SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023, 3:00 P.M. St. Andrew’s River Height s United Chu rc h 255 Oak Str eet, Winnipeg

Lara

Ciekiewicz

-

So

p

rano

Michael

Oike - Collaborating Piani

st

Performing works by:

Puccini, Strauss, Emery, Gordon, Guet

tel,

Britten,

Du

parc,

Refuge

SPO

NSO

R

S:

Renato Fucini E l'uccellino canta sulla fronda: Dormi tranquillo, boccuccia d'amore : Piegala giù quella testin a bionda, Della tua mamma posala sul cuore. E l'uccellino canta su quel ramo: Tante cosine belle imparera i, Ma se vorrai conoscer quant'io t'amo, Nessuno al mondo potrà dirlo mai! E l'uccellino canta al ciel sereno : Dormi, tesoro mio, qui sul mio seno.

(Renato Fucini, 1843-1921) And the little bird sings from a leaf y branch: “Sleep softly, sweet lit tle mouth of love: rest your golden little head here upon your mama’s heart.” And the little bird sings from his bough: “You will learn so many wonderful t hings, but if you wan t to know how much I love you, no one in the world will ever be able to tell you!” And the little bird sings to the t ranquil sky: “Sleep, my beloved, here on my breast.”

E l’uccellino

A

nd The L

itt

le Bird

Giacomo Puccini

789

Onwards,

Urania!

Renato Fucini Io non ho l'ali, eppur quando dal molo lancio la prora al mar, fermi gli alcioni sul potent e volo si librano a guardar. Io non ho pinne, eppur quando i marosi niun legno osa affront ar, trepidando, gli squali ardiment osi mi guardano passar. Simile al mio signor, mite d'aspetto quanto è forte in cu or, Le fiamme ho anch’io nel petto, Anch’io di spazio, Anch’io di gloria ho smania, A vanti Urania!!

Renato Fucini I have no wings, but when I turn my prow from the quayside to the open se a, the gulls pause in their soaring flight s and hover to watch me go. I have no fins, but when I confront the breakers no ship dares broach, even the fearless sharks watch in trepidation as I steam on. Like my master I am mild of manner but brave of heart , I too have fire in my belly, I too yearn for the open wat ers and for glory… Onwards, Urania!

Avanti Urania!

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Enrico Panzacchi I pioppi, curvati dal vent o rimugghiano in lungo filare. Dal buio, tra il sonno, li sento e sogno la voce del mare. E sogno la voce profonda dai placidi ritmi possenti; mi guardan, specchiate dall'onda, le stelle nel cielo fulgen ti. Ma il vento più forte t empesta de' pioppi nel lungo filare. Dal sonno giocondo mi desta... Lontana è la voce del mare !

Terra

e mare

(Enrico Panzacchi, 1840-1904) The long row of poplars howl, bent and bowed by t he wind. In the darkness and in my sleep, I hear them and dream of the voice of t he sea. I dream of that low-pitc hed voice with its placid, powerful rhy thms; the fi ery stars in the sky, reflected in the w aves, gaze down on me. But the wind picks up and sweeps along the long row of poplars. It wakes me from my happy sleep… The voice of the sea is far awa y!

Land and sea

D

onde lieta uscì

(from La B

ohème)

Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa Donde lieta uscì al tuo grido d'amore, torna sola Mimì al solitario nido. Ritorna un'altra volt a a intesser finti fior. Addio, senza rancor. Ascolta, ascolta. Le poche robe aduna che lasciai sparse. Nel mio cassetto stan chiusi quel cerchiett o d'or e il libro di preghiere. Involgi tutto qu anto in un grembiale e manderò il portiere... Bada, sotto il guanciale c'è la cuffietta rosa. Se vuoi serbarla a ricordo d'amor! Addio, senza rancor.

To the place she

once hap

pily left

To the place she once happily lef t to follow your cry of lo ve, Mimi returns - to her solitary nest. I return there again to embroider false flowers… Goodbye, no hard feelings.

