Idea Transcript
In Concert.
Christopher Busietta (Tenor) 2009 German-Australian Opera Grant Winner Rhys Boak (Piano) International Organist St Martin’s Anglican Church, Hawksburn 27 Cromwell Road, South Yarra Sunday 27th August, 2017 at 3pm
In Concert. Christopher Busietta - Tenor Rhys Boak - Piano Sunday 27th August, 2017 at 3pm St Martins Church, Hawksburn (Melbourne) Duparc Purcell Vaughan-Williams Sullivan/Gilbert
Verdi
Phydilé L’invitation au voyage If music be the food of love Silent Noon A wandering minstrel, I (The Mikado) Oh is there not one maiden breast (The Pirates of Penzance) Take a pair of sparkling eyes (The Gondoliers) De miei bollenti spiriti (La Traviata) BREAK (10 MINUTES)
Mozart Beethoven Caccini Giordano Donizetti
Abendempfindung an Laura (K. 523) Der Kuß Ich liebe dich Amarilli mia bella Caro mio ben Quanto è bella (L’elisir d’amore) Una furtiva lagrima ( L’elisir d’amore) Ah mes amis quel jour de fête (La fille du regiment)
Ah mes amis, quel jour de fête from La Fille du Regiment Music: Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) Words: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges (1799- 1875) and Jean-François Bayard (1796-1853)
Melbourne born lyric tenor Christopher Busietta can be found singing on the opera stages in Germany. He began his professional work in Australia in 2004 as a soloist in concert and oratorio with local choirs and orchestras in Melbourne, and as a professional chorister with Opera Australia and Victorian Opera. He then went on to become a principal tenor with Opera Australia's (OzOpera) primary schools company, touring Rossini's Barber of Seville and Cinderella as well as singing leading roles for Lyric Opera of Melbourne and iOpera.
Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête! Je vais marcher sous vos drapeaux. L'amour qui m'a tourné la tête Désormais, désormais, me rend un héros.
Ah, my friends, what a day of celebration! I will march under your flags. Love, which has turned my head, from now on makes me a hero.
Ah! quel bonheur oui mes amis Je vais marcher sous vos drapeaux.
Ah, what happiness, yes my friends, I will march under your flags.
Oui, celle pour qui je respire, A mes voeux a daigné sourire Et ce doux espoir de bonheur Trouble ma raison et mon coeur!
Yes, she for whom I breathe, has deigned to smile upon my wishes. And this sweet hope of happiness has shaken my mind and my heart.
Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête! Je vais marcher sous vos drapeaux.
Ah, my friends, what a day for celebrating! I shall march under your flags.
He graduated from the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music in 2006. He also holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from Monash University (Clayton).
Pour mon âme, quel destin! J'ai sa flamme et j'ai sa main! Jour prospère! Me voici, Militaire et mari!
For my soul, what destiny! I have her love and I have her hand! Day of prosperity! here i am, Soldier and husband!
He also writes original folk, rock and classical music and performs his pieces under the name, Blue Macaw.
(CHORUS: Mais elle t'aime?) J'en fait serment! (CHORUS: Tu dis vrai?)
(CHORUS: But does she love you?) I swear it! (CHORUS: Do you speak true?)
Thank-you very much for coming to my recital to support me! Special thanks to the variety of people who helped me publicize this recital and my brother Nick and Kelly for being on the door. You can hear Rhys Boak playing organ recitals at St Michaels Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, (almost) every Thursday at 1pm. For more information on Christopher Busietta, visit http://www.christopherbusietta.com
After winning the 2009 German Australian Opera Grant, he relocated to Germany, singing roles with Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Theater Aachen, Theater Augsburg (ensemble member from 20102017), Landestheater Niederbayern, Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz (Munich) and Oper Frankfurt. Amongst the many operatic roles in his repertoire are Nemorino (L'elisir d'amore), Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola), Don Ottavio, (Don Giovanni), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), Pedrillo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Belfiore (La Finta Giardiniera), Witch (Hänsel und Gretel), Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro) and der Steuermann (Der Fliegender Holländer). In 2017, he won the Augsburger Theaterpreis (Theatre Prize) for Opera. Amongst other music theater roles, he has also performed as Marius in Les Misérables, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Woof in Hair and Curt in Blues Brothers - the latter two shows broke Theater Augsburg's box-office records at the open-air theatre (Freilichtbühne).
