UMS Concert Program, November 14, 1968: Birgit Nilsson -- John Wustman

Concert: Fourth
Complete Series: 3631
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University Musical Society
of
The University of Michigan
Presents
BIRGIT NILSSON
Soprano JOHN WUSTMAN at the piano
Thursday Evening, November 14, 1968, at 8:30 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
"Dich theure Halle" from Tannhduser
Traume ........Wagner
Schmerzen J
Gretchen am Spinnradel
Auflosung [...........Schubert
Die junge Nonne J
Befreit "1
Wiegenlied ?............Richard Strauss
Zueignung J
INTERMISSION
Hostkvall................ Sibelius
Var det en drom.............. Sibelius
Morgonsang............... Melartin
Gieb mir dein Herze............. Melartin
Det fb'rste mode 1
En svane ..............Grieg
En drom J
"Ebben, ne andro lontana" from La Wally.......Catalani
London, Deutsche Grammophon, Angel, RCA Records Steinway Piano
Fourth Concert Ninetieth Annual Choral Union Series Complete Programs 3631
PROGRAM NOTES
"Dich theure Halle" from Tannhliuser......Richard Wagner
The scene is the Hall of Song in the Wartburg. Elisabeth enters, joyous because of Tannhauser's forthcoming return and sings a greeting to the Hall: "Oh, Hall of Song, I give thee greeting! All hail to thee, thou hallowed place!"
Traume..............Richard Wagner
Whence come these radiant dreams all my soul enchanting; visions ever brighter growing mighty in their holy power, and rapturously creating a beloved image.
Schmerzen.............Richard Wagner
If the sun must find a setting, if the sun must e'en depart; and if death engenders living, and if grief can lead to bliss; Oh then, I thank thee, Nature, for giving me such pain as this!
Gretchen am Spinnrade..........Franz Schubert
My peace is gone--no rest can be mine! I watch for him in the street, for the way he walks, the sound of his voice, his hand in mine. I long to be with him, for his arms to enfold me.
Auflosung.............Franz Schubert
Hide yourself, sun, for the glowing warmth of joy scores my frame. Music, be dumb; beauty of spring, begone and leave me alone. Yet from every corner of my soul there spring delect?able influences that surround me with heavenly song. Perish, 0 world, and disturb not the sweet ethereal choirs.
Die junge Nonne...........Franz Schubert
The tempest rages, but here there is peace. Here the heart finds release too from life's storms. The Vesper bells intone the sacred hour of prayer.
Befreit..............Richard Strauss
Oh, do not weep, love. Bid me farewell and fondly kiss me. I shall return your gaze and kiss. You will leave me your soul and our children. Life is ebbing fast. Then you will come to me only in dreams, to bless me and to weep with me.
Wiegenlied.............Richard Strauss
Dream, dream, blossom of my love, of that silent, holy night when the flower of his love made this world paradise for me.
Zueignung.............Richard Strauss
I give you my thanks, not only for love's merry moments, its peace and comfort, but for love's pain as well.
Hostkvall..............Jean Sibelius
The sun is setting, the clouds float away. The day's murmuring farewell dies sadly away in the deepening shadows. A wayfarer stands entranced. Is his soul aware of being in harmony with the song raised by the starless night Does his grief die away as a gentle sound in the tremendous elegy of autumn
Var det en drom.............Jean Sibelius
Was it a dream that once I was your beloved Was it a dream, as shortlived as a spring flower Many nights, with tears deep inside, I keep the sweet memory of my most beautiful dream.
Morgonsang.............Erkki Melartin
My beloved spake, and said unto me: Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away .... (Song of Solomon, 2:10)
Gieb mir dein Herze...........Erkki Melartin
"Give me thy heart, I Rive thee mine." "I cannot, my heart can never be thine." "Give me thy hand, I give thee mine." "I cannot, this ring is the sign of my pledge."
Det forste mode.............Edvard Grieg
The first meeting is like a song in the wood. It is like a song on the waves in the sun's last blushing.
En svane..............Edvard Grieg
My swan, my pale one, of silence unbroken! As death was o'ertaking, thy silence now break?ing, thou gavest thy song.