Wait, listen… Gather the few thin gs I’ve left behind. In my drawer is a small band of gold and the prayer book. Wrap them in an apron and I will send the concierge… Beware… under the pillow there is my pink bonnet. If you want to keep it in memory of our love, you may. Goodbye, no hard feelings…

Anonymous Il sole allegramente Batte ai tuoi vet ri. Amor, pian pian, batte al tuo cuore , E l'uno e l'altro chiama. Il sole dice: “O dormente, Mostrati che sei bella!” Dice l'amor: “Sorella, Col tuo primo pensier pensa a chi t’ama!"

Sole

e amore

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(Giacomo Puccini, 1858-1924) The sun cheerily knocks at your windows, love knocks o so softly at your heart, and both of them call out. The sun says: “Show yourself, o sleeping beauty!”

S

un and lov

e

Richard Strauss

Karl Friedrich Henckell Ich trage meine Minne Vor Wonne stumm Im Herzen und im Sinne Mit mir herum. Ja, daß ich dich gefunden, Du liebes Kind, Das freut mich alle Tage, Die mir beschieden sind. Und ob auch der Himmel trübe, Kohlschwarz die Nacht, Hell leuchtet meiner Li ebe Goldsonnige P racht. Und lügt auch die Welt in Sünde n, So tut mir’s weh— Die arge muß erblinden Vor deiner Unschuld Schnee.

Ich trage meine Minne

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Translation © Richard Stokes I bear my love In silent bliss About with me

I carry my lov

e

Love says: “Sister, with your first thought, think of the one who loves you!”

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In heart and mind. Yes, that I have found you, Sweet child, Will cheer me all My allotted days. Though the sky be dim, And the night pitch-blac k, My love shines brightly In golden splendour. And though the world lies and sins, And it hurts to see it so— The bad world must be blinded By your snowy innocen ce.

Richard Dehmel Du wirst nicht weinen. L eise, leise wirst du lächel n und wie zur Re ise geb’ ich dir Blick und Kuß zurück. Unsre lieben vier Wände, du hast sie bereite t, ich habe sie dir zur Welt geweite t; O Glück! Dann wirst du heiß meine Hände fasse n und wirst mir deine Seele lassen, läßt unsern Kindern mich zurück. Du schenktest mir dein ganzes Leben , ich will es ihnen wieder geben ; O Glück! Es wird sehr bald sein, wir wissen’s beide, wir haben einander befre it vom Leide, so gab’ ich dich der Welt zurück! Dann wirst du mir n ur noch im Traum erscheinen und mich segnen und mit mir wei nen; O Glück!

Befreit

Translation © Richard Stokes You will not weep. Gent ly, gently you will smile; and as before a journey I shall return your gaze and kiss. You have cared for the room we lov e! I have widened these four walls f or you into a world – O happiness! Then ardently you will se ize my hands and you will leave me your sou l, leave me to care for our children. You gave your whole life to me, I shall give it back to them – O happiness! It will be very soon, we both know it , we have released each other from suf fering, so I returned you to the world. Then you’ll appear to me only in dreams, and you will bless me and weep wi th me – O happiness!

Release

d

Heinrich Hart Wenn du es wüßtest, Was träumen heißt Von brennenden Küssen, Vom Wandern und Ruhen Mit der Geliebten, Aug’ in Auge, Und kosend und plaudernd – Wenn du es wüßtest, Du neigtest dein Herz!

Cäcilie

789

Translation © Richard Stokes If you knew What is is to dream Of burning kisses, Of walking and resting With one’s love, Gazing at each other And caressing and talking – If you knew, Your heart would turn to me. If you knew What it is to worry On lonely nights In the frightening storm,

Ce

cily

Wenn du es wüßtest, Was bangen heißt In einsamen Nächten, Umschauert vom Sturm, Da Niemand tröstet Milden Mundes Die kampfmüde Seele – Wenn du es wüßtest, Du kämest zu mir. Wenn Du es wüßtest, Was leben heißt, Umhaucht von der Gottheit Weltschaffendem At em, Zu schweben empor, Lichtgetragen , Zu seligen Höh’n, Wenn du es wüßtest, Du lebtest mit mir.

789

With no soft voice To comfort The struggle-weary soul – If you knew, You would come to me. If you knew What it is to live Enveloped in God’s World-creating breath, To soar upwards, B orne on light To blessed heights – If you knew, You would live with me .

