Amina Edris, soprano; Pene Pati, tenor; Robert Mollicone, piano Program

PROGRAM

Maori Traditional	Pokarekare ana Hine e hine Te iwi e
JOHN IRELAND (1879–1962)	Earth’s Call
Traditional, arr. BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913–1976)	O waly, waly The Last Rose of Summer
BRITTEN	“Seascape,” from On This Island “The Choirmaster’s Burial,” from Winter Words
WILLIAM BOLCOM (b. 1938)	From Cabaret Songs Toothbrush Time Waitin’ Over the Piano
JAKE HEGGIE (b. 1961)	“That I did always love,” from Newer Every Day
Samoan Traditional	Two songs to be announced.
Egyptian Traditional	Two songs to be announced.
LILI BOULANGER (1893–1918)	From Clairières dans le ciel Elle etait descendue au bas de la prairie Elle est gravement gaie Parfois, je suis triste
HENRI DUPARC (1848–1933)	La vie antérieure L’invitation au voyage Phidylé
JULES MASSENET (1842–1912)	“Mademoiselle… Nous vivrons à Paris” from Manon

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

JOHN IRELAND
Earth’s Call
The fresh air moves like water round a boat. The white clouds wander. Let us wander too. The whining, wavering plover flap and float. That crow is flying after that cuckoo. Look! Look! … they’re gone. What are the great trees calling? Just come a little farther, by that edge Of green, to where the stormy ploughland, falling Wave upon wave, is lapping to the hedge. Oh, what a lovely bank! Give me your hand. Lie down and press your heart against the ground. Let us both listen till we understand Each through the other, every natural sound… I can’t hear anything today, can you, But, far and near: ‘Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!’
Traditional, arr. BRITTEN
O waly, waly
The water is wide, I cannot get o’er, And neither have I wings to fly. Give me a boat that will carry two, And both shall row, my love and I. O, down in the meadows the other day, A-gath’ring flowers both fine and gay, A-gath’ring flowers both red and blue, I little thought what love can do. I leaned my back up against some oak, Thinking that he was a trusty tree; But first he bended and then he broke, And so did my false love to me. A ship there is, and she sails the sea, She’s loaded deep as deep can be, But not so deep as the love I’m in: I know not if I sink or swim. O, love is handsome and love is fine, And love’s a jewel while it is new, But when it is old, it groweth cold, And fades away like morning dew.
The Last Rose of Summer
‘Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flow’r of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh. I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one, To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleeping, Go, sleep thou with them; Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o’er thy bed, Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead. So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, And from Love’s shining circle The gems drop away! When true hearts lie wither’d. And fond ones are flown, Oh! who would inhabit This bleak world alone?
BRITTEN
“Seascape,” from On This Island
Look, stranger, at this island now The leaping light for your delight discovers, Stand stable here And silent be, That through the channels of the ear May wander like a river The swaying sound of the sea. Here at the small field’s ending pause Where the chalk wall falls to the foam, and its tall ledges Oppose the pluck And knock of the tide, And the shingle scrambles after the sucking surf, and the gull lodges A moment on its sheer side. Far off like floating seeds the ships Diverge on urgent voluntary errands; And the full view Indeed may enter And move in memory as now these clouds do, That pass the harbour mirror And all the summer through the water saunter.
“The Choirmaster’s Burial,” from Winter Words
He often would ask us That, when he died, After playing so many To their last rest, If out of us any Should here abide, And it would not task us, We would with our lutes Play over him By his grave-brim The psalm he liked best— The one whose sense suits “Mount Ephraim” And perhaps we should seem To him, in death’s dream, Like the seraphim. As soon as I knew That his spirit was gone I thought this his due, And spoke thereupon. “I think” said the vicar, “A read service quicker That viols out-of-doors In these frosts and hoars. That old-fashioned was Requires a fine day, And it seems to me It had better not be.” Hence, that afternoon, Though never knew he That his wish could not be, To get through it faster They buried the master Without any tune. But t’was said that, when At the dead of next night The vicar looked out, There struck on his ken Thronged roundabout, Where the frost was graying The headstoned grass, A band all in white Like the saints in church-glass, Singing and playing The ancient stave By the choirmaster’s grave. Such the tenor man told When he had grown old.
