Recital: Jonathan Lawlor '21 BM, Baritone

NEC: Williams Hall | Directions

290 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA
United States

NEC's students meet one-on-one each week with a faculty artist to perfect their craft. As each one leaves NEC to make their mark in the performance world, they present a full, professional recital that is free and open to the public. It's your first look at the artists of tomorrow.

Jonathan Lawlor '21 BM studies Voice with Michael Meraw.


Watch Live Stream from Williams Hall

Artists
  • Jonathan Lawlor '21 BM, baritone
  • Brett Hodgdon, piano
  • Michael Meraw, studio instructor
  1. J. S. Bach | Amore Traditore, BWV 203

    Aria: Amore traditore
    Recitativo: Voglio provar
    Aria: Chi in amore

    Aria
    Amore traditore

    Tu non m’inganni più

    Non voglio più catene,

    Non voglio affanni, pene,
    Cordoglio e servitù.

    Recitativo
    Voglio provar,
    Se posso sanar
    L’anima mia dalla paiga fatale,
    E viver si può senza il tuo strale;
    Non sia più la speranza
    Lusinga del dolore,
    E la goija nel mio core,
    Più tuo scherzo sarà nell amia constanza.


    Aria
    Chi in amore ha nemica la sorte,
    È follia, se non lascia d’amar.
    Sprezzi l’alma le crude ritorte
    Se non trova mercede al penar.

    Anonymous

    Aria
    Traitorous love,

    You will deceive me no more
    I desire chains no more,

    I don’t want suffering, pains,
    Heartache or servitude.

    Recitative
    I want to try and see
    If I can heal
    My soul of this fatal wound,
    And if it can live without your arrow;
    Then no more will hope
    Dazzle with sorrow
    And joy my heart,
    Your games will have no place within my               constancy.

    Aria
    Whoever has fate as his enemy in love,
    Is a fool if he does not give up loving.
    May the soul fracture its cruel bonds
    If it cannot find mercy for its suffering.


    Translation copyright © by Pamela Dellal from Emmanuel Music Bach Cantata Translations - - www.emmanuelmusic.org

  2. Ludwig van Beethoven | An die ferne Geliebte, op. 98

    Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend
    Wo die Berge so blau

    Leichte Segler in den Höhen
    Diese Wolken in den Höhen
    Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au
    Nimm sie hin den, diese Lieder

    An die ferne Geliebte

    Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend


    Auf dem Hügel sitz ich, spähend
    In das blaue Nebelland,
    Nach den fernen Triften sehend,
    Wo ich dich, Geliebte, fand.

    Weit bin ich von dir geschieden,
    Trennend liegen Berg und Tal
    Zwischen uns und unserm Frieden,

    Unserm Glück und unsrer Qual

    Ach, den Blick kannst du nicht sehen,
    Der zu dir so glühend eilt,
    Und die Seufzer, sie verwehen
    In dem Raume, der uns teilt.

    Will denn nichts mehr zu dir dringen,
    Nichts der Liebe Bote sein?
    Singen will ich, Lieder singen,
    Die dir klagen meine Pein!

    Denn vor Liedesklang entweichet
    Jeder Raum und jede Zeit,
    Und ein liebend Herz erreichet,Z
    Was ein liebend Herz geweiht!

    To the distant beloved

    On the hill I sit looking out


    On the hill I sit looking out
    Into the blue mist
    Toward the far meadows seeing
    Where I, beloved, found you.

    So far from you am I separated,
    The distance of mountain and valley
    Divide us and our peace,

    Our happiness and our sorrow.


    Ah, the look you cannot see
    That to you so glowing rushes,
    And the sighs, they are blown away
    Into the space that separates us

    Shall nothing evermore reach you,
    Is there no messenger of love?
    I shall sing, sing songs
    That to you lament my pain!

    Then before love’s song vanishes
    Every space and every time,
    And a loving heart can reach
    The loving heart to which it is devoted!

    Wo die Berge so blau

    Wo die Berge so blau

    Aus dem nebligen Grau
    Schauen herein,
    Wo die Sonne verglüht,
    Wo die Wolke umzieht,
    Möchte ich sein!

    Dort im ruhigen Tal
    Schweigen Schmerzen und Qual.
    Wo im Gestein
    Still die Primel dort sinnt,
    Weht so leise der Wind,
    Möchte ich sein!

    Hin zum sinnigen Wald
    Drängt mich Liebesgewalt,
    Innere Pein.
    Ach, mich zög's nicht von hier,
    Könnt ich, Traute, bei dir

    Ewiglich sein!

    Where the Mountains so blue

    Where the mountains so blue
    From the foggy gray
    Peek out,
    Where the sun’s glow fades,
    Where the clouds flout by,
    I would like to be there!

