Liederabend LXX: Songs from Russia and Ukraine
The Liederabend—literally, "evening of song"—dates back to the 1800s, when musicians and lovers of music would gather at someone's home, and one or more singers and a pianist would perform the songs of composers of the day. In the field of classical music, these songs are referred to as "art songs," and the German art songs are called "Lieder." In Germany, the great age of song came in the 19th century. German and Austrian composers had written music for voice with keyboard before this time, but it was with the flowering of German literature in the Classical and Romantic eras that composers found high inspiration in great poetry, sparking the genre known as the "Lied."
The tradition of the art song composition continues today, with composers from all corners of the world setting poetry in many languages, scored for voice and piano. The NEC Liederabend series presents songs in a variety of languages—not only German—dating from the 19th century up to the present day.
Tonight's performers were coached by Joel Ayau. Special thanks to Yelena Dudochkin, Diana Nalyvaiko, Cameron Stowe, and Jonathan Feldman for additional coaching.
Mykola Lysenko
A Piper's Tune
Heavenly Love
Nothing, Simply Nothing
Never to have lovedArtists- Xijin Chen, soprano
- Rafe Schaberg, piano
Vasyl Barvinsky
Lullaby
In the Forest
Oh Hush-a-bye, My BabyArtists- Alexandra Wiebe, soprano
- Sujin Choi, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff | 14 Songs, op. 34
I. The Muse (Муза)
Xijn Chen, soprano
II. In the Soul of Each of Us (В душе у каждого из нас)
Nicholas Ottersberg Enriquez, baritone
III. The Storm (Буря)
Olga Melendez Valdes, soprano
IV. The Migrant Wind (Ветер перелётный)
Olga Melendez Valdes, soprano
V. Arion (Арион)
Alexandra Wiebe, soprano
VI. The Raising of Lazarus (Воскрешение Лазаря)
Anneke Stern, mezzo-soprano
VII. It Cannot Be! (Не может быть!)
Josie Larsen, soprano
VIII. Music (Музыка)
Olga Melendez Valdes, soprano
IX. You Knew Him (Ты знал его)
Nicholas Ottersberg Enriquez, baritone
X. I Remember that Day (Сей день я помню)
Josie Larsen, soprano
XI. The Faithful Servant (Оброчник)
Anneke Stern, mezzo-soprano
XII. What Happiness (Какое счастье)
Alexandra Wiebe, soprano
XIII. Dissonance (Диссонанс)
Josie Larsen, soprano
XIV. Vocalise (Вокализ)
Xijin Chen, sopranoArtists- Jaime Lorusso, piano