HOMELAND AND EXILE

Colla Voce Studio Concert Director: Dallas Watts Accompanist: Bianca Zhang

When: Tuesday 23rd May 2017 4:30pm Venue: Room 334, Robert Webster Building (Building: G14), UNSW. The Ensemble: Sopranos- Melissa Chye, Ekaterina Frolov, Tayla Gregson, Briannah Gorden, Rebecca Gore, Josephine Stark, Lucy Vallely, Megan Kim; Mezzos: Patrick Nam (Counter tenor) Rebecca Dibdin, Madeleine Kehoe, Priyanka Pinto, Britney Trevithick, Katya Triantis; Baritones: Mitchell Hutchinson, Emillio Mancia, Owen Pearson; Bass-Baritone: Kieran Hacobian; Tenors: Ben Taylor, Joseph Raso Programme 1.Vocal Overture (ensemble improvisation) 2.I vow to thee my country (ensemble), music by Gustav Holst/ lyrics by Sir Cecil Spring Price 3.This Land that I love (soloist-Kieran Hacobian), from the musical Roulette, music by Lyndal Tait/ lyrics by Andrew Mathews 4.Don’t cry for me Argentina (ensemble/ soloists-Priyanka Pinto and Tayla Gregson/ featured chorus-Owen Pearson and Mitchell Hutchinson), music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice, arranged by Allan Billingsly 5. Armenian Song- Guka Mi Or (The Day Will Come), soloist Madeleine Kehoe-a lamentation for the genocide of 1915 6.Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (ensemble) from the opera Nabucco, by Giuseppe Verdi 7.The Funeral Scene (ensemble and featured soloist-Becky Gore), from Roulette, music by Lyndal Tait, lyrics by Andrew Mathews. 8.Ombra mai fu, from the opera Xerxes, by George Friderik Handel (featuring soloist Patrick Nam, with Lucy Vallely, Josephine Stark and Owen Pearson) 9.Where (soloist-Briannah Gorden) from the Opera Rabbits, by Kate Miller Heidtke 10.Beau Soir, (soloist-Melissa Chye), lyrics by Paul Bourget, music by Claude Debussy 11.Gypsy Song, No.5, from Zigeunerlieder (soloist-Ekaterina Frolov), music by Antonin Dvorak. 12.An American Century (Once Upon a time in America-an ensemble improvisation featuring Ben Taylor as Barrack Obama, gospel singers Rebecca Dibdin and Madeleine Kehoe, Owen Pearson as Donald Trump, and Katya Triantis as Cher. i.) Obama Cares…ii.) Amazing Grace…iii.) Trump’s Trumpet…iv) If I could turn back time 13.Finale from Porgy and Bess (Oh Lawd I’m on my way) (full ensemble, featuring Emillio Mancia as Porgy), from the opera Porgy and Bess, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin.

THE END

HOMELAND AND EXILE

Colla Voce Studio Concert Director: Dallas Watts Accompanist: Bianca Zhang

DIRECTOR’S NOTES: *THE PROJECT The focus of this ensemble has been on theatre process; the learning of material on the page and putting it onto the stage. All the participants came to this project with different musical skills, very different voices, varied levels of motivation, self-discipline, and sight reading ability. The challenge was to unite this quite disparate group of accomplished classical singers and Musical Theatre “Drama Types” to form a fighting theatrical unit. The most exciting aspect has been to showcase as many singers as possible in the styles of music that might suit them most. There is no doubt in my mind that many singers in this ensemble have the talent to forge major professional careers as both solo and choral singers. There are also several budding directors here as well. Whilst It is true that careers in the Arts are forged from talent and hard work, the establishment of a ‘musical forum’ such as this can lead to the development of stage ownership and self-confidence. This can make all the difference to a singer’s success in both auditions and stage work in the future. (That is, a place where risk taking can occur, new musical styles can be tried out, individual and corporate self-confidence can develop from week to week in rehearsal, and where the concentration is on the development of great rehearsal processes, rather than the pressure of the ‘final product’). *HOMELAND AND EXILE: The concept of homeland is an intriguing one, as it involves all of us in a given society, and includes notions of belonging and self-definition. Nationalism, good and bad politicians, and societal organisation are major themes here. And yet-there is also the personal relationship that the individual has with his, or her homeland that is apparent. In this workshop concert, the repertoire firstly explores the national aspects of homeland, and the allegiance to the state, patriotism, and in the case of the Verdi Chorus, the longing to return to the homeland from exile. Minority groups and outsiders are championed here with the gypsy and Armenian songs. Australian Indigenous groups are alluded to as the rabbits invade the kangaroos’ habitat in the Miller-Heidtke song. Nature, and the individual’s relationship to the beauty of homeland is then explored, beginning with ombra mai fu. The workshop finishes with the jingoism of improvisations from The American Century-a lost American dream, and a longing for a better eternal homeland in Gershwin’s vision of Porgy and Bess. *ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The marvellous dedication of accompanist Bianca Zhang has enabled this risk-taking venture to become a reality. Bianca’s courage, patience and hard work has been inspirational, it has been such a pleasure to work with her on this project. Thanks also to professor Mano Mora for his ongoing support of this workshop, and for allowing previous alumnus (Joseph Raso) to be part of the ensemble. Thanks also to (tenor) Joseph Raso for enabling us to have a real full-sounding SATB choir experience by his actual presence! Finally, thank you to Rachel Chang and Kerrie McLeod in the SAM’S Office for literally opening doors, unlocking Steinway pianos, and helping with the programme itself.