For Pagerbear and friends who love classical music and opera

[mrdreamjeans]

I've never been part of the academic world when it comes music. I came to my singing/theatre career through a different route. However, I have a very strong appreciation and respect for those who have studied and trained, who have pursued their passion for classical music and opera, who continue that pursuit. As mentioned in a post earlier this morning, I attended an informal recital early yesterday morning for a friend of new acquaintance.

A soprano, Jennifer was recording a DVD as part of a pre-screening process for The University of Texas' PHD program. I'm not sure if the PHD program is for vocal performance, more specifically for opera or for music education. Jennifer's husband is the artistic director for our local professional theatre. She was able to record on the set of "The Importance of Being Ernest" with lovely peacock murals as her backdrop. She asked if I'd like to attend despite the early hour (8:45am) and I enthusiastically said yes. I wanted to learn more about the pursuit of graduate work and to hear her. As a person, she's a doll. As a singer, she's truly talented.

I thought how much pagerbear and a couple of my other LJ friends would have enjoyed the recital, so I thought I'd include the program here for their perusal:

* Come Unto Him - Handel
* La Courte Paille: 1. Le Sommeil; 2. Quelle Aventure; 3: La Reine de Coeur; 4. Ba, Be, Bi, Bo, Bu; 5. Les Anges Musicians; 6. Le Carafon; 7. Lune d'Avril (The seven short pieces made up one selection.) - Poulene
* Laurie's Song (The Tenderland) - Copland
* Widmung - Schumann
* Auch Kleine Dinge - Wolf
* Verborgenheit - Wolf
* Anakreon's Grab - Wolf
* Come Per Me (La Sonnambula) - Bellini

Jennifer has a lovely voice with a warm tone and a ringing top. She performed all of the pieces from memory. Of course, as someone who has only "played" an opera singer, I was particularly impressed with her command of the languages, especially the German. My favorite pieces were the Copland and the final showy Bellini aria. As Jennifer told me after, she loves the "decoration" (the trills and runs). If they like her DVD, the next step is a full concert for the admissions panel at UT. Let's wish her well!