WILLIAM BOLCOM From Cabaret Songs
Toothbrush Time
It’s toothbrush time Ten a.m. again and toothbrush time Last night at half past nine it seemed OK But in the light of day not so fine at toothbrush time Now he’s crashing round my bathroom Now he’s reading my degree Perusing all my pills Reviewing all my ills And he comes out smelling like me Now he advances on my kitchen Now he raids every shelf Till from the pots and pans and puddles and debris Emerges three eggs all for himself Oh, how I’d be ahead if I’d stood out of bed I wouldn’t sit here grieving Waiting for the wonderful moment of his leaving At toothbrush time, toothbrush time Ten a.m. again and toothbrush time I know it’s sad to be alone It’s so bad to be alone Still I should’ve known That I’d be glad to be alone I should’ve known, I should’ve known Never should have picked up the phone and called him “Hey, uh, listen, um Oh, you gotta go too? So glad you understand And…” By the way, did you say Nine tonight again? See you then Toothbrush time
Waitin’
Waitin’ waitin’ I’ve been waitin’ Waitin’ waitin’ all my life. That light keeps on hiding from me, But it someday just might bless my sight. Waitin’ waitin’ waitin’
Over the Piano
He sang songs to her over the piano Sang long songs to her over the piano Low, slow songs Lusty songs of love Loving songs of long-lost lust Just for her, just for her over the piano Until at last at half past four” Everybody out the door!” She asked him, “Please play me one more.” Which he did And as he did Slid off the bench and said to her over the piano” Goodbye!”
JAKE HEGGIE “That I did always love,” from Newer Every Day
That I did always love I bring thee Proof That till I loved I never lived — Enough — That I shall love alway — I argue thee That love is life — And life hath Immortality — This — dost thou doubt — Sweet — Then have I Nothing to show But Calvary
LILI BOULANGER From Clairières dans le ciel	[English translations by Richard Stokes]
Elle etait descendue au bas de la prairie	She had reached the low-lying meadow
Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie et, comme la prairie était toute fleurie de plantes dont la tige aime à pousser dans l’eau, ces plantes inondées je les avais cueillies. Bientôt, s’étant mouillée, elle gagna le haut de cette prairie-là qui était toute fleurie. Elle riait et s’ébrouait avec la grâce dégingandée qu’ont les jeunes filles trop grandes. Elle avait le regard qu’ont les fleurs de lavande.	She had reached the low-lying meadow, and, since the meadow was all a-blossom with plants that like to grow in water, I had picked these flooded flowers. Soon, soaking wet, she reached the top of that blossoming meadow. She was laughing and gasping with the gawky grace of girls who are too tall. Her eyes looked like lavender flowers.
Elle est gravement gaie	She is solemnly cheerful
Elle est gravement gaie. Par moments son regard se levait comme pour surprendre ma pensée. Elle était douce alors comme quand il est tard le velours jaune et bleu d’une allée de pensées.	She is solemnly cheerful. At times she looked up, as if to catch what I was thinking. She was gentle then, like at dusk the yellow-blue velvet of a path of pansies.
Parfois, je suis triste.	Sometimes I am sad.
Parfois, je suis triste. Et, soudain, je pense à elle. Alors, je suis joyeux. Mais je redeviens triste de ce que je ne sais pas combien elle m’aime. Elle est la jeune fille à l’âme toute claire, et qui, de dans son cœur, garde avec jalousie l’unique passion que l’on donne à un seul. Elle est partie avant que s’ouvrent les tilleuls, et, comme ils ont fleuri depuis qu’elle est partie, je me suis étonné de voir, ô mes amis, des branches de tilleuls qui n’avaient pas de fleurs.	Sometimes I am sad. And suddenly, I think of her. Then, I am overjoyed. But I grow sad again, because I do not know how much she loves me. She is the girl with the limpid soul, and who, in her heart, guards with jealousy the unrivalled passion garnered for one alone. She went before the limes had blossomed, and since they flowered after she had gone, I was astonished to see, my friends, lime-tree branches devoid of flowers.
HENRI DUPARC	[English translations by Richard Stokes]
La vie antérieure
J’ai longtemps habité sous de vastes portiques Que les soleils marins teignaient de mille feux, Et que leurs grands piliers, droits et majestueux, Rendaient pareils, le soir, aux grottes basaltiques. Les houles, en roulant les images des cieux, Mêlaient d’une façon solennelle et mystique Les tout-puissants accords de leur riche musique Aux couleurs du couchant reflété par mes yeux. C’est là que j’ai vécu dans les voluptés calmes Au milieu de l’azur, des vagues, des splendeurs, Et des esclaves nus, tout imprégnés d’odeurs, Qui me rafraîchissaient le front avec des palmes, Et dont l’unique soin était d’approfondir Le secret douloureux qui me faisait languir.	For long I lived beneath vast colonnades Tinged with a thousand fires by ocean suns, Whose giant pillars, straight and majestic, Made them look, at evening, like basalt caves. The sea-swells, mingling the mirrored skies, Solemnly and mystically interwove The mighty chords of their mellow music With the colours of sunset reflected in my eyes. It is there that I have lived in sensuous repose, With blue sky about me and brightness and waves And naked slaves all drenched in perfume. Who fanned my brow with fronds of palm, And whose only care was to fathom The secret grief which made me languish.