    There in the peaceful valley
    Silenced are pain and anguish
    Where in the rock
    Quietly the primrose meditates there,
    Blows so softly the wind,
    I would like to be there!

    Back to the thoughtful wood
    Driven by the power of love,
    Inner pain.
    Ah, I would not be drawn from here
    If I could, dear, be with you

    Eternally!

    Leichte Segler in den Höhen

    Leichte Segler in den Höhen,

    Und du, Bächlein klein und schmal,
    Könnt mein Liebchen ihr erspähen,

    Grüßt sie mir viel tausendmal.

    Seht ihr, Wolken, sie dann gehen
    Sinnend in dem stillen Tal,
    Laßt mein Bild vor ihr entstehen
    In dem luft'gen Himmelssaal.

    Wird sie an den Büschen stehen,
    Die nun herbstlich falb und kahl.
    Klagt ihr, wie mir ist geschehen,
    Klagt ihr, Vöglein, meine Qual.

    Stille Weste, bringt im Wehen
    Hin zu meiner Herzenswahl
    Meine Seufzer, die vergehen
    Wie der Sonne letzter Strahl.

    Flüstr' ihr zu mein Liebesflehen,
    Laß sie, Bächlein klein und schmal,
    Treu in deinen Wogen sehen
    Meine Tränen ohne Zahl!

    Lightly sailing on high

    Lightly sailing on high,
    And you, little brook, small and narrow,
    Should you spy my sweetheart,

    Greet her for me many thousand times.


    Then clouds, if you see her
    Meditating in the quiet valley,
    Let my image rise before her
    In the airy celestial realm.

    If she is standing by the bushes
    That now autumn makes yellow and bare,
    Cry out to her what has afflicted me,
    Cry out to her, little birds, my torment.

    Quiet west, bring in the breeze

    To my chosen love
    My sighs which fade
    Like the sun’s last ray.

    Whisper to her my loving plea,
    Let her, little brook small and narrow,
    Truly in your waves see
    My tears without number.

    Diese Wolken in den Höhen

    Diese Wolken in den Höhen,
    Dieser Vöglein muntrer Zug,
    Werden dich, o Huldin, sehen.
    Nehmt mich mit im leichten Flug!

    Diese Weste werden spielen

    Scherzend dir um Wang' und Brust,
    In den seidnen Locken wühlen.
    Teilt ich mit euch diese Lust!

    Hin zu dir von jenen Hügeln
    Emsig dieses Bächlein eilt.
    Wird ihr Bild sich in dir spiegeln,

    Fließ zurück dann unverweilt!

    These clouds in the sky

    These clouds in the sky,

    This lively flock of birds
    Will see you, O fairest
    Take me along in airy flight

    These west winds will play
    Jestingly around your cheeks and breast
    Will ruffle your silken locks.
    Could I share with them this pleasure!

    Toward you from those hills
    Briskly this little brook hurries.
    Should her image be reflected in you,

    Then flow back without delay!

    Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au

    Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au,
    Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau,
    Geschwätzig die Bäche nun rinnen.

    Die Schwalbe, die kehret zum wirtlichen Dach,
    Sie baut sich so emsig ihr bräutlich Gemach,

    Die Liebe soll wohnen da drinnen.

    Sie bringt sich geschäftig von kreuz und von quer
    Manch weicheres Stück zu dem Brautbett hieher,
    Manch wärmendes Stück für die Kleinen.

    Nun wohnen die Gatten beisammen so treu,
    Was Winter geschieden, verband nun der Mai,
    Was liebet, das weiß er zu einen.

    Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au.
    Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau.
    Nur ich kann nicht ziehen von hinnen.

    Wenn alles, was liebet, der Frühling vereint,
    Nur unserer Liebe kein Frühling erscheint,
    Und Tränen sind all ihr Gewinnen.

    May returns, the meadow blooms

    May returns, the meadow blooms.

    The breezes blow so softly, so mild.
    Babbling, the brooks now flow.

    The swallow returns to the hospitable roof,
    She builds so eagerly her bridal chamber,

    For love shall dwell within.


    She brings so busily from here and from there
    Many soft pieces for the bridal bed,
    Many warm bits for the little ones.

    Now dwells the pair together so faithfully.
    What winter has separated, May as joined,
    All who love, it knows how to unite.

    May returns, the meadow blooms.
    The breezes blow so softly, so mild.
    But I cannot journey from here.

    For all who love, the spring unites,
    But for our love, no spring appears,
    And tears are its only reward.

    Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder

    Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder,
    Die ich dir, Geliebte, sang,
    Singe sie dann abends wieder
    Zu der Laute süßem Klang.

