SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Faculty Lecture Recital
Lloyd Linney, soprano
Michael Rickman, piano
January 26, 2010 7:30 P.M. Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO: AN OPERA FOR FIVE SOPRANOS
Venite, inginocchiatevi (musical introduction excerpted from Susanna's aria in Act II)
Come kneel down; remain still... [all will] certainly know the reason why.
Cherubino, the Count's page
Non so piu cosa son, cosa faccio (written for Dorothea Bussani)
I don't know who I am or what I am doing. One moment I'm on fire, then I am cold as
ice. Each woman makes me blush! Each woman makes me tremble!
Even at the mention of love, of delight, I am disturbed and my heart pounds.
I am forced to speak of love, a desire that I cannot explain. I speak of love while awake
and while asleep - to the water, to the shadow, to the mountains, to the flowers, to the
grass,to the fountains, to the echo, to the air, to the winds which carry away with them the
sound of my futile words.
And if there is no one to hear me, I will speak of love to myself.
Countess Almaviva
Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro (written for Luisa Laschi)
Love, bestow some consolation to my sorrow, to my sighs.
Either restore my treasure to me, or at least allow me to die.
E Susanna non vien! . . . Dove sono, i bei momenti (written for Luisa Laschi)
Susanna not here? I am anxious to know how the Count received the proposal.
The plan seems rather daring to me with a husband so full of spirit and jealousy. But
what's the harm? Changing clothes with those of Susanna and hers with mine under
cover of night. Oh heaven, to what lowly unfortunate condition I am reduced by a cruel
consort, who, with an incredible mixture of faithlessness, jealousy and disdain, first
loved, then insulted and finally betrayed, now makes me seek help from my servant!
Where are the beautiful moments of sweetness and pleasure? Where are the promises of
those deceitful lips? Why has everything changed to tears and grief? The memory of
that happiness has not disappeared. Ah! if only my constancy in loving might bring a
hope of changing his ungrateful heart.
Brief Intermission
STETSON
UNIVERSITY