Rhys Boak is one of Australia's busiest organists. He is in constant demand locally and internationally as both a recitalist and accompanist. He is currently the organist and manager of music at St. Michael's Church, Melbourne. Rhys Boak was born in Melbourne. He studied organ with John Mallinson, Douglas Lawrence OAM and Sergio de Pieri at Melbourne University, and harpsichord with Ann Murphy. He is a veteran of several concert tours including tours to Europe and Asia and his playing can be heard on more than a dozen CD recordings both as a soloist and as an accompanist to many of Australia's finest choral ensembles. In 2006 Rhys traveled to China where he gave a series of concerts with fellow Australian musician Geoffrey Tozer featuring the rare combination of Piano and Organ in duet. They ended each concert with a series of improvisations on local folk melodies. In 2011 Rhys again toured Germany, Denmark and France performing on several important historic instruments such as the Silberman organs of Freiberg Cathedral. Rhys is highly active as an organist, pianist, choral conductor, composer and arranger. He has arranged and transcribed music for artists and institutions such as Greta Bradman, Geoffrey Payne, Sir Richard Bonynge, The English Chamber Orchestra, Move Records, Sony Records and Decca.
Phidylé
Una Furtiva Lagrima from L’elisir d’amore
Music: Henri Duparc (1848 – 1933) Text: Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818-1894)
Music: Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) Words: Felice Romani (1788-1865)
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.
The grass is soft for sleeping under the fresh poplars, on the slopes by the mossy springs, which in the flowery meadow arise in a thousand rills, to be lost under dark thickets.
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.
Sleep, o Phidylé! Noon on the leaves shines and invites you to slumber! In the clover and thyme, alone, in full sunlight, sing the hovering bees.
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.
A warm fragrance haunts the winding paths, the red poppy of the cornfield droops and the birds, skimming the hill on the wing, seek the shade of the sweet briar.
Mais, quand l'Astre, incline sur sa courbe éclatante, Verra ses ardeurs s'apaiser, Que ton plus beau sourire et ton meilleur baiser Me récompensent de l'attente!
But when the sun, sinking lower on its resplendent orbit, finds its fire abated, let your loveliest smile and your most ardent kiss reward me for my waiting!
Una furtiva lagrima negli occhi suoi spuntò: Quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò.
A single secret tear from her eye did spring: as if she envied all the girls that laughingly passed.
Che più cercando io vo? Che più cercando io vo?
What more searching need I do? What more searching need I do?
M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo.
She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it.
Un solo instante i palpiti del suo bel cor sentir! I miei sospir, confondere per poco a' suoi sospir! I palpiti, i palpiti sentir, confondere i miei coi suoi sospir...
If I could feel, for just an instant, the beating of her beautiful heart. that my sighs were mingled for a moment with hers! If the beating of her heart I could feel, and mingle my sighs with hers...
Cielo! Si può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Ah, cielo! Si può! Si, può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Si può morire! Si può morir d'amor.
Heavens! Yes, I could die! I could ask for nothing more, nothing more. Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die! I could ask for nothing more, nothing more. Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.
Caro mio ben
L’invitation au voyage
Music: Tommaso Giordano (1730-1806) Words: Anonymous
Music: Henri Duparc (1848 – 1933) Text: Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867)
Caro mio ben, Credimi almen, Senza di te languisce il cor.
My dear beloved, believe me at least, without you my heart languishes.
Il tuo fedel Sospira ognor. Cessa, crudel, Tanto rigor!
Your faithful one always sighs; cease, cruel one, so much punishment!
Caro mio ben, Credimi almen, Senza di te languisce il cor.
My dear beloved, believe me at least, without you my heart languishes.
Quanto è bella, quanto è cara! from L'elisir d'amore Music: Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) Text: Felice Romani (1788 –1865) Quanto è bella, quanto è cara! Più la vedo, e più mi piace... ma in quel cor non son capace lieve affetto ad inspirar. Essa legge, studia, impara... non vi ha cosa ad essa ignota... Io son sempre un idiota, io non so che sospirar.
How beautiful she is, how dear she is the more I see her, the more I like her but in that heart I'm not capable of inspiring any affection. She reads, she studies, she learns... There is nothing that she is ignorant of... I'm always an idiot, I don't know anything except sighing.
Mon enfant, ma soeur, songe à la douceur d'aller là-bas vivre ensemble, aimer à loisir, aimer et mourir au pays qui te ressemble.
My child, my sister, think of the sweetness of going there to live together, To love at leisure, to love and to die in a country that is the image of you!
Les soleils mouillés de ces ciels brouillés Pour mon esprit ont les charmes Si mystérieux De tes traîtres yeux, Brillant à travers leurs larmes.
The misty suns of those cloudy skies in my mind have the charm, so mysterious, of your fickle eyes, shining through their tears.
Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté, Luxe, calme et volupté.
There, all is order and beauty, luxury, calm and pleasure.
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.
See on the canals slumbering, the ships whose nature is to wander. It is to gratify your every desire, that they come from the ends of the earth.
