Department of Music and Theatre
University at Albany presents:
More Than You Know
Tanis , Pianist
Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 3:0 0pm
Melanie Shank , Soprano
Joshua
More Than You Know Program
“O mio babbino caro” ………………………………… G. Puccini from Gianni Schicchi (1858-1924)
“Me voilà seule… Comme autrefois”…………………....G. Bizet from Le pêrcheurs de perles (1838–1875)
“La fioraia Fiorentina”………………………...………..G. Rossini (1792–1868)
“Caro mio ben”…………………………………………T. Giordani (1730–1806)
“E l’uccellino”……………………………………………G. Puccini (1858–1924)
“Se tu ma’ami”………………………………………….A. Parisotti (1853–1913)
“L’amerò, sarò costante”…………………………….W.A. Mozart from Il re pastore (1756–1791)
“Ich wollt ein Sträußlein binden”………………………R. Strauss (1864–1949)
“Nacht und Träume”…………………………………..F. Schubert (1797–1828)
“Zueignung”……………………………………………..R. Strauss (1864–1949)
Intermission
“A Simple Sailor”…………………………………….. .. A. Sullivan from HMS Pinafore (1842–1900)
“Goodby, Goodby, World”.............................................L. Hoiby (1926–2011)
“More Than You Know”..........................................V. Youmans (1898–1946)
“Skylark”..............................................................H. Carmichael (1899–1981)
“You Made Me Love You”..........................................J. Monaco (1885–1945)
“Simple Joys of Maidenhood”......................................F. Loewe from Camelot (1901–1988)
“Much More”.............................................................H. Schmidt from The Fantasticks (1929–2018)
“Only Love”.............................................................
F. Wildhorn from The Scarlet Pimpernel (b. 1958)
“A Little Bit of Good”.................................................. J. Kander from Chicago (b. 1927)
Translations
O mio babbino caro
Oh my dear daddy, I love him! I want to go to the Porta Rosa to buy a ring! And if I loved in vain, I would go to the old bridge And throw myself in the Arno! My struggles and my torment! O God, I want to die! Daddy please!
Me voilà seule . . . Comme autrefois
Here I am alone in the night, Alone in this place deserted, where reigns silence. I shiver, I am afraid and sleep eludes me. But he is here; my heart feels his presence
Like before in the dark night Hiding under the thick foliage He watches me closely in the shadows
I can sleep, dream in peace. Yes, like before I dream in peace.
It is him! My eyes recognize him! It is him! My soul is reassured! O Happiness! O joy unexpected For me to see him again He has come, he is near to me
La Fioraia Fiorentina
The most beautiful flowers, Lovely ladies and brides My roses are fresh No breath but love untold
Ah me! Help a voice begs, My poor mother, waits for me alone For bread, and not gold.
Caro mio ben
My dearest love, believe me at least Without you my heart languishes Your faithful friend, sighs everyday Cease cruelty, so strong!
E l’uccellino
And the little bird sings on the branch: Sleep peacefully, little love Bend down that little blonde head On your mother’s heart.
And the little bird sings on that branch: Many little beautiful things you will learn, But if you want to know how much I love you No one in the world can say it!
And the little bird sings on that branch: Sleep my darling, here on my breast
Se tu m’ami
If you love me, if you sigh Only for me little shepherd, I am sorry for your pain I delight in your love
But if you think that you alone I must love, Little Shepherd, you are deceived
Beautiful purple rose
Today Silvio will pick
But because of the thorn Tomorrow he scorns it
But the words of men call, I will not follow
Just because I like the lily I will not despise the other flowers.
L’amerò, sarò costante
Love, I will be constant, Faithful husband, faithful lover I sigh only for her
In you, beloved and sweet creature, All my joy, my delight, my peace I will find my peace.
Ich wollt' ein Sträusslein binden
I wanted a bouquet tied, But in the dark night There were no little flowers for you Tears flowed from my cheeks Into the clover
A little flower rises in the dark garden I want to pick it for you
Then it began to speak: Oh don’t hurt me!
Be kind in your heart,
Consider your own sorrow. Leave me in pain, Not death before my time
And if it had not said that All alone in the garden I would have picked it for you But now I cannot
My treasure failed to appear I am so completely alone In love lives sorrow, And cannot be otherwise.