L’invitation au voyage
Mon enfant, ma sœur, Songe à la douceur D’aller là-bas vivre ensemble! Aimer à loisir, Aimer et mourir Au pays qui te ressemble! Les soleils mouillés De ces ciels brouillés Pour mon esprit ont les charmes Si mystérieux De tes traîtres yeux, Brillant à travers leurs larmes. Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté, Luxe, calme et volupté! Vois sur ces canaux Dormir ces vaisseaux Dont l’humeur est vagabonde; C’est pour assouvir Ton moindre désir Qu’ils viennent du bout du monde. —Les soleils couchants Revêtent les champs, Les canaux, la ville entière, D’hyacinthe et d’or; Le monde s’endort Dans une chaude lumière. Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté, Luxe, calme et volupté!	My child, my sister, Think how sweet To journey there and live together! To love as we please, To love and die In the land that is like you! The watery suns Of those hazy skies Hold for my spirit The same mysterious charms As your treacherous eyes Shining through their tears. There—nothing but order and beauty dwell, Abundance, calm, and sensuous delight. See on those canals Those vessels sleeping, Vessels with a restless soul; To satisfy Your slightest desire They come from the ends of the earth. The setting suns Clothe the fields, Canals and all the town With hyacinth and gold; The world falls asleep In a warm light. There—nothing but order and beauty dwell, Abundance, calm, and sensuous delight.
Phidylé
L’herbe est molle au sommeil sous les frais peupliers, Aux pentes des sources moussues, Qui, dans les prés en fleur germant par mille issues, Se perdent sous les noirs halliers. Repose, ô Phidylé! Midi sur les feuillages Rayonne, et t’invite au sommeil. Par le trèfle et le thym, seules, en plein soleil, Chantent les abeilles volages. Un chaud parfum circule au détour des sentiers, La rouge fleur des blés s’incline, Et les oiseaux, rasant de l’aile la colline, Cherchent l’ombre des églantiers. Mais, quand l’Astre, incliné sur sa courbe éclatante, Verra ses ardeurs s’apaiser, Que ton plus beau sourire et ton meilleur baiser Me récompensent de l’attente!	The grass is soft for sleep beneath the cool poplars On the banks of the mossy springs That flow in flowering meadows from a thousand sources, And vanish beneath dark thickets. Rest, O Phidylé! Noon on the leaves Is gleaming, inviting you to sleep. By the clover and thyme, alone, in the bright sunlight, The fickle bees are humming. A warm fragrance floats about the winding paths, The red flowers of the cornfield droop; And the birds, skimming the hillside with their wings, Seek the shade of the eglantine. But when the sun, low on its dazzling curve, Sees its brilliance wane, Let your loveliest smile and finest kiss Reward me to for my waiting!
JULES MASSENET Manon, Act 1 duet: “Mademoiselle… Nous vivrons à Paris”
[Peu à peu et involontairement il s’est rapproché de Manon.] DES GRIEUX Mademoiselle! MANON Eh, quoi? DES GRIEUX Pardonnez-moi! Je ne sais… j’obéis, je ne suis plus mon maître, je vous vois, j’en suis sûr, pour la première fois, et mon cœur cependant vient de vous reconnaître! Et je sais votre nom… MANON On m’appelle Manon. DES GRIEUX Manon! MANON[à part] Que son regard est tendre! Et que j’ai de plaisir à l’entendre! DES GRIEUX Ces paroles d’un fou, veuillez les pardonner! MANON Comment les condamner? Elles charment le cœur en charmant les oreilles! J’en voudrais savoir de pareilles pour vous les répéter! DES GRIEUX Enchanteresse! Au charme vainqueur! Manon! Vous êtes la maîtresse de mon cœur! MANON Mots charmants! DES GRIEUX Ô Manon! MANON Enivrantes fièvres, enivrantes fièvres du bonheur! DES GRIEUX Vous êtes la maîtresse, Vous êtes la maîtresse de mon cœur![après un long silence] Ah! Parlez-moi! MANON Je ne suis qu’une pauvre fille. Je ne suis pas mauvaise, mais souvent on m’accuse dans ma famille d’aimer trop le plaisir. On me met au couvent tout à l’heure. Et c’est là l’histoire de Manon Lescaut! DES GRIEUX Non! Je ne veux pas croire à cette cruauté! Que tant de charmes et de beauté soient voués à jamais à la tombe vivante. MANON Mais c’est, hélas! La volonté du ciel dont je suis la servante! Puisqu’un malheur si grand ne peut être évité. DES GRIEUX Non! Non! Votre liberté ne sera pas ravie! MANON Comment? DES GRIEUX Au Chevalier Des Grieux vous pouvez vous fier! MANON Ah! Je vous