Les soleils couchants revêtent les champs, Les canaux, la ville entière, d'hyacinthe et d'or; Le monde s'endort dans une chaude lumière!
The setting suns clothe the fields, the canals, and the entire town with hyacinth and gold. The world falls asleep in a warm light.
Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté, luxe, calme et volupté.
There, all is harmony and beauty, luxury, calm and pleasure.
If music be the food of love
Ich liebe Dich (WoO 123)
Music: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Text: Henry Heveningham (1651-1700)
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Text: Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Herrosee (1764-1821)
If music be the food of love, Sing on, till I am fill’d with joy; For then my list’ning soul you move To pleasures that can never cloy Your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare That you are music everywhere. Pleasures invade both eye and ear, So fierce the transports are, they wound; And all my senses feasted are Though yet the treat is only sound. Sure I must perish by your charms, Unless you save me in your arms.
Silent Noon Music: Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872 – 1958) Text: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882) [The House of Life] Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: Your eyes smile peace. The pasture gleams and glooms 'Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass. All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge. 'Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass. Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:— So this wing'd hour is dropt to us from above. Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, This close-companioned inarticulate hour In twofold silence was the song of love.
Ich liebe dich, so wie du mich, Am Abend und am Morgen, Noch war kein Tag, wo du und ich Nicht teilten unsre Sorgen.
I love you as you love me, in the evening and the morning, Never was there a day when you and I did not share our troubles.
Auch waren sie für dich und mich Geteilt leicht zu ertragen; Du tröstetest im Kummer mich, Ich weint‘ in deine Klagen.
And they were for you and me easier to bear when they were shared; You comforted me in my troubles, and I wept in your sorrows.
Drum Gottes Segen über dir, Du, meines Lebens Freude. Gott schütze dich, erhalt dich mir, Schütz und erhalt uns beide.
Then, may God's blessing be upon you, You, my life's joy. God protect you, keep you for me, Protect and keep us both
Amarilli mia bella Music: Guilio Caccini (1551 – 1618) Text: Anonymous
Amarilli, mia bella, Non credi, o del mio cor dolce desio, D’esser tur l’amor mio? Credilo pur, e se timor t’assale, Prendi questo mio strale, Aprimi il petto e vedrai scritto in core: Amarilli è il mio amore.
Amarilli, my beautiful one Don’t doubt, my heart’s sweet desire that you are my love. But believe, and if fear assails you Take my arrow, Open my bosom and you will see written in my heart: Amarilli is my love.
Abendempfindung an Laura (K.523)
A wandering minstrel, I from The Mikado
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Words: Joachim Heinrich Campe (1746-1818)
Music: Arthur Sullivan (1842 – 1900) Text: W.S. Gilbert (1836 – 1911)
Abend ist's, die Sonne ist verschwunden, Und der Mond strahlt Silberglanz; So entfliehn des Lebens schönste Stunden, Fliehn vorüber wie im Tanz.
It is evening; the sun has vanished, And the moon streams with silver rays; Thus flee Life's fairest hours, Flying away as if in a dance.
Bald entflieht des Lebens bunte Szene, Und der Vorhang rollt herab; Aus ist unser Spiel, des Freundes Träne Fließet schon auf unser Grab.
Soon away will fly Life's colorful scenes, And the curtain will come rolling down; Done is our play, the tears of a friend Flow already over our grave.
Bald vielleicht (mir weht, wie Westwind leise, Eine stille Ahnung zu), Schließ ich dieses Lebens Pilgerreise, Fliege in das Land der Ruh.
Soon, perhaps (blowing to me, like the gentle west wind – a quiet foreboding) I will part from life's pilgrimage, And fly to the land of rest.
Werdet ihr dann an meinem Grabe weinen, Trauernd meine Asche sehn, Dann, o Freunde, will ich euch erscheinen Und will himmelauf euch wehn.
If you will then weep over my grave, Gazing mournfully upon my ashes, Then, o Friends, I will appear And waft you all heavenward.
Schenk auch du ein Tränchen mir und pflücke Mir ein Veilchen auf mein Grab, Und mit deinem seelenvollen Blicke Sieh dann sanft auf mich herab.
Bestow a little tear on me as well, and pluck me a violet for my grave, And with your soulful gaze, Look then gently down on me.
Weih mir eine Träne, und ach! Schäme dich nur nicht, sie mir zu weih'n; Oh, sie wird in meinem Diademe Dann die schönste Perle sein!
Consecrate a tear for me, and ah! Do not be ashamed to cry for me; They will then in my diadem be the fairest pearls!
Der Kuß (Op. 128 1822) Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Words: Christian Felix Weisse (1726 - 1804) Ich war bei Chloen ganz allein, Und küssen wollt' ich sie. Jedoch sie sprach, sie würde schrein, Es sei vergebne Müh!
