BRAVO! An Evening with Morris Robinson Program

BRAVO! PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS AT BYU presents

AN EVENING WITH

MORRIS ROBINSON

Professional Performing Arts at BYU March 2, 2022 #BYUBravoSeries Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram by following @byuarts!

WELCOME BACK! If there is one thing that has been made abundantly clear after the last year and a half, it’s that together is a great place to be. We are delighted to welcome you back to our venues and hope you are ready for what promises to be a wonderful season.

As I reflect on the pause the BRAVO! series took this last year, it’s hard for me to put my finger on the thing that I missed most. I missed the energy that patrons and performers bring to our halls, I missed hearing the last note of a concerto hanging in the air, I missed the boundless creativity of theatrical performers, and I missed the moments of introspection that I seem to attain best when being truly inspired by the wonders of a live performance.

I hope you will find something in a performance in the BRAVO! series that will move you, inspire you, or leave you thinking more deeply than before.

Thank you for being here and for your support. Of all the places you could be tonight, we are glad you chose to spend an evening with us.

Enjoy,

Bridget Benton BRAVO! Series Producer

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CONTENTS ARTIST BIOGRAPHY pg. 6 Program pg. 8 TRANSLATIONS pg. 9 BYU College OF fine arts and Communications pg.14

Cover and interior photography by Lawrence Brownlee BRAVO! 3

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Professional Performing Arts at BYU presents

AN EVENING WITH

MORRIS ROBINSON

MORRIS ROBINSON, BASS CAREN LEVINE, PIANO

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 7:30 p.m.

Madsen Recital Hall Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center Masks worn over the nose and mouth are required for the duration of this performance.

Please silence all mobile phones and electronic devices.

Photography, video and/or audio recording, and texting are forbidden during the performance.

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ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Morris Robinson is considered one the most interesting and sought after basses performing today.

Mr. Robinson regularly appears at the Metropolitan Opera where he debuted in a production of Fidelio and has since appeared as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte (both in the original production and in the children’s English version), Ferrando in Il Trovatore, the King in Aida, and in roles in Nabucco, Tannhäuser, and the new productions of Les Troyens and Salome. He has also appeared at the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Volksoper Wien, Opera Australia, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. His many roles include the title role in Porgy and Bess, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Ramfis in Aida, Zaccaria in Nabucco, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlos, Timur in Turandot, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Padre Guardiano in La Forza del Destino, Ferrando in Il Trovatore, and Fasolt in Das Rheingold.

Though Mr. Robinson’s 20/21 season engagements were cancelled due to the pandemic, he was able to take part in several special presentations, including Twilight: Gods, an innovative production of Gotterdämmerung created

by Yuval Sharon and presented by both the Michigan Opera Theater and the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and Rigoletto produced by the Tulsa Opera and presented in ONEOK Field baseball stadium. He was also a member of the Atlanta Opera’s 20/21 Company Players appearing in various concerts, recitals, and educational outreach events throughout the year.

Also a prolific concert singer, Mr. Robinson’s many concert engagements have included appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra,

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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (where he was the 2015–2016 Artist in Residence), San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Met Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, New England String Ensemble, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and at the BBC Proms and the Ravinia, Mostly Mozart, Tanglewood, Cincinnati May, Verbier, and Aspen Music Festivals. He also appeared in Carnegie Hall as part of Jessye Norman’s HONOR! Festival.

In recital he has been presented by Spivey Hall in Atlanta, the Savannah Music Festival, the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Mr. Robinson’s solo album, Going Home, was released on the Decca label. He also appears as Joe in the DVD of the San Francisco Opera production of Show Boat, and in the DVDs of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Salome and the Aixen-Provence Festival’s production of Mozart’s Zaide.

This season, Mr. Robinson returns to the Metropolitan Opera for The Magic Flute, the Dallas Opera for his role debut as Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers, and the Los Angeles Opera for Aida, Il Trovatore, and his role debut as Landgraf in Tannhäuser.

An Atlanta native, Mr. Robinson is a graduate of The Citadel and received his musical training from the Boston University Opera Institute and as a member of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program.

He was also Artistic Advisor to the Cincinnati Opera from 2019–2021.

