Auf Flügeln des Gesanges...

"On the wings of song..." begins a poem by Heinrich Heine, exquisitely set to music by Felix Mendelssohn. The two performances of my Lieder program were an affirmation of how special and wonderful the genre of the art song is. I am happy to report that both performances of the Liederabend went off successfully. Actually, they were outstanding concerts. I can take a little credit for that, but I know that there was a lot of luck involved as well: I just happened to end up with some of the best singers in my studio; that was none of my doing -- it just turned out that way. Hence, I was able to assign some substantial songs to my charges. Secondly, they really surprised me with the level of their musicianship. I was able to sit back and enjoy two evenings of beautiful music. I also chose a very interesting theme for my program and that put a wide range of songs at my disposal. It wasn't my original intention, but putting Beethoven's "Kennst du das Land" at the beginning of the program and Wolf's at the end was a brilliant idea (if I do say so myself!); it provided the perfect framework for the evening. I have always, as a coach, been insistent on good diction in the singing of Lieder. I reminded my charges that they would be singing for a German-speaking audience, that the people listening would expect to understand the text of every song, that many would know the poems already. (Our programs here at AIMS are printed in German and there are no translations.) While watching hours of prliminary auditions after we got here I was dismayed to see how many young singers flailed their arms about, made gratuitous gestures, or otherwise fidgeted while performing. All that is distracting to any performance. I decided that I would pay attention to the physical expression of my singers. I encouraged them to find a stance comfortable for them, preferably hands and arms at sides, and allow the audience to read the story and emotions in their faces. I was delighted to see that virtually every student in my concert did exactly that. Their stage deportment and delivery added to the high tone of the evening.

The first performance took place at 6 PM (there was another Liederabend scheduled later in the evening elsewhere) in the Landeskrankenhaus Kirche, the church of the provincial hospital. The extensive campus of this hospital is just down the street. It is practically a city unto itself with separate buildings for each specialty. (It wouldn't surprise me if there were an Ingrown Toenail Building, or a Jock Itch Pavillion there.) The complex was built in the first decade of the 20th century, in what is known here as Jugendstil, which we call art deco style. The small church, more like a large chapel, is also in this style. It's a charming venue with acoustics that were flattering to singing. I was told that the annual concert there would be well attended, and it was. I have no idea who those people were, but they certainly liked what they heard. At the end of the performance the applause continued for such a long time that the performers had to appear for a second ensemble bow. I have never seen that happen here before. The repeat performance was in the Odiliensaal, a small concert hall we have been using all summer, that is part of the Institute for the Blind. Even though we were competing with a chamber music recital across the street the Liederabend was well attended and well received. Afterwards I celebrated with colleagues by indulging in a well deserved glass of beer and a schnapps. [The photo is in the Odiliensaal before the second concert; these are all the vocalists -- the pianists hadn't arrived yet.]