My new CD of Wagner, Strauss, and Schreker Lieder

I am very happy to announce that my new cd is now on cdbaby for sale and digital distribution. Of course, the great Wesendonck Lieder are well known, but it was my intention to perform and record some rather unknown works of Strauss and early works of Schreker. They are unique and extremely expressive.

One of the very few recordings of the Op. 67, from c. 1918, is the recording of the Ophelia Lieder by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. The last three songs of the cycle, the Goethe Lieder, are hardly available, at least it does not seem to exist as an entire cycle.

The Schreker songs are very early works (189?) and very difficult to find in the recital scene. I had a great time working on these songs. They are technically difficult - both from the standpoint of vocal technique and co-ordination with the pianist.

Schreker himself was an interesting personality. I would like to quote a couple of lines from his “My character study” which appeared in April 1921 in the “Musikblaetter des Anbruch” by the Viennese Universal Edition.

He calls himself an “impressionist, expressionist, internationalist, futurist”. He says, “I am an idealist (Thank God!), symbolist and stand at the left wing of the modern (Schoenberg, Debussy)…” After a long list of what I am and what I am not, he says, “What in heaven’s name am I not? I am not yet crazy! And I have not yet written a critic!”

I was fortunate to have an excellent pianist. I hope you like the cd!

By the way, I will be singing the Dvorak Biblical Songs, Op. 99, very soon (July 11th) in Chartres, France. (Please see my entry from November, 2008.) I will also be in the Rheingau area of Germany with a church concert on August 1st.

• Author and date: Brenda Roberts (2009-06-11)
• Permalink: My new CD of Wagner, Strauss, and Schreker Lieder
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Auditions continued

A few additions to “Auditions”, my last entry.

Your audition documents should include a complete, well-written resume, a professional photo, a list of engagements (even very small roles), your repertory, and your address, telephone number and email address where you can be reached.

Include every performance no matter how small or insignificant you think it might be. Even small roles show that you have sung on stage and have experience. It should also include any contests you have won and recitals you have sung.

Address your resume to the name of the agent, artistic director, etc. and not just “Dear Sir”. Do your homework and find out with whom you are personally dealing.

It is important in professional life to have an answering machine. Being quickly reachable and available is necessary in the professional world. Please no funny recordings on your answering machine. A “Hallo, not here!”, for example, is not responsible. You want to show that you think in a business manner. A mobile telephone is of utmost importance nowadays when you have to be quickly available.

An email address is indispensable in the modern music world.

If you have any questions, please ask. I want you to be successful and I’ll try to help!!

• Author and date: Brenda Roberts (2009-06-04)
• Permalink: Auditions continued
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