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PROGRAM Mentre ti lascio, O figlia!, K. 513

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

Der Doppelgänger, D. 957 no. 1

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)

Drei Lieder nach Gedichten von Michelangelo

Hugo Wolf (1860–1903)

Wohl denk' ich oft an mein vergangnes Leben Alles endet, was entstehet Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht von Gott Il lacerato spirito, from Simon Boccanegra

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)

B R I E F PA U S E Greeting Song to the Dark Virgin (Langston Hughes) For you there is no song (Edna St. Vincent Millay) The Barrier (Claude McKay) Selections from Three Dream Portraits

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) Florence Price (1887–1953) H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) Charles S. Brown (b. 1940) Margaret Bonds (1913–1972)

Dream Variation (Langston Hughes) I, too (Langston Hughes) Sweet Jesus

arr. Wendell Whalum (1931–1987)

God is a God Swing Low Sweet Chariot

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Wallace Willis (1820–1880) (arr. Caren Levine)

T R A N S L AT I O N S Mentre ti lascio, o figlia

As I leave you, oh daughter

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text by Duca Sant' Angioli-Morbilli Mentre ti lascio, o figliaIn sen mi trema il core,

As I leave you, oh daughter,

Ahi, che partenza amara,

Ah, what a bitter parting,

Provo nel mio dolore le smanie ed il terror.

I feel in my sorrow frenzy and terror.

Parto. Tu piangi? Oh Dio!

I depart. You weep? Oh God!

Ti chiedo un sol momento,

I ask of you a single moment,

Figlia, ti lascio, Oh Dio, che fier tormento!

Daughter, I leave you, Oh God, what cruel torment!

Ah, mi si spezza il cor!

In my chest trembles my heart,

Ah, my heart is breaking!

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T R A N S L AT I O N S Der Doppelgänger

Nemesis

Music by Franz Schubert Text by Heinrich Heine Still ist die Nacht, es ruhen die Gassen,

The night is calm, the avenues are quiet,

In diesem Hause wohnte mein Schatz;

My sweet one lived in this house;

Sie hat schon längst die Stadt verlassen,

She has already left the city long ago,

Doch steht noch das Haus auf demselben Platz.

Da steht auch ein Mensch und starrt in die Höhe Und ringt die Hände vor Schmerzensgewalt; Mir graust es, wenn ich sein Antlitz sehe -

The house certainly still stands, in the same place.

A man is standing there, too, staring up into space, And powerfully wringing his hands in torment.

Der Mond zeigt mir meine eigne Gestalt.

It horrifies me, when I see his countenance,

Du Doppelgänger, du bleicher Geselle!

The moon shows me my own form.

Was äffst du nach mein Liebesleid, Das mich gequält auf dieser Stelle

You my fearful double, you pale partner!

So manche Nacht, in alter Zeit?

Why do you ape the pain of my love, That has tortured me here in this spot So many a night, in times long ago?

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T R A N S L AT I O N S Drei Lieder nach Gedichten von Michelangelo

Three Songs of Michelangelo

Music by Hugo Wolf Text by Walter Robert-Tornow after text by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Music by Hugo Wolf Text by Walter Robert-Tornow after text by Michelangelo Buonarrot

1. Wohl denk ich oft an mein vergangnes Leben

1. It is quite often that I think of my past life

Wohl denk ich oft an mein vergangnes Leben,

It is quite often that I think of my past life,

Wie es vor meiner Liebe für dich war;

The way it was before my love for you;

Kein Mensch hat damals Acht auf mich gegeben,

Then no one had paid any attention to me,

Ein jeder Tag verloren für mich war;

Each and ever day was lost to me;

Ich dachte wohl, ganz dem Gesang zu leben,

I thought that I would dedicate my life to song,

Auch mich zu flüchten aus der Menschen Schar. Genannt in Lob und Tadel bin ich heute,

As well as flee from human throng.

Und, daß ich da bin, wissen alle Leute!

Today my name is raised in praise and criticism, And that I exist, - that is known by all.

2. Alles endet, was entstehet Alles endet, was entstehet.

2. Everything ends which comes to be

Alles, alles rings vergehet,

Everything ends which comes to be.

Denn die Zeit flieht, und die Sonne

Everything everywhere passes away,

Sieht, daß alles rings vergehet,

for time moves on, and the

Denken, Reden, Schmerz, und Wonne; Und die wir zu Enkeln hatten

Sun sees that everything around passes away,

Schwanden wie bei Tag die Schatten,

Thinking, speaking, pain, and joy;

Wie ein Dunst im Windeshauch.

Menschen waren wir ja auch,

And those who had been our grand children

Froh und traurig, so wie ihr,

Have vanished as shadows flee the day,

Und nun sind wir leblos hier,

As a breath of wind dispels the mist.

