Faculty Gala 2009

My colleague Matthew Hoch and I backstage at the DeSoto Theatre.
I was delighted to sing Marie's aria from The Daughter of the Regiment as well as Mary Liz McNamara's anti-vegetarian song, "Bacon." The irony was not lost, I do believe!

Picnic premieres

This month I had the pleasure of playing Madge in the world premiere of Libby Larsen's opera Picnic. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by William Inge, Picnic is a haunting investigation of our choices in love and life. Chuck Schneider played Hal, the role made famous by William Holden in the 1955 film. UNCG Opera Theatre director David Holley served as both stage director and librettist. For a review, follow this link: http://www.cvnc.org/reviews/2009/042009/UNCG_Picnic.html .

"Pleas to Famous Fairies" premieres

The song cycle "Pleas to Famous Fairies" premiered on April 6, 2009. Soprano Laura Collins performed the six-song set by composer and poet Linda Lister. The cycle features entreaties to Ariel from "The Tempest," Titania from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, and Tinkerbell from "Peter Pan."

The premiere was part of Ms. Collins' senior recital at 7:30 pm in Shorter College's Brookes Chapel.

Music of the Moors

I am pleased to announce the publication of The Brontës in the World of the Arts by Ashgate. This book examines the artistic endeavors of the Brontës, and my chapter explores operatic and song realizations of their work including my own chamber opera, How Clear She Shines!

SCHUBERT Mass in G

See excerpts from Schubert's Mass in G, which I performed with the Shorter Chorus in April 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGZ7LpB-uGU&feature=related

Sneak peek at Yoga for Singers

Tree pose
Photograph by Maryann Bates
Models: Jasmine Habersham, Megs Free, and myself.
From my upcoming book, Yoga for Singers

Operas for Female Casts from Moon Diva Publishing

Looking for original one-act operas with all-female casts?

How Clear She Shines! (2002)
Music by Linda Lister
Libretto by Linda Lister based on the writings of Anne, Emily and Charlotte Brontë.

Narrated by Charlotte Brontë, How Clear She Shines! is a chamber opera celebrating the accomplishments of her sisters' writings and recounting the tragedies of their early deaths. Charlotte pays tribute to Anne and Emily and also reveals her own strength of character and sisterly devotion.

Your True Calling: Composing in the Shadow of Schumann, Mendelssohn and Mahler (2005)
Music by Alma Mahler Werfel, Clara Wieck Schumann, and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
Libretto by Linda Lister

This theatrical evening of Lieder/multimedia one act explores the compositions and love lives of Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Alma Mahler, all three talented and passionate female composers who were forced to subjugate their talents so that the talents of their husband or brother could prevail. Women were still not supposed to be composers in the nineteenth century. In the words of Fanny's father:

"Music will perhaps become your brother Felix’s profession, while for you it can and must only be an ornament, never the root of your being and doing. Remain true to these sentiments and to this line of conduct-they are feminine, and only what is truly feminine is an ornament to your success. You must prepare more earnestly and eagerly for your true calling, the only calling of a young woman-I mean the state of a housewife.”

Available through Moon Diva Publishing. Contact me at llister@shorter.edu.

Recital at Kerrytown

Patrick Harvey and I at our triumphant Michigan recital. From the delicate Schubert, nuanced Debussy, tempestuous Turina to heartfelt Hoiby, our program was exciting and rewarding for us, and hopefully the audience. I look forward to many more collaborations with my talented pal Patrick.