For

Broken and Tire

d Am I

Matthew Emery

Archibald Lampman, excerpt O endless sun-steeped plain With forests in dim blue shrouds And little wisps of rain Falling from far-off clo uds: I come from the choking air Of passion, doubt, and strife With a spirit and mind laid bare To your healing breadth of lif e: O fruitful and sacred groun d O sunlight and summer sky Absorb me and fold me round For broken and tired am I.

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Sweet, Bide

With M

e

Eugene Field, excerpt Sweet, bide with me an d let my love Be an enduring tether; Oh, wanton not from spot to spot, But let us dwell together. So rest you, love, and be my love, That my enraptured bloomi ng May fill your sight with tender light , Your wings with sweet pe rfuming. Or, if you will not bide w ith me Upon this quiet heather, Oh, give me wing, thou beaut e ous thing, That we may soar together. 789

Requie

scat

Oscar Wilde Tread lightly, she is near Under the snow, Speak gently, she can hear The daisies grow. All her bright golden hair Tarnished with rust, She that was young and f air Fallen to dust. Lily-like, white as snow, She hardly knew She was a woman, so Sweetly she grew. Coffin-board, heavy stone , Lie on her breast,

I vex my heart alone, She is at rest. Peace, peace, she cannot hear Lyre or sonnet, All my life’s buried here, Heap earth upon it.

L'invitation au voyage

Charles Baudelaire Mon enfant, ma sœur, Songe à la douceur D’aller là-bas vivre ensemble! Aimer à loisir, Aimer et mourir Au pays qui te ressemble! Les soleils mouillés De ces ciels brouillés Pour mon esprit ont les charmes Si mystérieux De tes traîtres yeux, Brillant à travers leurs larmes. Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beaut é, Luxe, calme et volupté!

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H

enri

Du

parc

Intermission

Translation © Richard Stokes My child, my sister, Think how sweet To journey there and liv e together! To love as we please, To love and die In the land that is like you! The watery suns Of those hazy skies Hold for my spirit The same mysterious charms As your treacherous eyes Shining through their tears. There - nothing but order and beau ty dwell, Abundance, calm, and sensuous delight.

Invitation to jo

u

rney

Vois sur ces canaux Dormir ces vaisseaux Dont l’humeur est vagabonde; C’est pour assouvir Ton moindre désir Qu’ils viennent du bout du monde. Les soleils couchants Revêtent les champs, Les canaux, la ville entière, D’hyacinthe et d’or; Le monde s’endort Dans une chaude lumière. Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beaut é, Luxe, calme et volupté!

Gabriel Marc Si j’étais, ô mon amoureuse La brise au souffle parfumé , Pour frôler ta bouche rieuse, Je viendrais craintif et charmé. Si j’étais l’abeille qui vole, Ou le papillon séducteu r, Tu ne me verrais pas, frivole, Te quitter pour une au tre fleur. Si j’étais la rose charmante Que ta main place sur ton cœ ur Si près de toi toute tre mblante Je me fanerais de bonheur. Mais en vain je cherche à te plaire, J’ai beau gémir et soupirer. Je suis homme, et que puis-je faire? … T’aimer … Te le dire … Et pleurer!

Sérénade

See on those canals Those vessels sleeping, Vessels with a restless soul; To satisfy Your slightest desire They come from the ends of the e arth. The setting suns Clothe the fields, Canals and all the town With hyacinth and gold; The world falls asleep In a warm light. There - nothing but order and beau ty dwell, Abundance, calm, and sensuous delight. 789

789

Jean Lahor Dans ton cœur dort un clair de lune , Un doux clair de lune d’été, Et pour fuir la vie importu ne, Je me noierai dans ta clarté. J’oublierai les douleurs passées, Mon amour, quand tu berceras Mon triste cœur et mes pensées Dans le calme aimant de tes bras. Tu prendras ma tête malade, Oh! quelquefois sur tes genoux,

C

han

s

on triste

Translation © Richard Stokes If, my beloved, I were The scented breeze, I would come, timid and rapt, To brush your laughing lips. If I were a bee in flight, Or a beguiling butterfl y, You would not seee me skittishly Leave you for anot her flower. If I were the charming rose Your hand placed on your heart, I would, quivering so close to you , Wither with happiness. But I seek in vain to please you, In vain I moan and sigh. I am a man, and what can I do? Love you... Confess my love... And cry!

