Love in a Library programme

2012

Love in a Library

Edinburgh International Festival From recitals of beautiful songs from solo artists to full scale concerts with over 200 musicians – classical music is alive and kicking at the Edinburgh International Festival. The thrill of performances by world class artists can be felt in the Usher Hall, the Queen’s Hall and in theatres throughout the city. With well known and brand new drama, classical and contemporary dance and fully staged operas as well as lots of music there is a world of experiences waiting. Pick up your free brochure in this library or call us on 0131 473 2000 to join our mailing list.

For filmed extracts, interviews and more information visit www.eif.co.uk We look forward to welcoming you to the Edinburgh International Festival!

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Love in a Library

Artist Biographies

Our Librarian loves libraries. For her they are silent intimate spaces full of beautifully wrought words and secret longings. The hushed atmosphere of high domed ceilings crammed with ideas provides space daily for her imagination to grow and find expression in quiet communion. She notices everyone who comes into her library, after all it’s her job, and she loves her job. She has started to especially notice one Serious Young Man who attends regularly; each week he is always to be found in the Literature section. He reads Bronte, Shakespeare, Burns, Shelley, Byron, Blake and Goethe – all of whom happen to be some of her favourites too! Our Serious Young Man has noticed the Librarian. He goes to the Library to mark his school work, for he is in fact an English Teacher. He could mark his school work at home, but for some reason he prefers to go to the Library… today we are about to find out why.

Emma Morwood soprano, was born in Northern Ireland and is now based in Scotland. She has been awarded the Eva Turner Award for Potential Dramatic Sopranos. Emma has sung with many orchestras and choral societies across the UK, in oratorio and concerts. This is her first engagement with the Edinburgh International Festival.

Librarian Emma Morwood Young Man Chris Elliott Musical Director and Pianist Sam Hutchings Pianist (15 June) Ingrid Sawers Stage Manager David O’Neill Director Sally Hobson Project Management Lisa Scally and Debi Banerjee Produced by Edinburgh International Festival

Chris Elliott, lyric tenor, is a winner of the John Ireland Song Prize and was one of 50 young artists chosen by Opera Now Magazine as a rising star.

He works regularly for the Edinburgh International Festival in the Art of Listening Recital programme and will shortly be premiering Lori Laitman’s new song cycle Dark Spring at the Galleria Nazionale in Genoa and regulary appears on the opera stage.

Sam Hutchings graduated with a First Class Degree in Music from Christ Church, Oxford before completing a Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (then RSAMD) where he now works as an Accompanist in the Conservatoire’s Junior Department. He also works as an accompanist for leading organisations across Scotland, including the Edinburgh International Festival. Recent concert performances include recitals in the Lammermuir Festival and the Usher Hall’s Emerging Artists series. He is a member of the Glasgow-based chamber ensemble Daniel’s Beard, which has recently released its first CD recording.

Ingrid Sawers was educated at Edinburgh University, studied piano with Peter Evans, Alexandra Andrievsky, and later with Roger Vignoles. She has performed throughout the UK, Ireland, Canada and Europe, collaborating with leading instrumentalists and singers.

Songs in order of performance George Gershwin Love Walked In Nothing seemed to matter any more Didn’t care what I was headed for Time was standing still No one counted till There was a knock knock-knock-ing at the door Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked right in and brought my sunniest day One magic moment and my heart seemed to know that love said hello Though not a word was spoken One look, and I forgot the gloom of the past One look and I had found my future at last One look and I had found a world completely new When love walked in with you

Reynaldo Hahn À chloris Text: Théophile du Viau

To Chloris

S’il est vrai, Chloris, que tu m’aimes, Mais j’entends, que tu m’aimes bien, Je ne crois point que les rois memes Aient un bonheur pareil au mien.

Que la mort serait importune De venir changer ma fortune A la félicité des cieux!

Tout ce qu’on dit de l’ambroisie Ne touche point ma fantaisie Au prix des grâces de tes yeux.

If it is true, Chloris, that you love me, And I understand you love me well, I do not believe that even kings Could know such happiness as mine.

How unwelcome death would be, If I must exchange my fortune For the joy of heaven!

All that they say of ambrosia Does not light my imagination Like the grace of your eyes.

Robert Schumann Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben (Frauenliebe und Leben no 3) Text: Adelbert von Chamisso Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben Es hat ein Traum mich berückt; Wie hätt er doch unter allen Mich Arme erhöht und beglückt?

I cannot grasp it, cannot believe it, A dream has enchanted me!

How could he have chosen me, amongst all others, To lift up and make happy?

Mir war’s, er habe gesprochen: “Ich bin auf ewig dein,” Mir war’s - ich träume noch immer, Es kann ja nimmer so sein.

