William Weaver RODOLFO
RODOLFO MIMÌ RODOLFO | ||||
"Blue" from Cabaret Songs Libretto by Arnold Weinstein This is what I want to do my heart Is sit real still with you. After all the cruising In around and out of town, Put them down who dared refuse me And the same old line I threw ah but up up up I grew
And now all I want to do My heart Is sit real still with you.
After all that screeching Talking fast and slowing down Only now and then to reach you When you’d let me know I knew That what I preach is none too true
That’s why all I want to do my heart Is sit real still with you.
(Cause I do know this about people And I DON’T mean some: Awf’ly smart people are often awful dumb! Aren’t we? We just don’t realize-- That behind the eyes, behind the mind, you find------ The sweetest brilliance and a stillness of such blue that….)
That’s why all I want to do my soul Is sit real still with you. Ah so sweetly down the hill That is what I want to do sweet soul Is sit real still with you. | |||||
| "Verborgenheit" Libretto Eduard Mörike Lass, o Welt, o lass mich sein! Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben, Lasst dies Herz alleine haben Seine Wonne, seine Pein! Was ich traure, weiss ich nicht, Es ist unbekanntes Wehe; Immerdar durch Tränen sehe Ich der Sonne liebes Licht. Oft bin ich mir kaum bewusst, Und die helle Freude zücket Durch die Schwere, so mich drücket Wonniglich in meiner Brust. Lass, o Welt, o lass mich sein! Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben, Lasst dies Herz alleine haben Seine Wonne, seine Pein! | “Seclusion" Translation by Richard Stokes
Let, O world, O let me be! | ||||
"Wiegenlied" (Okolébavka) Text by Shalom Charitonov Gideon Klein composed his "Lullaby" in the Concentration Camp of Terezín, in February 1942 He entitled it using the German word, Wiegenlied, but it’s the same song in many languages.
English Translation from the Hebrew:
Lie down my son, lie down peacefully, Do not cry so harshly. Your mother is sitting right next to you, Protecting you from all bad things.
The jackal wails outside in the forest, And the wind is blowing there, Lie down my son, lie down peacefully, Sleep, sleep, slumber. Night and shadow Will pass very quickly. We cannot be lazy, Tomorrow we must work.
Tomorrow father will go off to plough, Father will walk in the furrows, Only you, my little son, Will sleep, sleep and slumber. | |||||
| "Maria" from West Side Story Libretto by Stephen Sondheim TONY Maria . . . The most beautiful sound I ever heard. VOICES Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria . . . TONY All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word . . . VOICES Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria . . . Maria, Maria . . . TONY Maria! I've just met a girl named Maria, And suddenly that name Will never be the same To me. Maria! I've just kissed a girl named Maria, And suddenly I've found How wonderful a sound Can be. Maria! Say it loud and there's music playing— Say it soft and it's almost like praying— Maria . . . I'll never stop saying Maria! (Maria x8) Maria! Say it loud and there's music playing— Say it soft and it's almost like praying— Maria . . . I'll never stop saying Maria! The most beautiful sound I ever heard— Maria. |
“There” from Closer than Ever Libretto by Richard Maltby [WOMAN]
[MAN] [WOMAN] [MAN] | |
| "Chanson Triste" Libretto by Jean Lahor Dans ton cœur dort un clair de lune, Un doux clair de lune d’été, Et pour fuir la vie importune, Je me noierai dans ta clarté. J’oublierai les douleurs passées, Mon amour, quand tu berceras Mon triste cœur et mes pensées Dans le calme aimant de tes bras. Tu prendras ma tête malade, Oh! quelquefois sur tes genoux, Et lui diras une ballade Qui semblera parler de nous; Et dans tes yeux pleins de tristesses, Dans tes yeux alors je boirai Tant de baisers et de tendresses Que peut-être je guérirai. | "Song of Sadness" Translation by Richard Stokes Moonlight slumbers in your heart, |
| "Del Destino" Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain Del destino Yo quiero ser piloto
Volar, sentir en el pecho el empuje de los vientos el retumbe de los truenos
Como el aura en la tormenta En la bóveda suspensa que cobija tierra y mar Volar sin rumbo, volar
Volar venciendo el vértigo Girar sobre el planeta Vagar como una estrella fugaz
Volar sin rumbo perderme en la noche lanzarme al fin y con un simple roce el alba entera incendiar | "Del Destino" Translation from CD booklet – no attribution My fate I want to be a pilot
To fly, to feel the wind on my chest and the crashing of thunder
To feel like the halo of the storm in the suspended dome that cloaks the earth and sea To fly without direction, to fly
To fly defeating vertigo To circle the planet and burn like a shooting star
To fly without direction to lose myself in the night to reach the world’s edge and with a simple caress to set the skies on fire |
| "Les chemins de l'amour" Libretto by Anouilh
Les chemins qui vont à la mer | The Paths of Love Translation by Richard Stokes The paths that lead to the sea Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000) |
| Papageno/Papagena Duet from The Magic Flute Libretto by Schikaneder PAPAGENO. | Translation by PAPAGENO Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena! PAPAGENA Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Papageno! PAPAGENO Are you really all mine now? PAPAGENA Now I really am all yours. PAPAGENO So now be my darling little wife! PAPAGENA So now be the little dove of my heart! PAPAGENO, PAPAGENA What a pleasure that will be, when the gods remember us, crown our love with children, such dear little children! PAPAGENO First a little Papageno! PAPAGENA Then a little Papagena! PAPAGENO Then another Papageno! PAPAGENA Then another Papagena! PAPAGENO, PAPAGENA Papageno! Papagena! It is the greatest feeling that many, many Pa-Pa-Papagenos, Pa-Pa-Papagenas may be a blessing to their parents |
“Hard Times Come Again No More” Libretto by Stephen Foster Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears ‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary; |