    Wenn das Dämmrungsrot dann ziehet
    Nach dem stillen blauen See,
    Und sein letzter Strahl verglühet
    Hinter jener Bergeshöh;

    Und du singst, was ich gesungen,
    Was mir aus der vollen Brust
    ohne Kunstgepräng erklungen,
    Nur der Sehnsucht sich bewußt:

    Dann vor diesen Liedern weichet
    Was geschieden uns so weit,
    Und ein liebend Herz erreichet
    Was ein liebend Herz geweiht.

    Alois Jeitteles (1794–1858)

    Now take them then, these songs

    Now take them then, these songs,
    That I for you, my beloved, sang
    Sing them again in the evening
    To the lute’s sweet sound.

    When the sunset’s glow then draws back
    Toward the calm blue lake,
    And its last ray dies
    Behind every mountaintop;

    And you sing what I sing,
    That I from a full heart
    Without craft have sounded,
    Only aware of my longing:

    Then before these songs yields,
    What divides us so far,
    One loving heart can reach
    The loving heart to which it is devoted.


    Translation copyright © by Jonathan Retzlaff from Exploring Art Song

     

  3. Anton Webern | Dies ist ein Lied für dich allein (from Funf Lieder aud "Der siebente Ring", op. 3)

    Dies ist ein Lied für dich allein

    Dies ist ein Lied
    Für dich allein:
    Von kindischem Wähnen
    Von frommen Tränen...

    Durch Morgengärten klingt es
    Ein leichtbeschwingtes.

    Nur dir allein
    Möcht es ein Lied
    Das rühre sein.

    Stefan George (1868-1933)

    This is a song for you alone

    This is a song

    for you alone:
    of childish beliefs,
    of pious tears...

    through morning gardens it floats
    on light wings.

    Only for you
    would it like to be a song
    that moves the soul.

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/

  4. INTERMISSION: Alphonse Allais | Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Great Deaf Man

  5. Charles Ives | 4 Songs from 114 Songs

    The Children's Hour
    Two Little Flowers (and dedicated to them)
    To Edith
    Cradle Song


    The Children’s Hour

    Between the dark and the daylight,
    When the night is beginning to lower,
    Comes a pause in the days occupations,
    That is known as Children’s Hour.


    I hear in the chamber above me
    the patter of little feet
    The sound of a door that is opened
    and voices soft and sweet.


    From my study I see in the lamplight
    Descending the broad hall stair,
    Grave Alice and laughing Allegra
    and Edith with golden hair.

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)


    Two Little Flowers (and dedicated to them)

    On sunny days in our backyard,
    two little flowers are seen,
    One dressed, at times, in brightest pink
    and one in green.
    The marigold is radiant,
    the rose passing fair;
    The violet is ever dear,
    the orchid, ever rare;
    There’s lovliness in wild flow’rs

    of field or wide savannah,
    But fairest, rarest of them all
    are Edith and Susanna.

    Charles Ives & Harmony Twitchell Ives (1876 – 1979)


    To Edith

    So like a flower,
    thy little four year face in its pure freshness
    That to my bedside comes each morn
    in happy guise – I must be smiling too.
    O, little flower-like face that comes to me,
    each morn for kisses –
    Bend thou near me while I inhale its fragrance sweet
    and put a blessing there.

    Charles Ives


    Cradle Song


    Hush thee, dear child to slumbers;
    We will sing softest numbers;
    Nought thy sleeping encumbers.

    Summer is slowly dying;
    Autumnal winds are sighing;
    Faded leaflets are flying.

    Brightly the willows quiver;
    Peacefully flows the river;
    So shall love flow forever.

    Augusta L. Ives

  6. Francis Poulenc | Chansons Gaillardes, FP 42

    La maîtresse volage
    Chanson à boire
    Madrigal
    Invocation aux Parques
    Couplets bachiques
    L’Offrande
    La Belle Jeunesse

    Sérénade
     

    Chansons Gaillardes

    La maîtresse volage


    Ma maîtresse est volage,
    Mon rival est heureux;
    S'il a son pucellage,
    C'est qu'elle en avait deux.
    Et vogue la galère,

    Tant qu'elle pourra voguer.

    Ribald Songs

    The Unfaithful Mistress


    My mistress is unfaithful,
    My rival is happy:
    If he took her virginity,
    It's because she had two.
    So sails the ship

    As long as it can sail.

    Chanson à boire

    Les rois d'Egypte et de Syrie,
    Voulaient qu'on embaumât leurs corps,
    Pour durer plus longtemps morts.
    Quelle folie!

    Buvons donc selon notre envie,
    Il faut boire et reboire encore.
    Buvons donc toute notre vie,
    Embaumons-nous avant la mort.

    Embaumons-nous;

    Que ce baume est doux.