En drom...............Edvard Grieg
In a wondrous lovely dream a tender love was mine. The buds awoke, the brooklet gushed, afar we heard the village chime. We stood entranced in bliss sublime. But fairer far than was my dream, the bliss one waking hour displayed.
"Ebben, ne andro lontana," from La Wally.....Alfredo Catalani
La Wally is a strange, wild creature. Her father has bid her marry a man whom she does not love, and she revolts. Whereupon her father threatens to disown her. It is then she sings "Ebben, ne andro lontana:" "I will go away, up into the whitecapped mountains. O Mother dear, your Wally will ne'er again return--she will wander homeless and alone."
BIRGIT NILSSON was born at Svenstad in the township of West Karup, Sweden. She received her musical training at the Royal Musical Academy in Stockholm, making her debut at the Stockholm Opera in 1946. Her successes in Berlin, Vienna, Bayreuth, Glyndenbourne, Florence, Naples, and South America, were followed in 19S6 by her first appearances in America, at the Hollywood Bowl and the San Francisco Opera. On December 18, 1959, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as "Isolde." Her first appearance in Ann Arbor was at the 1961 May Festival. She sang here again in a recital in March, 1963. In private life she is the wife of a Stockholm restauranteur, Bertil Niklasson. They maintain homes both in Stockholm and Zurich.
1968 --INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS --1969
Hill Auditorium
YEHUDI MENUHIN. Violinist, and
HEPHZIBAH MENUHIN, Pianist . . . (2:30) Sunday, November 24
Program: Sonata in A major No. 2, Op. 100.........Brahms
Sonata No. 1...............Bartok
Sonata in A major ("Kreutzcr")........Beethoven
GREGG SMITH SINGERS......(2:30) Sunday, January 12
HAGUE PHILHARMONIC........Friday, January 24
YVillem Van Otterloo, Conductor
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE . . Saturday, February 8 "CARMEN" (Goldovsky Opera Co.) . . . (8:00) Saturday, February 15 BALLET FOLKLORICO OF MEXICO .... Wednesday, February 26
RUDOLF SERKIN, Pianist.......Wednesday, March 5
MOSCOW STATE SYMPHONY......Thursday, March 13
Tickets: $6.00--$5.50--$5.00--$4.00--$3.00--$2.00 (Tickets at $6.00 and $4.00 sold out for "Carmen", Serkin, and the Menuhins)
Rackham Auditorium
JANET BAKER, English MezzoSoprano .... Sunday, January 5
MUSIC FROM MARLBORO.......Saturday, February 1
ISRAEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.....Monday, February 10
COLOGNE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA .... Saturday, February 22 ORCHESTRA MICHELANGELO DI FIRENZE . . . Sunday, March 23
Tickets: $5.00--$4.00--$3.00
George Frederick Handel
December 6 and 7, 8:30; December 8, 2:30
In Hill Auditorium
THE UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION MEMBERS OF THE INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY ORCHESTRA
Susan Belling, Soprano Henry Nason, Tenor
Elizabeth Mannion, Contralto David Clatworthy, Bass
Mary McCall Stubbins, Organist; Charles Fisher, Harpsichordist
Lester McCoy, Conductor Tickets: $3.00--$2.00--$1.50--$1.00
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Beginning Annual Meeting, November 5, 1968)
Gail W. Rector, President Roscoe O. Bonisteel, ViceF'resident
Erich A. Walter, Secretary E. Thttrston Thieme, Treasurer
James R. Breakey, Jr. Douglas D. Crary Robben W. Fleming Harlan Hatcher
Oscar A. Eberbach Thor Johnson Alexander G. Ruthven
Directors Emeritus
Paul G. Kauper Wilbur K. Pierpont Daniel H. Schurz Stephen H. Spurr
Charles A. Sink E. Blythe Stason Henry F. Vaughan
BURTON MEMORIAL TOWER, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48104
Office Hours: 9:00 to 4:30, Monday through Friday; Saturday 9:00 to 12:00
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