It seemed to me, as if he spoke, “I am eternally thine.”

It seemed! I must still be dreaming, It could never be.

O laß im Traume mich sterben, Gewieget an seiner Brust, Den seligsten Tod mich schlürfen In Tränen unendlicher Lust.

O let me die in this dream, Cradled on his breast.

Let blessed death swallow me In tears of infinite bliss.

Roger Quilter Love’s Philosophy Text: Percy Bysshe Shelley The fountains mingle with the river, And the rivers with the ocean; The winds of heaven mix forever, With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one another’s being mingle;-Why not I with thine?

See! the mountains kiss high heaven, And the waves clasp one another; No sister flower would be forgiven, If it disdained it’s brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea;-What are all these kissings worth, If thou kiss not me?

Gabriel Fauré Le Secret Text: Armand Silvestre

The Secret

Je veux que le matin l’ignore Le nom que j’ai dit à la nuit, Et qu’au vent de l’aube, sans bruit, Comme un larme il s’évapore.

I wish that the morning should forget The name I told the night, And that in the wind of the dawn, without a sound, It should evaporate like a tear.

Je veux que le jour le proclame L’amour qu’au matin j’ai caché, Et sur mon coeur ouvert penché Comme un grain d’encens il l’enflamme.

I wish that the day would proclaim The love I hid in the morning, And, addressing my open heart, Should inflame it like a grain of incense.

Je veux que le couchant l’oublie Le secret que j’ai dit au jour, Et l’emporte avec mon amour, Aux plis de sa robe pâlie!

I wish that the sunset should forget The secret I told the day, And carry it away with my love, In the folds of its pale robes!

Franz Schubert Standchën Text: Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack

Serenade

Leise flehen meine Lieder Durch die Nacht zu dir; In den stillen Hain hernieder, Liebchen, komm zu mir!

Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen In des Mondes Licht; Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen Fürchte, Holde, nicht.

Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?

Ach! sie flehen dich, Mit der Töne süßen Klagen Flehen sie für mich.

Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen, Kennen Liebesschmerz, Rühren mit den Silbertönen Jedes weiche Herz.

Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen, Liebchen, höre mich!

Bebend harr’ ich dir entgegen!

Komm, beglücke mich!

My songs appeal softly Through the night to you; Through the night to you; Beneath in the quiet grove, Beloved, come to me!

The whispering, slender tree tops Rustle in the moonlight; Do not fear that the hostile traitor Should overhear us, my darling.

Do you hear the call of the nightingales?

Ah, they beckon to you.

With the sound of their sweet complaints They plead for me.

They understand the heart’s longing, Know the pain of love, With their silver tones, They stir every soft heart.

Let them also move in your own heart, Beloved, hear me!

Trembling I wait for you!

Come, bring me joy!

Richard Wagner Wesendonck Lieder no 5 – Träume Text: Agnes Mathilde Wesendonck

Dreams

Sag, welch wunderbare Träume Halten meinen Sinn umfangen, Daß sie nicht wie leere Schäume Sind in ödes Nichts vergangen?

Say, what wondrous dreams Hold my senses captive, And have not, like empty foams, Disappeared into nothingness?

Träume, die in jeder Stunde, Jedem Tage schöner blühn, Und mit ihrer Himmelskunde Selig durchs Gemüte ziehn!

Dreams, which in every hour Of every day, beautifully bloom, And with their heavenly intimations Blissfully float through my spirit.

Träume, die wie hehre Strahlen In die Seele sich versenken, Dort ein ewig Bild zu malen: Allvergessen, Eingedenken!

Dreams, which like heavenly rays Sink into the soul, To paint there an eternal image: All-forgetting, single-minded!

Träume, wie wenn Frühlingssonne Aus dem Schnee die Blüten küßt, Daß zu nie geahnter Wonne Sie der neue Tag begrüßt,

Dreams, as when the spring sun Kisses the blooms from the snow, So that the new day greets them To unimagined joys,

Daß sie wachsen, daß sie blühen, Träumend spenden ihren Duft, Sanft an deiner Brust verglühen, Und dann sinken in die Gruft.

So they grow, so they flower, Dreamily spreading their scent, They softly fade upon your breast, And then sink into the grave.

My love is like a red, red rose Text: Robert Burns O my Luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June: O my Luve’s like the melodie, That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!

And fare-thee-weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve, Tho’ ‘twere ten thousand mile!

Translations reproduced by kind permission of Sam Hutchings

Charity No SC004694.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun; And I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.

2012

Deborah Voigt Soprano Brian Zeger Piano Sunday 12 August 8.00pm Usher Hall Supported by

0131 473 2000 eif.co.uk