Like everyone else, I'm excited to know that Anthony has prepared an almost
completely new programme for this concert tour. Some of the very best
pieces have been left in, and some wonderful new ones have been added.
For me, part of the pleasure is the fact that many of these pieces are new
to me, and I'm looking forward to hearing Anthony sing them.
Looking over the songlist, there seems to be a definite pattern running
through all the pieces......that of love, in various forms. The two German Lieder
by Robert Schumann come from his "Myrthen", and were dedicated to his wife,
Clara Schumann. "Widmung" which opens the song cycle, means "Dedication."
The words are just beautiful. "You are my soul, you are my rapture, my pain,
my heaven in which I soar.......you are my grave, in which I bury my sorrow......
"Du bist wie eine Blume" translates as "you are like a flower, so beautiful,
pure and fair." Both lieder are very well known, and Widmung especially, is
very difficult, with a wide vocal range, from low B-flat to high G-flat.
I'm assuming that the French melodie Anthony sang was "Apres un Reve"
which means "after a dream." It was written by Gabriel Faure, and is one of
his most famous and most exquisite melodies. The text is almost dreamlike,
too. "In a slumber where I saw your image, I dreamt of happiness.
Your eyes were gentler, your voice pure and sonorous.....you called me
and I left the earth to run towards the light, with you. Alas, sad awakening.
Return, radiant, mysterious night."
"The Loveliest Night of the Year" was yet another hit song for Mario Lanza. It
was published in 1950, and he sang it in the famous movie, "The Great Caruso."
It was originally called "Over the Waves" by its composer, and there were
no lyrics. But Paul Francis Webster wrote lyrics for the song, to put it in the
movie. "When you are in love, it's the loveliest night of the year. Stars
twinkle above, and you almost can touch them from here. Words fall
into rhyme, any time you are holding me near. When you are in love,
it's the loveliest night of the year."
There were a few songs left in from last year, including "The Snowy
Breasted Pearl" which was, to me, the most glorious song of the tour.
It is among the many, many pieces made famous by John McCormack,
that suit Anthony's voice to a T. And of course the pairing of the
beauty of Anthony Kearns' voice and the genius of Patrick Healy have
already made "A Father's Prayer" a classic, and "Friendship" a gem.
So thanks to both men, for taking us on another wonderful musical journey.
Berta Calechman
2007 FALL CONCERT TOUR THE PROGRAMME
As seen by resident
Fan's Site Music Expert,
Berta Calechman
