A letter from her teacher:
Dear Friends,
Ruby Abreu’s luscious mezzo-soprano voice, contagiously positive energy, and tenacious grit have likely impacted your life for the better. Ruby has been accepted into Varna Music International for summer 2023. Summer programs are a great way for young artists to gain the stage time that was taken from them during the pandemic. As a young artist, I was accepted into a program similar to Varna and I performed a fundraising recital at my church. That community and those funds allowed me to go, and it shaped who I am today. Ruby is a first-generation college student and will be the first person in her family to ever travel to Europe. Young artists depend on their communities for support. If Ruby has impacted your life, I invite you to support her through donations.
Donations can be made via check, cash or Venmo.
Ruby Abreu is an experienced vocalist and marketer located in Central Florida known for her versatility as a performer and creative marketer in the industry
In 2022, Ruby made her International Fringe Festival debut as Mrs. Nolan in Menotti’s The Medium. In the summer, she traveled to the 26th Moravian Music Festival as a featured singer in the cumulative choral concert. With private coaching from Viktoriia Konchakovska, Conductor and Creative Director of Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Ruby performed on behalf of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park at the Ukraine Ballet Benefit at the Dr. Phillips Center. Ruby made her Orlando stage debut in the Musical Tradition’s Inc. production of The Medium as Mrs. Nolan at the Timucua Arts Foundation.
Ruby is currently the Marketing Manager for the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park where she oversees television and radio media, social media, and brand marketing. She is the Social Media Manager for the Department of Music at Rollins where she creates marketing content for department events and leads marketing efforts for the Summer Music Academy and Spring productions.
In the community you can hear Ruby lead the St. Gregory Choir as the Alto Sectional leader at All Saints Episcopal Church, Winter Park. She also performs as a soloist and ensemble member for the J.M. Voices, led by Maclane Schirard.
While at Rollins, Ruby made her stage debut as Ado Annie in Some Enchanted Evening and played Ruth in Pirates of Penzance She was a featured soloist for the Songs of the Season program performed at the Dr Phillips Center She stage managed three productions (The Mikado , A Gershwin Revue , and Songs for a New World). As a conductor and section leader, she led multiple ensembles (Rollins Choir, Treble Choir, Treble Vocal Jazz).
This summer, Ruby will be a featured soloist at the 22nd Annual Varna International Music Academy in Varna, Bulgaria and Italy. She will be making her European debut as the alto soloist in the Mozart Requiem and as the Monitoress and Abbess in Suor Angelica.
Kristine (b. Kulikova) Griffin was born in the Latvian seaport of Liepaja where she began her piano studies at the Emils Melngailis School of Music. She continued at the Emils Melngailis High School for Music and graduated with a focus in piano performance and pedagogy. Kristine worked full time with the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra performing on multiple keyboard instruments including piano, harpsichord, organ, and celesta for almost two decades She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Liepaja University, and a post graduate diploma in Piano Accompaniment Jazeps Vitols Latvian State Music Academy.Kristine was presented with a Special Commendation for arts education by the Latvian Cultural Ministry. Kristine currently acts as an accompanist at Rollins College Department of Music in Winter Park, Florida. Kristine performs regularly on harpsichord and piano with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, the Messiah Choral Society, and the National Young Composers Challenge.
SMANIE IMPLACABILI
T
ext by Lorenzo da PonteAh scostati!
Paventa il tristo effeto
d'un disperato affeto!
Chiudi quelle finestre
Odio la luce, odio l'aria, che spiro
Odio me stessa!
Chi schernisce il mio duol, Chi mi consola?
Deh fuggi, per pietà, fuggi, Lasciami sola.
Smanie implacabili, che m 'agitate
Dentro quest'anima più non cessate
Finchè l'angoscia mi fa morir.
Esempio misero d'amor funesto, Darò all'Eumenidi se viva resto
Col suno orrible de' miei sospir
OISEAUX, SI TOUS LES ANS
Text by Antoine Ferrand
Oiseaux, si tous les ans
Vous changez de climats, Dès que le triste hiver Dépouille nos bocages; Ce n 'est pas seulement
Pour changer de feuillages, Ni pour éviter nos frimats;
Mais votre destinée
Ne vous permet d'aimer, Qu'à la saison des fleurs.
