UMS Concert Program, November 21, 1954: Seventy-sixth Annual Choral Union Concert Series -- Leonard Warren

Season: 1954-1955
Concert: Sixth
Complete Series: 3144
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Charles A. Sink, President Thor Johnson, Guest Conductor
Lester McCoy, Associate Conductor
Sixth Concert 1954-1955 Complete Series 3144
Seventy-sixth Annual
Choral Union Concert Series
LEONARD WARREN, Baritone Willard Sektberg at the Piano
Sunday Evening, November 21, 1954, at 8:30 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
Aria di Floridante from Floridante.......Handel
Maledetto sia l'aspetto.........Monteverdi
Amarilli.............Caccini
L'Esperto nocchiero.........Buononcini
Les Berceaux............. Faure
Chanson a boire............ Ravel
Madrigal............. d'Indy
Agnus Dei............. Bizet
Ford's Monologue from Falstafi........Verdi
INTERMISSION
Impromptu in G-flat major........Schubert
Rhapsody in E-flat major.........Brahms
Willard Sektberg
"Avant de quitter ces lieux" from Faust......Gounod
"Largo al factotum" from The Barber of Seville .... Rossini
The Donkey............Hageman
There Is a Lady Sweet and Kind.......Dello Joio
When Lights Go Rolling.........Ireland
Mister Jim............Malotte
RCA Victor Records
NOTE.--The University Musical Society has presented Leonard Warren on one previous occasion: May 1, 1948.
The Steinivay is the official piano of the University Musical Society. ARS LONG A VITA BREVIS
PROGRAM NOTES
Aria di Floridante from Floridante.......Handel
Dear night, bring back my love. At times I fancy my beloved standing in the door?way but alas, 'tis only a dream .... how long must I wait in vain.
Amarilli.............Caccini
Amarilli, my fair one
Oh ! thou my heart's desire,
Hear and believe me
I do love thee sincerely.
Come to my arms
Tis thee I worship, only thee
Let not doubt there assail thee
Deep in my bosom, writ in my heart
These words shall be
Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarilli, I adore thee.
L'Esperto nocchiero.........Buononcini
Oh, why does the skillful pilot turn back to the shore so soon after leaving He perceives the wind has changed and the waves are rising, and flees. If he knew that the smiling sea was deceitful, why did he ever weigh anchor He weighed anchor, but lured away from the shore, deceived, he turns back in a short time.
Les Berceaux.............Faure
Down by the wharf the great ships lie Where the surge is quietly sweeping, And little they think of a mother's sigh, Bending over the cradle and weeping. Soon will come the day of farewell And again women will be wailing Eager is man lured by a spell Onward to shores untravelled sailing. Yet all the while the great ships roam, While o'er the lonely sea they scour, They feel their helm held by the power Of cradles that wait them at home.
Chanson a boire............Ravel
Lady adored! Why are you sad Say not that love, love and good wine, brings to us mortals grief tomorrow. I drink to joy. Good wine makes you laugh like a happy boy.
Madrigal.............d'Indy
Where can you find more charming face or fairer A snowier neck where soft hair silken lies. Where was there ever form of beauty rarer. Than hath my lady of loveliest eyes.
Agnus Dei.............Bizet
Lamb of God, thou that takest away the world's guilt,
O have compassion, have compassion upon us.
Lamb of God, thou that takest away the world's guilt,
May thy peace be with us
Lamb of God, may thy peace be with us,
Thy peace, may thy peace be with us.
Ford's Monologue from Falstafi........Verdi
Verdi had always wanted to write a comic opera and when he was nearly eighty, Boito presented him with what is probably the best libretto of its kind in existence. Falstaff is usually regarded as one of the major musical miracles; no score has ever surpassed or even equalled it for sheer brilliance, for plasticity, for consummate blending of words and music.
"Avant de quitter ces lieux" from Faust......Gounod
This Cavatina in Gounod's Faust is sung by Valentine, Marguerite's brother, as he gayly goes to war, leaving Marguerite in the care of their old nurse. He sings in a spirit of bravery, subdued by his sorrow at leaving his beautiful sister, almost as though he feels a premonition of the betrayal of Marguerite by Faust, through the machinations of Mephistopheles.
"Largo al factotum" from The Barber of Seville .... Rossini
"Oh brave Figaro, thou art the happiest of men!--indispensable, irreprehcnsible; all call me, all want me, I am the factotum of the town!
The Donkey............Hageman
When fishes flew and forest walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moments when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devils walking parody
On all four-footed things,
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me, I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet
There was a shout about my ears
And palms before my feet.
SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL MAY FESTIVAL
Six Concerts.........May 5, 6, 7, 8, 1955
The University Choral Union will perform Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, under Thor Johnson. The Festival Youth Chorus, under Marguerite Hood, will participate at the Saturday afternoon concert.
The Philadelphia Orchestra will be heard in all six concerts. Eugene Ormandy will conduct the concerts on Thursday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and on Sunday evening.
Subscribers of record to tickets in Block "A" for the current Choral Union Series may renew their present locations up to January 31. All other tickets will be allocated in sequence. Orders with remittances will be accepted and filed in sequence beginning as of December 1. Block A, $13.00; Block B, $10.00; Block C, $9.00; Block D, $8.00.
MESSIA
First Concert: Saturday, December 4, 8:30 p.m. Repeat Concert: Sunday, December 5, 2:30 p.m.
Lucine Amara, Soprano Charles Curtis, Tenor
Lillian Chookasian, Contralto Donald Gramm, Bass University Choral Union Musical Society Orchestra Alice Lungershausen, Harpsichordist Lester McCoy, Conductor
Tickets (either performance): 75 cents and 50 cents
Chamber Music Festival
Rackham Auditorium
BUDAPEST STRING QUARTET, February 18, 19, 20, 1955 Josef Roisman, Violinist Boris Kroyt, Violist
Jac Gorodetzky, Violinist Mischa Schneider, Cellist Robert Courte, Guest Violist
Season Tickets: $3.50 and $2.50 Single Concerts: $1.75 and $1.25
Choral Union and Extra Series
SHAW CHORALE and ORCHESTRA . . . Monday, December 6
Robert Shaw, Conductor
VIENNA CHOIR BOYS (2:30 p.m.) . . . Sunday, January 16
ISAAC STERN, Violinist.....Thursday, February 10
ZINO FRANCESCATTI, Violinist.....Monday, March 7
BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA . . Tuesday, March 15
Wilhelm Furtwancler, Conductor
WALTER GIESEKING, Pianist.....Tuesday, March 22
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC-SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA (2:30 p.m.)......Sunday, May 22
Dimitri Mitropoulos, Conductor
For tickets or for further information, please address: Charles A. Sink, President, University Musical Society, Burton Memorial Tower.