    Drinking Song

    The kings of Egypt and Syria
    Wanted their bodies to be embalmed
    Wishing to last longer, dead.
    What a mess!

    Let us drink according to our desire,
    We should drink over and over again.
    Let us drink during our lifetime
    Embalm ourselves before death

    Let us embalm ourselves;

    Because that balm is sweet!

    Madrigal

    Vous êtes belle come un ange,
    Douce comme un petit mouton;
    Il n'est point de coeur, Jeanneton,
    Qui sous votre loi ne se range.
    Mais une fille sans têtons

    Est une perdrix sans orange.

    Madrigal

    You are as beautiful as an angel,

    Sweet as a little lamb;
    There is no man, Jeanette,
    Who doesn't follow your rule.
    But a girl without breasts

    Is a partridge without orange.

    Invocation aux Parques

    Je jure, tant que je vivrai,
    De vous aimer, Sylvie.
    Parques, qui dans vos mains tenez
    Le fil de notre vie,
    Allongez, tant que vous pourrez,

    Le mien, je vous en prie.

    Invocation of the Fates

    I swear, as long as I live,

    To love you, O Sylvie;
    Fates, who in your hands holds
    The thread of our Life,
    Elongate mine, as long as you can,

    I beg you.

    Couplets bachiques

    Je suis tant que dure le jour
    Et grave et badin tour à tour.
    Quand je vois un flacon sans vin,
    Je suis grave, je suis grave,
    Est-il tout plein, je suis badin.

    Je suis tant que dure le jour

    Et grave et badin tour à tour.
    Quand ma femme dort au lit,

    Je suis sage toute la nuit.

    Si catin au lit me tient
    Alors je suis badin

    Ah! belle hôtesse, versez-moi du vin
    Je suis badin, badin, badin.

    Bacchic Couplets

    Throughout the day, I am

    Serious and playful.
    When I see an empty bottle
    I am serious, O I am serious;
    Is it full, I am playful.

    Throughout the day,
    Serious and playful.
    When my wife takes me to bed,

    I behave all night long.


    If a prostitute comes into my bed,
    Then I am playful.

    Ah! Beautiful hostess, pour me some wine,
    I am playful, playful, playful.

    L’Offrande

    Au dieu d'Amour une pucelle
    Offrit un jour une chandelle,
    Pour en obtenir un amant.
    Le dieu sourit de sa demande
    Et lui dit: Belle en attendant

    Servez-vous toujours de l'offrande.

    The Offering

    To the god of Love, a virgin

    One day offered a candle
    Hoping to obtain a lover.
    The god heard the request,
    And replied, "Beauty, while waiting,

    Make good use of this offering."

    La belle jeunesse

    Il faut s'aimer toujours
    Et ne s'épouser guère.
    Il faut faire l'amour
    Sans curé ni notaire.

    Cessez, messieurs, d'être épouseurs,
    Ne visez qu'aux tirelires,
    Ne visez qu'aux tourelours,
    Cessez, messieurs, d'être épouseurs,
    Ne visez qu'aux coeurs
    Cessez, messieurs, d'être épouseurs,
    Holà messieurs, ne visez plus qu'aux coeurs.

    Pourquoi se marier,
    Quand la femme des autres
    Ne se font pas prier
    Pour devenir les nôtres.

    Quand leurs ardeurs,
    Quand leurs faveurs,
    Cherchent nos tirelires,
    Cherchent nos tourelours,

    Cherchent nos coeurs.

    The Pretty Young Woman

    We only need to love each other

    and never marry.
    We must make love
    without priest or notary.

    Stop, sirs, don't marry!
    Aim only for the cash;
    Aim only for the pleasure.
    Stop, sirs, don't marry,
    Aim only for the hearts.
    Stop, sirs, don't marry,

    Wait sirs, aim only for the hearts.

    Why should we marry,

    If we don't need to beg
    The wives of other man
    To become ours.

    When their passions,
    When their favors,
    Look for our money,
    Look for our pleasures,

    Look for our hearts.

    Sérénade

    Avec une si belle main,
    Que servent tant de charmes,
    Que vous tenez du dieu malin,
    Bien manier les armes.
    Et quand cet Enfant est chagrin
    Bien essuyer ses larmes.


    Anonymous 17th century

     

    Serenade

    With a hand so beautiful,

    That offers so many charms,
    That you received from the malicious god,
    You must handle a weapon well.
    And when that child is sad
    Wipe all of its tears.


    Translation copyright © by Simon Chalifoux from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/

     

  7. Thank you to Brett Hodgdon and Chelsea Whitacre for performing and preparing this recital with me.

    Thank you to my friends and family for supporting me through my time at NEC.

    Thank you to Michael Meraw for guiding me into being the artist I am today.