Et quand elle est passée, Vous la cherchez ailleurs, Afin d'aimer toute l'année.
IMPLACABLE RESTLESSNESS
Translation by Robert
Ah, move away! Fear the sad effect of a desperate affection!
GlaubitzShut those windows, I hate the light, I hate the air that I breathe I hate myself!
Who mocks my pain, Who will console me? Oh, leave, for pity's sake, leave, Leave me alone.
Implacable restlessness, that disturbs me Inside this soul, doesn't cease, Until it makes me die. A miserable example of fateful love I will give to the Furies, if I live, With the horrible sound of my sighs
YOU BIRDS, SO EVERY YEAR
Translation by Christie Turnage Turner
You birds, so every year you leave/change your climates as soon as the sad winter strips our groves. It isn't solely for a change of foliage or to avoid our foggy winter weather. But your destiny simply doesn't allow you to enjoy love beyond the season of flowers. For when she (springtime) is gone, you look for another place to make an end of love every year.
PRISON
Text by Paul VerlaineLe ciel est, par-dessus le toit, Si bleu, si calme!
Un arbre, par-dessus le toit, Berce sa palme.
La cloche, dans le ciel qu ’ on voit, Doucement tinte.
Un oiseau sur l’arbre qu ’ on voit Chante sa plainte.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, la vie est là, Simple et tranquille.
Cette paisible rumeur-là Vient de la ville.
– Qu’as-tu fait, ô toi que voilà
Pleurant sans cesse, Dis, qu ’as-tu fait, toi que voilà, De ta jeunesse?
PRISON
Translation by Richard StokesThe sky above the roof –So blue, so calm!
A tree, above the roof, Waves its crown.
The bell, in the sky that you see, Gently rings.
A bird, on the tree that you see, Plaintively sings.
My God, my God, life is there, Simple and serene.
That peaceful murmur there Comes from the town.
O you, what have you done, Weeping without end, Say, what have you done
With your young life?
VA! LAISSE COULER MES
Text by Edouard Blau
Va!
LARMES
Laisse couler mes larmes!
elles font du bien, ma chérie!
Les larmes qu on ne pleure pas Dans notre âme retombent toutes, et de leurs patientes goutes
Martèlent le coeur triste et las.
Sa résistance enfin s'épuise; le coeur se creuse... et s 'affaiblit;
il est trop grand, rien ne l'emplit; et trop fragile, tout le brise!
GO! LET MY TEARS FLOW
Translation by Lea Frey
Go! Let flow my tears!
they do (me) good, my darling!
The tears which one does not cry
Inside our soul fall again , all of them, And with their patient drops
Hammer the heart sad and weary. Its resistance finally exhausts itself; But your destiny
The heart collapses and weakens; It is too big; nothing fills it
And too fragile, everything breaks it!
SEIT ICH IHN GESEHEN
Text by Adelbert von Chamisso
Seit ich ihn gesehen, Glaub ich blind zu sein; Wo ich hin nur blicke, Seh ich ihn allein;
Wie im wachen Traume
Schwebt sein Bild mir vor, Taucht aus tiefstem Dunkel, Heller nur empor.
Sonst ist licht- und farblos
Alles um mich her, Nach der Schwestern Spiele
Nicht begehr ich mehr, Möchte lieber weinen, Still im Kämmerlein; Seit ich ihn gesehen, Glaub ich blind zu sein
ER, DER HERRLICHSTE VON ALLEN
Text by Adelbert Von
Er, der Herrlichste von allen, Wie so milde, wie so gut!
Holde Lippen, klares Auge, Heller Sinn und fester Mut.
So wie dort in blauer Tiefe, Hell und herrlich, jener Stern, Also er an meinem Himmel, Hell und herrlich, hehr und fern Wandle, wandle deine Bahnen; Nur betrachten deinen Schein, Nur in Demut ihn betrachten, Selig nur und traurig sein!
Höre nicht mein stilles Beten, Deinem Glücke nur geweiht;
Darfst mich niedre Magd nicht kennen, Hoher Stern der Herrlichkeit!
Nur die Würdigste von allen Darf beglücken deine Wahl, Und ich will die Hohe segnen, Viele tausendmal
Will mich freuen dann und weinen, Selig, selig bin ich dann;