Sind nur Erde, wie ihr sehet.

Yes, we once were people too,

Alles ended, was entstehet.

Glad and sad, just like you, BRAVO! 11

T R A N S L AT I O N S Alles, alles rings vergehet.

And now we are here lifeless, Are but earth, as you can see.

3. Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht

Everything ends which comes to be.

Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht

Everything everywhere passes away

Von Gott, der sie erschuf? Ist es der Strahl Von andrer Schönheit aus dem Jammertal, Der in mein Herz Erinnrung weckend bricht?

Ist es ein Klang, ein Traumgesicht, Das Aug und Herz mir füllt mit einem Mal In unbegreiflich glüh'nder Qual, Die mich zu Tränen bringt? Ich weiß es nicht.

Was ich ersehne, fühle, was mich lenkt, Ist nicht in mir: sag mir, wie ich's erwerbe?

Mir zeigt es wohl nur eines Andren Huld;

3. Is my soul feeling the longed for light Is my soul feeling the longed for light Of God who created it? Is it the gleam Of a different beauty from the valley of misery, reflecting in my heart and evoking memory?

Is it a sound, a dream vision, That suddenly fills my eye and heart In incomprehensibly burning pain, That brings me to tears? I do not know.

Darein bin ich, seit ich dich sah, versenkt.

What I long for, the sense of what

Mich treibt ein Ja und Nein, ein Süß und Herbe –

directs me, Is not within me: Tell me how do I acquire it?

Daran sind, Herrin, deine Augen Schuld.

To me it reveals only another's grace and love;

I have been their captive since I first saw you.

I am driven by a yes and a no, a sweet and a bitter That, mistress, is the doing of your eyes.

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T R A N S L AT I O N S Il lacerato spirito, from Simon Boccanegra

The torn spirit

Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave A te l'estremo addio,

To you, the last farewell,

Palagio altero,

proud palace,

Freddo sepolcro dell'angiolo mio!

Cold sepulchre of my angel.

Nè a proteggerti valsi!

I was not able to protect you!

Oh maledetto! Oh vile seduttore!

O cursed man! O vile seducer!

E tu, Vergin, soffristi

And you, Blessed Virgin

Rapita a lei la verginal corona?

Suffered her virtue to be ravished?

Ah! che dissi? Deliro!

But what do I say? I rave!

Ah, mi perdona!

Ah forgive me!

Il lacerato spirito del mesto genitore

The torn spirit of the sad father

Era serbato a strazio d'infamia e di dolore.

Was preserved for the torment of infamy and of sorrow

Il serto a lei de'martir pietoso il cielo diè...

The martyrs’ crown heaven mercifully gave her

Resa al fulgor degli angeli, Prega, Maria, per me.

Restored to the splendor of angels Pray, Maria, for me

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BYU COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Dean Ed Adams

Associate Dean Amy Petersen Jensen

Associate Dean Jeremy Grimshaw

Associate Dean Rory Scanlon

Assistant Dean Bridget Rosella Benton

Assistant Dean Melinda Semadeni

Assistant Dean Thaylene Rogers

Assistant Dean Don Powell

BRAVO! ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Dean Ed Adams Executive Producer Amy Petersen Jensen Producer Bridget Rosella Benton Department Of Dance Curt Holman Department of Theatre & Media Arts Megan Sanborn Jones School of Music Diane Reich

Lighting Operations Manager Mark Ohran

Marketing Services Manager Rex Kocherhans

Assistant Lighting Operations Manager Kenzie Wise

Program Designer Jessi Blackham

Audio Operations Manager Troy Streeter Projection Operations Manager Kevin Anthony Audio Production Specialist Taylor Glad Business Manager Brian Olson

BYU ARTS PRODUCTION RESOURCE AND OPERATIONS GROUP

Assistant Business Manager Kathy Heckel

Director Bridget Rosella Benton

SUPPORT STAFF

Assistant Director Troy Streeter Production Manager/ Technical Director Jared Patching

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Travel Peter Esera Assistants to Producer Lily Moore Abi Urton Dayne Joyner Courtney Lawson Jessie Moore

Poster Designer Ty Davis Copywriter Alie Carter Assistant Dean Melinda Semadeni Senior Writer Alyssa Anderson Writer Capri Baker Social Media Specialist Savanna Shiman Web Developer Isaac Smith Photographer Dylan Carter

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