I was with Chloe, completely alone, and I wanted to kiss her; but she said, that she would scream it would be a futile attempt!
Ich wagt' es doch und küßte sie, Trotz ihrer Gegenwehr. Und schrie sie nicht? Jawohl, sie schrie -Doch lange hinterher.
Yet I dared and kissed her, despite her resistance. And did she not scream? Oh yes, she did; but much later.
A wandering minstrel I A thing of shreds and patches, Of ballads, songs and snatches, And dreamy lullaby! My catalogue is long, Through every passion ranging, And to your humours changing I tune my supple song! I tune my supple song! Are you in sentimental mood? I'll sigh with you, Oh, sorrow, sorrow! On maiden's coldness do you brood? I'll do so, too Oh, sorrow, sorrow! I'll charm your willing ears With songs of lovers' fears, While sympathetic tears My cheeks bedew Oh, sorrow, sorrow! But if patriotic sentiment is wanted, I've patriotic ballads cut and dried; For where'er our country's banner may be planted, All other local banners are defied! Our warriors, in serried ranks assembled, Never quail - or they conceal it if they do And I shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled Before the mighty troops of Titipu!
And if you call for a song of the sea, We'll heave the capstan round, With a yeo heave ho, for the wind is free, Her anchor's a-trip and her helm's a-lee, Hurrah for the homeward bound! To lay aloft in a howling breeze May tickle a landsman's taste, But the happiest hour a sailor sees Is when he's down At an inland town, With his Nancy on his knees, yeo ho! And his arm around her waist! A wandering minstrel I A thing of shreds and patches, Of ballads, songs and snatches, And dreamy lullaby! And dreamy lulla-lullaby, Of dreamy lullaby, Lullaby! Lullaby!
Oh is there not one maiden breast from The Pirates of Penzance
De’ miei bollenti spiriti from La Traviata
Music: Arthur Sullivan (1842 – 1900) Text: W.S. Gilbert (1836 – 1911)
Music: Giuseppe Verdi (1813 –1901) Text: Francesco Maria Piave (1810 –1876)
Oh is there not one maiden breast, Which does not feel the moral beauty. Of making worldly interest, Subordinate to sense of duty Who would not give up willing all matrimonial ambition, To rescue such an one as I from his unfortunate position, From his position?
Oh is there not one maiden here Whose homely face and bad complexion, Have caused all hope to disappear Of ever winning mans affection To such a one if such there be I swear by heavens arch above you if you will cast your eyes on me However plain you be ill love you, However plain you be.
Take a pair of sparkling eyes from The Gondoliers Music: Arthur Sullivan (1842 – 1900) Text: W.S. Gilbert (1836 – 1911) Take a pair of sparkling eyes, Hidden, ever and anon, In a merciful eclipse Do not heed their mild surprise Having passed the Rubicon. Take a pair of rosy lips ; Take a figure trimly planned Such as admiration whets (Be particular in this) ; Take a tender little hand, Fringed with dainty fingerettes, Press it in parenthesis ; Take all these, you lucky man Take and keep them, if you can!
Take a pretty little cot Quite a miniature affair Hung about with trellised vine, Furnish it upon the spot With the treasures rich and rare I've endeavoured to define. Live to love and love to live You will ripen at your ease, Growing on the sunny side Fate has nothing more to give. You're a dainty man to please If you are not satisfied. Take my counsel, happy man ; Act upon it, if you can !
Lunge de lei per me no v’ha diletto! Volaron già tre lune Dacchè la mia Violetta Agi per me lasciò, dovizie, amori e le pompose feste ov’agli omaggi avezza vedea schiavo ciascun di sua bellezza. Ed or contenta in questi ameni luoghi tutto scorda per me. Qui presso a lei io rinascer mi sento e dal soffio d’amor rigenerato scordo ne’ gaudi suoi tutto il passato.
Far from her there is no joy for me! Three months have already flown by Since my Violetta abandoned her possessions, wealth, love and the opulent parties where, accustomed to the homages she saw everyone a slave of her beauty. And now, content in this pleasant surroundings She forgets it all for me. Here near her, I feel myself reborn; And revitalized by the breath of love I forget, in it’s joys All of the past.
De’ miei bollenti spiriti Il giovanile ardore ella temprò col placido sorriso dell’amor! Dal dì che disse: Vivere io voglio a te fedel, dell’universo immemore io vivo quasi in ciel.
Of my fiery spirits My youthful ardour She tempered with her calm smile of love! Since the day that she said: “I want to live faithful to you,” Unconscious of the universe I live almost in paradise.
10 MINUTE BREAK