S

erenade

789

Translation © Richard Stokes Moonlight slumbers in your heart, A gentle summer moonlight, And to escape the cares of lif e I shall drown myself in your light. I shall forget past sorrows, My sweet, when you cradle My sad heart and my thoughts In the loving calm of your arms. You will rest my poor head, Ah! sometimes on your lap, And recite to it a ballad That will seem to speak of us; And from your eyes full of sorrow, From your eyes I shall then drink So many kisses and so much love That perhaps I shall be healed.

Song of sadne

ss

Et lui diras une ballade Qui semblera parler de nous; Et dans tes yeux pleins de tristesses, Dans tes yeux alors je boirai Tant de baisers et de tendresses Que peut-être je g uérirai.

789

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Le connais-tu ce radieux pa ys Où brille dans les branches l’or des fruits? Un doux zép hyr embaume l’air Et le laurier s’unit au myrte vert . Le connais-tu? Le connais-tu?

Romance

de Mignon

Translation © Richard Stokes Do you know that radiant land Where golden fruit shines among the branc hes? A gentle breeze scents the a ir And the laurel grows by the green myrt le. Do you know it? Do you know it ? Yonder, yonder, my beloved. Hasten, thither let us go. Do you know that marvellous dwe lling Where all still speaks to me of our love? Where each thing asks with sadness Who has robbed you of your jo y and happiness? Do you know it? Do you know it ? Yonder, yonder, my beloved Hasten, thither let us go.

Mignon's

Romance

Charles-Marie-René Leconte de L isle L'herbe est molle au sommeil sous les frais peupliers, Aux pentes des sources moussues,

Phidylé

Là-bas, là-bas mon bien-aimé Courons porter nos pas. Le connais-tu ce merv eilleux séjour Où tout me parle encore de n otre amour? Où chaque objet me dit a vec douleur Qui t’a ravi ta joie et t on bonheur? Le connais-tu? Le connais-tu? Là-bas, là-bas, mon bien-aimé Courons porter nos pas.

789

Translation © Richard Stokes The grass is soft for sleep beneath the cool poplars On the banks of the mossy springs That flow in flow ering meadows from a thousand sources, And vanish beneath dark thickets. Rest, O Phidylé! Noon on the leav es Is gleaming, inviting y ou to sleep. By the clover and thyme, alone, in t he bright sunlight, the fickle bees are humming. A warm fragrance floats about the winding paths, The red flowers of the cornfield droop; And the birds, skimming the hillside with their wi ngs, Seek the shade of the eglantin e.

Qui, dans les prés en fleur germant par mille issues, Se perdent sous les noirs halliers. Repose, ô Phidylé! Midi sur les feuillages Rayonne, et t'inv ite au sommeil. Par le trèfle et le thym, seules, en plein solei l, Chantent les abeilles volag es. Un chaud parfum circule au détour des sen tiers, La rouge fleur des blés s'incline, Et les oiseaux, rasant de l'aile la colline, Cherchent l'ombre des églantiers. Mais, quand l'Astre, incliné sur sa courbe éclatan te, Verra ses ardeurs s'apaiser, Que ton plus beau sourire et t on meilleur baiser Me récompensent de l'atte nte!

Phidylé

But when the sun, low on its dazzling curv e, Sees its brilliance wane , Let your loveliest smi le and finest kiss Reward me for my waiti ng!

Emily Dickinson Will there really be a "Morning"? Is there such a thing as "Day"? Could I see it from the mountain s If I were as tall as they? Has it feet like Water lilies? Has it feathers like a Bird? [Does it come] from famous places Of which I have never heard? Oh some Scholar! Oh some Sailor! Oh some Wise Men from the skies! Please to tell [this] little Pilgrim Where the place called "Morning" lies!

Will There

Rea

l

ly

Be a Morning?

The last rose o

f summer

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Ricky Ian Gordon

Benjamin Britten, arr.