Nacht und Träume
Holy night, sinking low Dreams floating down Moonlight through space Brings quiet to people’s chest
They behold it with joy Calling when the day awakens: Come back, holy night! Return fair dreams!
Zuiegnung
Yes, you know it, dear Soul That I suffer far from you, Love makes the heart sick –Have thanks!
Once did I, in freedom joyful, Hold the amethyst cup aloft And you blessed that draught –Have thanks!
And you banished the evil spirits, Till I, as never before, Holy, Holy, sank upon your heart –Have thanks!
Biographies
Melanie and Josh met at UAlbany in Fall 2009 and took advantage of everything the music department offered. Bonding over their double majors (Psychology and Voice for Melanie, Biology and Music for Josh) and their love of Stewart’s milkshakes, they quickly became good friends. In Spring 2010, Melanie and Josh began their initial collaboration in the voice studio of Fran Wittmann, resulting in the discovery of many of their favorite vocal composers, including Richard Strauss and Lee Hoiby, both featured in today’s performance. They continued to collaborate in many performances at UAlbany, including UAlbany Musical Theater Association performances, oratorios with UAlbany Chamber Singers and Chorale, and each other’s senior recital. After UAlbany, they both pursued graduate degrees in music. Although states apart, Melanie and Josh continue to remain very close friends and always find a piano for an impromptu music-reading session every time they meet. They are grateful to the UAlbany Music Department for the multiple opportunities to return post-graduation and are excited to be performing together again!
Hailed by the Albany Times Union for her “agile technique and ringing tones” soprano Melanie Shank is a frequent performer in the Capital Region and beyond. A 2012 graduate of the UAlbany Music Department, Melanie studied with Frances Wittmann and the late David Janower. As a part of her double major in psychology, she contributed to the research for “Songs as a Medium for Embedded Reproductive Messages” published in the 9/12/11 issue of Evolutionary Psychology. In 2016, Melanie received her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance in 2016 from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, studying with Deborah Massell and Francois Germain. Following graduation, Melanie moved to NYC where she studied with Arlene Shrut, Beth Roberts, and Kristen Kemp.Since her return to the Albany area, she has been coaching with Michael Clement and returned to UAlbany for her MBA, graduating in 2022.
A true lover of art song, Melanie has participated in various recitals including solo performances at UAlbany, Fall Island American Art Song Festival, First Reformed Church of Scotia
series, Tuesdays at Noon at St. Paul’s and ENY/NATS. Performances with opera companies and oratorio societies include Opera Company Brooklyn (Janthe, Der Vampyr), College Light Opera Company (Lady Battersby, Titanic, and others), Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, Octavo Singers, and UAlbany Chamber Singers and Chorale.
Melanie supports her passion for the arts through her day job working in Financial Systems at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Professor and Pianist, Dr. Joshua Tanis holds a joint faculty position in the Departments of Music Theory and Conducting at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He received the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory and Composition from Florida State University, the dual Master's Degree in Music Theory and Collaborative Piano from the City University of New York Hunter College, and the dual Bachelor's Degree in Music and Biology from the State University of New York at Albany.
As a professor, Dr. Tanis directs the aural skills curriculum and teaches graduate courses on score-reading and cleftransposition. His primary research focuses on the intersection of musical and poetic forms in Richard Strauss’s songs for voice and piano. His research in this and other areas has been presented at numerous national and international conferences, in addition to appearing in several award-winning publications.
As a pianist, Dr. Tanis routinely works with singers from the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, the Paris Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the Sydney Opera House, the New York City Opera, the Teatro Real, the Teatro di San Carlo, and the Broadway community. In addition to maintaining a private coaching studio, he has accompanied singers in the studios of Frances Pallozzi Wittmann, Marilyn Horne, and Harolyn Blackwell. www.JoshuaTanis.com
Music Program (518) 442-4187
www.albany.edu/musicandtheatre
PerformingArts Center (518) 442-3995
www.albany.edu/pac
Theatre Program (518) 442-4200
www.albany.edu/musicandtheatre
HOUSE POLICIES
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff.
The use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during this performance is strictly prohibited.
There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings.
. To avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you.
Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, an announcement will be made from the stage. Please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.
The UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s six theatres, three lounges and other spaces are available for rental.
The UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s six theatres, three lounges and other spaces are available for rental.