devrai plus que la vie! DES GRIEUX Ah! Manon! Vous ne partirez pas, dussé-je aller chercher au bout du monde une retraite inconnue et profonde et vous y porter dans mes bras! MANON À vous ma vie et mon âme! À vous toute ma vie à jamais! DES GRIEUX Enchanteresse! Manon! Vous êtes la maîtresse de mon cœur! MANON Par aventure, peut-être avons-nous mieux: une voiture, la chaise d’un seigneur… Il faisait les doux yeux à Manon… Vengez-vous! DES GRIEUX Mais comment? MANON Tous les deux, prenons-la! DES GRIEUX[au postillon, qui se retire] Soit, partons! MANON Et quoi, partir ensemble? DES GRIEUX Oui, Manon! Le ciel nous rassemble! Nous vivrons à Paris tous les deux! Et nos cœurs amoureux… l’un à l’autre enchaînés! Pour jamais réunis, n’y vivront que des jours bénis! MANON Tous les deux! À Paris! À Paris! Nous n’aurons que des jours bénis! MANON, DES GRIEUX À Paris! À Paris, tous les deux! Nous vivrons à Paris! Tous les deux! DES GRIEUX Et mon nom deviendra le vôtre! Ah! pardon! MANON Dans mes yeux… vous devez bien voir que je ne puis vous en vouloir, et cependant, c’est mal! DES GRIEUX Viens! Nous vivrons à Paris! MANON Tous les deux! DES GRIEUX Tous les deux! Et nos cœurs amoureux… MANON A Paris! DES GRIEUX … l’un à l’autre enchaînés! MANON À Paris! DES GRIEUX Pour jamais réunis! MANON, DES GRIEUX Nous n’aurons que des jours bénis! À Paris! À Paris, tous les deux! Nous vivrons à Paris! Tous les deux!	[Involuntarily, Des Grieux has approached Manon, step by step.] DES GRIEUX Mademoiselle! MANON Yes, what? DES GRIEUX Forgive me! I do not know… I am obeying, I’m no longer my own master. I am seeing you, surely, for the very first time, yet my heart feels as if you were a long-lost acquaintance! And I know your name… MANON My name is Manon. DES GRIEUX Manon! MANON[aside] How gentle his expression is! And what a delight it is to listen to him! DES GRIEUX These words of a madman, please excuse them! MANON Why condemn them? They enchant my heart and delight my ears! I should like to know similar words so as to repeat them to you! DES GRIEUX Enchantress! With an overpowering spell! Manon! You are the mistress of my heart! MANON Charming words! DES GRIEUX Oh Manon! MANON The intoxicating fever, the intoxicating fever of happiness! DES GRIEUX You are mistress, you are mistress of my heart![after a long silence] Ah, speak to me! MANON I am only a poor girl. I am not bad, but often my family accuses me of liking pleasure too much. Now I’m being put into a convent. And there you have the story of Manon Lescaut! DES GRIEUX No, I will not believe in this cruelty! That so many ravishing charms should be vowed forever to a living tomb. MANON But that, alas, is the will of heaven, and I am its servant! For so great an unhappiness cannot be avoided. DES GRIEUX No! No! Your freedom shall not be taken from you! MANON But how? DES GRIEUX You can put your trust in the Chevalier Des Grieux! MANON I will owe you more than life itself! DES GRIEUX Ah, Manon, you shall not leave, even should I have to go to the ends of the earth seeking an unknown, dark sanctuary, to which I would carry you in my arms. MANON My life and soul belong to you! To you, my life is yours forever! DES GRIEUX Enchantress! Manon! You are the mistress of my heart! MANON Just by chance, perhaps we have a better way: a coach,a nobleman’s post-chaise… He was flirting with Manon… Take revenge! DES GRIEUX But how? MANON The two of us, let’s take it! DES GRIEUX[to the postilion, who goes off] Fine, let’s be off! MANON You mean, leave together? DES GRIEUX Yes, Manon! Heaven is joining us together! We shall live together in Paris! And our loving hearts, chained to each other, joined forever, will live only blessed days! MANON Both of us! In Paris! In Paris. We’ll have only blessed days. MANON, DES GRIEUX In Paris! In Paris, both of us! We’ll live in Paris! Together! DES GRIEUX And my name will become yours! Ah, forgive me! MANON In my eyes… you should see very well that I am not angry with you. But yet, it’s wrong! DES GRIEUX Come! We shall live in Paris! MANON The two of us together! DES GRIEUX Both of us, together! And our loving hearts… MANON In Paris! DES GRIEUX … chained to each other! MANON In Paris! DES GRIEUX Joined forever! MANON, DES GRIEUX We’ll have only blessed days! In Paris! In Paris, both of us! We shall live in Paris! Together!