UMS Concert Program, January 15, 1956: Seventy-seventh Annual Choral Union Concert Series -- Vienna Choir Boys

Season: 1955-1956
Concert: Sixth
Complete Series: 3173
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Charles A. Sink, President Thor Johnson, Guest Conductor
Lester McCoy, Associate Conductor
Sixth Concert 19SS-19S6 Complete Series 3173
Seventy-seventh Annual
Choral Union Concert Series
VIENNA CHOIR BOYS Helmuth Froschauer, Musical Director
Sunday Afternoon, January 15, 1956, at 2:30 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
The compositions of Wolfgang Atnadeus Mozart
Sancta Maria Mater Dei Sub tuum praesidium Ave verum Laudate Dominum Alleluja
Bastien and Bastienne (operetta in one act)
INTERMISSION
Friihling (Spring)
Terzett aus Zauberflote (Trio from The Magic Flute)
D'Biiurin hat d'Katz verlor'n (The farmer's wife has lost her cat)
ABC
Schlafe mein Prinzchen (Sleep, My Little Prince)
Note.--The University Musical Society has presented the Vienna Choir Boys on previous occasions as follows: Nov. 22, 1933; Oct. IS, 1949; Jan. 16, 1953; and Jan. 16, 1955.
The Steinway is the official piano of the University Musical Society. ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS
PROGRAM NOTES
BASTIEN AND BASTIENNE Operetta in One Act
Mozart composed this work when he was a lad of twelve and although it evidences the miracle of his genius, it is difficult to grasp the reality of the accomplishment. The instrumentation is simple. Mozart used the string quartet as the accompaniment, adding two oboes or two horns in some arias and, in a few ensemble scenes, both the oboes and the horns. The action takes place at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and there are but three characters: Bastienne, a shepherdess, soprano; Bastien, her lover, tenor; and Colas, reputed to be a sorcerer, bass.
After a simple prelude, the curtain rises on a village scene showing Colas' hut. Bastienne bewails, in an aria, that her lover has left her. Colas, returning home, sings a light ditty informing us of his magic arts which work with particular effectiveness and ease on Cupid's victims. Bastienne, gaining hope, confides in Colas who comforts her; he assures her that Bastien loves her as much as ever despite his apparent fickleness. Colas then proceeds to give the innocent Bastienne several tips on how to hold her man. "He'll come back to you, but you must use other tactics. A bit of cunning and of scorn; that's the way to bring lovers around. That's the way the ladies in the great towns do."
"But when I see him, I'm struck dumb and can only look to see if my dress is hanging properly, my bodice rightly laced, and my shoes and stockings tidy."
"Ah, but that will never do, my child," Colas warns. "To deal with an inconstant lover, you must be fickle yourself and leave him although you yearn to be in his arms."
Admonishing her to follow his advice, Colas sends Bastienne, who promises to banish worry and be carefree, into his hut. Colas ponders over her innocence which would be a miracle in a town where maidens are wiser than their mothers. Bastien appears and cheerfully announces his plan to marry Bastienne. Colas tells him that Bastienne favors another and won't even see him. Exasperated by jealousy, and sad?dened by the loss of his sweetheart, Bastien begs Colas to help him. Colas consults his magician's manual, singing an aria replete with mumbo-jumbo formula during which Bastien grows more anxious and impatient when suddenly Colas announces that he's found it! Yes, Bastien will see his Bastienne again--and, what's more, right now. Bastien is delighted but skeptical. To his amazement, Bastienne appears. He hastens towards her; she's like to run into his arms--but she remembers to play the game as she promised Colas. So she abruptly sends Bastien about his business. And how consummately she plays the role of coquette! Better than old Colas could have imagined, and a sight to warm the cockles of his heart. Bastien takes it on its face value, though he is in a rage of jealousy and despair. Wouldn't it be best to drown himself Bastienne, unrelenting, enjoying her newly found finesse and wiles, gains her goal. Reconciled, blissful, they embrace and plan their nuptials. Colas returning, is heralded and praised by both for his "magic" aid.
WALTER GIESEKING, who was injured in an auto acci?dent last December in Stuttgart, has been obliged to post?pone his Ann Arbor concert to WEDNESDAY, MAY 16. Please present for admission the tickets issued for the original date; and also, please pass the word along to in?terested friends.
Sixteenth Annual
CHflflflBER mUSIC FESTIURIi
Rackham Auditorium
BUDHPEST QUflRTET
JOSEF ROISMAN BORIS KROYT
First Violin Viola
ALEXANDER SCHNEIDER MISCHA SCHNEIDER
Second Violin Violoncello
ROBERT COURTE, Guest Violist
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 8:30 P.M.
Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1.........Beethoven
Quartet, Op. 10, No. 2.............Kodaly
Quintet in C major, K. SIS...........Mozart
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 8:30 P.M.
Quartet in G major, Op. 18, No. 2.........Beethoven
Quartet in E minor, Op. 116, No. 1.........Smetana
Quintet in G minor, K. S16...........Mozart
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2:30 P.M.
Quartet in D major, Op. 18, No. 3.........Beethoven
Quartet in F major, Op. 96...........Dvorak
Quintet in D major, K. 593...........Mozart
Season Tickets (3 concerts): $3.50 and $2.50 Single Concerts: $1.75 and $1.25
Myra Hess, Pianist (Extra) .... Wednesday, February 15
Toronto Symphony Orchestra (C.U.) . Wednesday, February 22 Sir Ernest MacMhxan, Conductor
Artur Rubinstein, Pianist (C.U.) .... Thursday, March 1 Teresa Stich-Randaix, Soprano (Extra) . . . Friday, March 9
Virtuosi di Roma (C.U.)......Tuesday, March 13
Walter Gieseking, Pianist (C.U.) .... Wednesday, May 16 Tickets: $3.50--$3.00--$2.50--$2.00 and $1.50.
MAY FISTIVAL
HILL AUDITORIUM________________________ANN ARBOR
The Philadelphia Orchestra at all six concerts
"PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY, MAY 3, 8:30 P.M.....First Concert
Soloist: INGE BORKH, Soprano EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 8:30 P.M......Second Concert
Part I: UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION in
Mozart's "Davidde penitente"
Soloists: LOIS MARSHALL, Soprano
JANE HOBSON, Mezzo-Soprano RUDOLF PETRAK, Tenor
Part II: VITYA VRONSKY and VICTOR BABIN in
Mozart Concerto in F major for Two Pianos
THOR JOHNSON, Conductor
SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2:30 P.M. . . . . Third Concert
Soloist: HILDE GUEDEN, Soprano EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
FESTIVAL YOUTH CHORUS in Schumann Songs MARGUERITE HOOD, Conductor
SATURDAY, MAY 5, 8:30 P.M. . . . . Fourth Concert
ZINO FRANCESCATTI in
Brahms Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2:30 P.M......Fifth Concert
Arnold Schoenberg's "Gurre-Lieder" UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION
LOIS MARSHALL, Soprano
MARTHA LIPTON, Contralto
RUDOLF PETRAK, Tenor
HAROLD HAUGH, Tenor
LAWRENCE WINTERS, Bass
ERIKA yon WAGNER STIEDRY, Narrator
THOR JOHNSON, Conductor
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 8:30 P.M. . . . . . Sixth Concert
BYRON JANIS in
Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 3 in D minor EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
Detailed programs will be announced as soon as arranged.
For tickets or for further information, address: Charles A. Sink, President, University Musical Society, Burton Memorial Tower.