Brahms: Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer, Op. 105, No. 2 - Marilyn Michael, Contralto

Marilyn Michael, Contralto
Robert Moeling, Piano

Marilyn Michael's career was launched when she was guest alto soloist under the conductor Helmuth Rilling at the Bachakadamie Summer Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. Later that season she sang four German Lieder recitals at Toynbee Hall in London, England. Subsequent seasons produced engagements ranging from Bach to Mahler including Bach St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion, Honniger's King David, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah and Dixit Dominus, and Das Lied von der Erde at the Mahler Sommerfest in Kassel, Germany. Other highlights of her career include Mahler's Symphony no. 2 under the direction of Julius Rudel an NPR broadcast performance and tour of Mozart Requiem with the London Bach Choir, Sir David Willcocks, conducting; and Beethoven Symphony no. 9 and Mozart Requiem with the Florida Orchestra and Maestro Jahja Ling conducting.

In December 2009, Dr. Michael was invited by the Philharmonic Society of Orenburg, Russia to perform as soloist with the Divertissment Ensemble singing repertoire from Richard Strauss op. 10 and duets in Russian of Dargomysky and The Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky. In addition, she gave a vocal master class at the student center in coordination with Orenburg State University. Recently, she had her debut at Carnegie Hall as alto soloist in the Messiah with the New England Chamber Ensemble, Joel Panciera conducting.

She debuted the first vocal CD for Erasmus label of Brahms Lieder with famed Dutch pianist, Robert Moeling, featuring Four Serious Songs, op. 121 and Ziguenerlieder. It is widely-distributed in the Netherlands, France, South Africa, and Japan. Other recent performances in Italy include Santa Maria del Fiore (Dome) in Florence, Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, and Basilica of San Sabina in Rome. Last November, Marilyn Michael was invited to sing and performed as soloist at L'Église de la Madeleine and at the American Cathedral in Paris.

Dr. Michael was invited by the Secretary of Culture of Argentina to perform recitals in Fall 1999 and
give master classes at the Franz Liszt conservatory in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was also engaged as soloist for the Messiah Festival at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas for 3 seasons.

Dr. Marilyn Michael has served as full-time professor and coordinator of vocal studies, opera workshop, and Honors Western Humanities II at St. Petersburg College since 1994. She is the founder and artistic director of the Summer Vocal Institute at St. Petersburg College, which has engaged baritone Sherrill Milnes and tenor Enrico di Giuseppe from the Metropolitan Opera as guest directors. Many students of the Summeer Vocal Institute have been engaged as chorus singers and emerging artists with productions of the St. Petersburg Opera at the Palladium Theatre; a collaboration established by Dr. Michael and Maestro Mark Sforzini, artistic and executive director of the St. Petersburg Opera.

Dr. Michael has both a B.M. and M.M. degree in vocal performance from the University of Kansas; a MS.Ed. degree in Post-secondary and Adult Education from Capella University, and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D).degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Argosy University/University of Sarasota campus. She has also taken post-graduate studies and received certification in Baroque vocal performance from the Bachakadamie in Stuttgart, Germany under the artistic direction of Wolfram Wehnert and Helmuth Rilling.

Discography:

Von ewiger Liebe- Selected songs of Johannes Brahms; Robert Moeling/pianist; Erasmus label (Rotterdam,Netherlands).

St. Matthew Passion/J.S. Bach; Bethany choir, Dr. Gregory Aune conducting; Delta label (U.S.)

Missa Omnium Sanctorum/Jan Dismas Zelenka; Marburg Bach Chor, Dr. Wolfram Wehnert conducting; Thorofon label (Germany)

Text and translation of lied:

Author - Hermann von Lingg (1820-1905)

Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer,
Nur wie Schleier liegt mein Kummer
Zitternd über mir.
Oft im Traume hör' ich dich
Rufen drauß vor meiner Tür:
Niemand wacht und öffnet dir,
Ich erwach' und weine bitterlich.

Ja, ich werde sterben müssen,
Eine Andre wirst du küssen,
Wenn ich bleich und kalt.
Eh' die Maienlüfte wehen,
Eh' die Drossel singt im Wald:
Willst du einmal noch mich sehen,
Komm, o komme bald!

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My slumber grows ever more peaceful;
and only like a thin veil now does my anxiety
lie trembling upon me.
Often in my dreams I hear you
calling outside my door;
no one is awake to let you in,
and I wake up and weep bitterly.

Yes, I will have to die;
another will you kiss,
when I am pale and cold.
Before the May breezes blow,
before the thrush sings in the forest:
if you wish to see me once more,
come, o come soon!

Category:

Music

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