Kristi Sullen Concert Report

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The concert I attended was that of Kristi Sullen, a senior and soprano vocalist. Sullen was accompanied by Dr. Joel Jones who played the piano throughout the performance meaning most of the songs being performed are homophonic. As she entered the stage for the first time of the night, she is dressed in a beautiful purple gown. She is adorned with dramatic jewelry. Dr. Jones introduces Kristi to the crowd and the recital begins. The first song she sang was “Inflammatus”, the eighth of ten movements from Stabat Mater. Composed by Gioachino Rossini, this Latin tale is sung from the perspective of Jesus’s mother, Mary, as He was crucified. The piece begins strong at forte and we can hear the pain that Mary is experiencing in the singer’s voice. …show more content…

This set consists of the compositions “Zueignung”, “Nichts”, and “Die Nacht”. Composed by Richard Strauss, these three works are from the larger set 8 Latzte Blätter and are based on poems by Hermann von Gilm, an Australian poet. Though the tempo of “Zueignung” is somewhat allegro, the meaning behind the song is not as cheerful. “Zueignung” is dedicated to a heartbroken lover who is attempting to drink their sorrows away. “Nichts” is also played and sung at allegro but is more playful and sarcastic. Die “Nacht” has more undertones of fearfulness. The lyrics express a fear that as the night mercilessly takes things away, it will also steal the singer’s lover. This is expressed through its moderato tempo along with it being played at mezzo piano for most of the song. The song does, however, have some moments of forte as it reaches its climax. After “Die Nacht” ends, the performers take another bow and exit the …show more content…

This work is the second song of three from Suor Angelica. The story this opera tells is one of a nun who was sent to the covenant for having a child out of wedlock, who unfortunately passes away. Greif struck, Suor Angelica drinks poison to be with her child again. As Kristi sings the sad tale, the grief of the mother can be both heard in her voice and seen on her face. At the conclusion, Sullen and Dr. Jones take a bow and exit the stage again. The next set Sullen performed comprised of the two works Extase and Soupir. Extase takes on a sensual feel as the song begins piano and adagio. Soupir takes on a more sorrowful feel as it also begins piano and adagio but without many timbres. Soupir is more sorrowful because it is about a man mourning the death of his wife and pledging to always love her. The work fortes toward the middle as the husband yearns to be able to hold his wife again. Once they are back on stage, Kristi and Dr. Jones perform “Summertime” from the opera Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. “Summertime” is the first English song of the recital. The opera opens with the mother expressing to her baby that the struggles of being African American will not interfere with her ability to provide through lullaby. To emphasize this moment, Sullen walked onto the stage carrying a baby doll as she began to sing the

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