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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Meet the Artists
Claire de Monteil ’20
soprano
Alice Chung ’22
mezzo-soprano
Oliver Sewell ’20
tenor
Griffen Hogan Tracy ’22
bass
Anne Marie Stanley ’22
mezzo-soprano