Students ranging from freshman to doctoral level in experience brought their private voice lessons and voice studio classes to the stage, performing a wide range of art songs and arias in the free Poetry in Song concert Tuesday night in Beall Hall.
From junior Mattia Tucksen’s serene opening performance of Beethoven’s “An die ferne Geliebte” to the lively closing Italian and Spanish program of Jaclyn Moses, the event showcased a variety of songs from a broad spectrum of times and styles.
The concert, held once a term, is a way to help prepare voice majors for the world of performance and to give them more performing experience.
“The idea behind the concert is to give them an opportunity to sing in a public venue,” said assistant professor of voice Charles Turley. “The theme of the concert is art songs, and there are always a couple operatic arias too.”
Last term, he said, the theme of the concert was pre-19th Century German ‘Leider’ songs, but usually the concerts have no theme.
Most students chose their pieces specifically for the challenge. Freshman Marco Valerio’s program consisted of the dark Robert Schumann piece “Hor ich das Liedchen klingen” and Roger Quilter’s “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind” set to lines from Shakespeare.
“I normally don’t go for dark, dramatic pieces like the Schumann,” Valerio said, “but I really wanted to challenge myself. The hardest part was the mood I had to capture while the piano was playing and I wasn’t singing.”
University junior David Fertal chose two reflective travel pieces from Beethoven’s Irish and Scottish songs.
“I’ve always liked the concept of a wandering traveler,” he said.
– Jill Kimball