In the early 1900s, Ralph Vaughan Williams, a brilliant English composer, embarked on a musical journey inspired by the words of Robert Louis Stevenson. The result was “Songs of Travel,” a captivating song cycle that takes listeners on a poignant exploration of life, love, and the human spirit. Set against the backdrop of Stevenson’s evocative… Read More
Voice Classification
Rosa Ponselle: The Voice of a Legend in the Golden Age of Opera
Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981) was an American operatic soprano who is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Born in Meriden, Connecticut, Ponselle grew up in a musical family and began singing at a young age. Her older sister, Carmela Ponselle, was an established Vaudeville singer and brought a young Rosa… Read More
Thomas Quasthoff, musical icon and advocate
Thomas Quasthoff is a world-renowned German bass-baritone singer and a celebrated performer of classical music. Born on November 9, 1959, Quasthoff developed a passion for music at a young age and began singing in choirs as a child. He went on to study at the Music Conservatory of Hanover, where he received training in voice… Read More
Coloratura Soprano and Advocate, Reri Grist
Reri Grist is a retired American soprano who was born on February 23, 1932, in New York City. She is known for her performances in opera, operetta, and musical theater, and she was particularly celebrated for her coloratura soprano voice, which is a type of voice that is characterized by its agility, flexibility, and ability… Read More
A Voice for Change: Remembering Nadine Roberts Waters, Operatic Soprano
Nadine Roberts Waters was a notable African American operatic soprano from Wyoming, Ohio, who rose to fame during the early 20th century. She was born on September 10, 1903, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in the town of Wyoming, a suburb of Cincinnati. Waters started her music training at the age of 12, studying… Read More
Perfect Tenor Recital Selections
Voice recitals are part of a voice student’s degree fulfillment requirements. Whether you are preparing for a Junior Recital, Senior Recital, or Graduate Recital, identifying and grouping texts to display your vocal skill is key. Texts may be selected and grouped by language, emotion, or level of difficulty. Texts may also be selected and grouped… Read More
Four art songs, set by Claude Debussy, perfect for soprano recital
Are you preparing for a Junior Recital, Senior Recital, or Graduate Recital? These four art songs, as set by Claude Debussy, are perfect for adding to a Soprano vocal recital program. French composer Achille-Claude Debussy, also known as Claude-Achille Debussy or Claude Debussy was born August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Seine-et-Oise. Debussy was one of… Read More
Perfect Baritone Recital Selections
Attendees at a vocal recital fall into several categories: fans of the music; followers, family, or friends of the vocalist; those who wish to see or assess the singer’s performance; those who were brought along with someone else to the recital; and those who are needing persuasion. Therefore, the preparation for a vocal recital –… Read More