NATS winners

I am proud of all of my students who sang at the Georgia NATS Student Auditions at the University of Georgia this weekend. The picture features my three 1st place winners, Hannah Freeman (also Miss Shorter), Laura Collins, and Chris Lewis. All three won their musical theatre categories and impressed at the Winners' Concert with their strong renditions of Jason Robert Brown and Maury Yeston songs.

Exploring Handel's Cleopatra

In preparing for my upcoming recital, I have been exploring the character of Cleopatra from Handel's opera Giulio Cesare (1724). This plum soprano role has 6 arias, everything from the coloratura tour de force "Da tempeste il legno" to the sublime sostenuto of "Se pietà di me non senti." I love the stately sensuality of "V'adoro pupille," while "Piangerò la sorte mia" delves into Cleopatra's dramatic complexity. Notable contemporary Cleopatras have included Beverly Sills and Sylvia McNair.

Voce di Roma premeires

The new chamber choir Voce di Roma will make its debut February 6 at 7:30 pm in Brookes Chapel at Shorter College. Tre Appleby will conduct the Dvořák Te Deum featuring Matthew Hoch, baritone, with myself as the soprano soloist.

From Paris and Pontevedro to Savannah and Chattanooga

It will be a busy week for me: first I will be attending the GMEA (Georgia Music Educators' Association) conference in Savannah and then judging the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Guild Voice Competition. Meanwhile, I am still reveling in the success of my production of The Merry Widow.

Photo by Chuck Tedder featuring can-can girls/Shorter students Jenica Reed, Anne Marie Kelly, Emily Tweedy, Tareva Moore, Mary Diesch, and Jasmine Habersham.

"The Merry Widow" runs Jan. 22-23

Shorter Opera Theatre proudly presents Franz Lehar's operetta
The Merry Widow. As the stage director and choreographer of the production, I am proud of the talented singers at Shorter, who also get to test their acting and dancing skills in this production. Performances will be at the Rome City Auditorium Jan. 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm. For tickets, please contact boxoffice@shorter.edu .

Photo by Aimee Madden featuring Emily Tweedy as Valencienne in the can-can.

Excerpts from "The Prince of Tides" opera to be premiered

One should always be ready for unexpected opportunities. 2010 is starting with a new-found endeavor for me. Twelve days before the premiere of excerpts from Andy Fowler's opera based on The Prince of Tides, I was called to step in for an ailing singer. My last week of vacation before the spring semester will be spent learning this exciting new work. On January 10, 2010 at the University of South Carolina, Tim Koch of the Carolina Master Chorale will conduct the excerpts from Fowler's new opera. I will sing Savannah, the suicidal sister (played by Melinda Dillon in the movie) as well as young Lila, her mother, in flashbacks. It should be an exciting (and anxious week) as I do my best to prepare my part. For more on Tim Koch and Andy Fowler, please visit the CMC website at CAROLINA MASTER CHORALE .

Poster presentation at NOA/NATS Convention

On January 9, 2010, I will be pleased to present a poster paper at the National Opera Association/National Association of Teachers of Singing convention in Atlanta: First the Words, Then the Music. Based on my doctoral dissertation, my poster is Realizing Rosina: Operatic Realizations of Beaumarchais's Heroine. Pictured is Renee Fleming, the original Rosina in John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles as well as a noted interpreter of Mozart's Countess Rosina Almaviva.

Former student releases CD

My former student Stephanie Schecter has just released her first CD. Entitled Capturing a Moment, the album features her original songs. Stephanie is now a voice major at College of Charleston. Check out her website at MYSPACE .

Student singer/songwriter

My voice student Tanna Key is a an up and coming young singer/songwriter/guitarist playing in Georgia and in Nashville. You can check out her original songs on her website. Watch out Taylor Swift!

TANNAKEY.COM

Website launch!

I am pleased to announce the launch of www.lindalister.com . On my new website, check out my multimedia links to audio and video performances, peruse my photo gallery, or read about Yoga for Singers.

LINDALISTER.COM

"Messiah" with the Rome Symphony Orchestra

On December 5, I have the pleasure of being the soprano soloist for the Rome Symphony Orchestra's Messiah. One must be fearless to sing the fioritura of "Rejoice greatly," which is great fun.

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.

Opera excerpts on You Tube!

Visit the new You Tube site for Shorter's music department at http://www.youtube.com/shortermusic.

You can see excerpts from Shorter Opera Theatre productions I've directed, you can hear me sing with my esteemed colleagues on the Shorter voice faculty, and you can see me do a crazy Isadora Duncan/flapper fusion dance with Jake Haynie, aka Bob.