(from Myths and Hymns)

Mig

rat

ory V

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Guettel, Adam

Traditional, based on Thomas Moore’s Irish Melodies 'Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone ; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flow'r of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh. I'll not leave thee, thou lone one , To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleep ing, Go, sleep thou with them; Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed, Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead. So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, And from Love's shining circle The gems drop away! When true hearts lie wither'd. And fond ones are flown, Oh! who would inhabit This bleak world alone?

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Adam Guettel We sail above the weather, we search the oc ean floor We rival our creation, still yearni ng for more But can we fly toget her? A migratory V How wonderful if that's w hat God could see A single voice in whispered pray er Can only pray to travel t here But all as one, we sound the everlasting soun d And sing our salvation Aloft and in formation, a mi gratory V How wonderful if t hat's what God could see

Hailed for her “tour-de-force performa nce” (Winnipeg Free Press) in the title role of Mani toba Opera’s Susannah, Lara has est ablished herself as a dynamic, intel ligent, and moving singing-act ress. Her facility for fully transforming into a character, regardless of genr e, ha s earned her the reputat ion of bei ng an artistic ch ameleon. Select credi ts include: Elle, La voix humaine (Mani toba Opera); Musetta, La Bohème; Countess, Le nozze di Figaro (Edmonton Opera); Tatyana , Eugene Onegin (Calgary Op era); title role, Jenůfa; Amelia, Simon Boccanegra; Lau retta Gianni Schi cchi; Nellie Forbush, South Paci fic (Pacific Opera Vi ctoria); Bea, Three Decembers (The Lit tle Opera Company); May, Ours; Cinderella, Into the Woods; Maria, The Sou nd of Music (Opera on the Av alon); Rosalinde, Die Fledermaus (Toronto Operetta Thea tre). Lara is inc reasingly in demand as an adjudic ator, and teacher. She serves as a Voice Instruc tor at the University of Mani toba’s Desautels Faculty of Music. Lara also enjoy s gardening, is an avid walker, loves fabu lous footwear, and is a self-professed pra irie-girl forever.

Lara Ciekiewicz, soprano

Ou

r

Ar

tist

s

Michael has a dive rse musical life in his hometown of Winnip eg, Ma nitoba. For over thirty-five years he has maintained a busy piano teachi ng s tudio , held piano workshops and maste r classes, adjudicated music fest ivals at the local, provin cial and national lev els, and heard in performances of chamber music, instrume ntal and vocal recit als. Michael’s pedagogues have included Alice Naka uchi and Sydney McInnis in Winnipeg, Boris Lysenko at the Royal Conservatory of Music a nd University of Toronto whe re he was awarded the Forsythe Scholar ship as the outstanding graduating pianist. He has also studied sol o p iano and chamber musi c with the renowned Jeaneane Dowis of New York City at her private studio and twice as a Fellowship s tudent at the Waterloo Festival at Princeton Universi ty. Michael has been very fortunate to cover t he much beloved vocal-pian o repertoire with two of the leading pianists of that ge nre - Martin Isepp at the Banff Centre and Ru dolf Janse n at the Mountainview Fest ival in Albert a. Away from the pia no, Mi chael enjoys golfing and curli ng, cheering for the Jets, Blue Jays and Raiders, and tinkering in the kitchen in s earch of the perfect sus hi, butter tart and blueberry pie

Michael Oike, pianist

is proud to support the artis ts of the Lit tle Opera Co mpa n y who are jus t as dedic a t ed to the ir passion, as we are to our cli en t s’ financia l su c c e sse s T AX, R E TIREMENT & E S T A TE PLAN N ING Suit e 200 – 584 P e mbina Hwy Win n ip eg, MB T: 204.98 2 .424 2 | E: d k f s @m t s .n e t dedi catedkno w l edgeab l e

The Little Opera Company congratulates Manitoba Opera on 50 years of operatic excellence!

littleopera.c a

2022 - 2023 Season Contributors

Se a son Suppo rt e rs Winnipeg Arts Council Gail Asper Family Foundation, Inc Canada Council for the Arts Manitoba Arts Council The Winnipeg Foundation Co rporate Donors David Kraemer Financial Serv ices Wolseley Law LLP Lazer Grant LLP

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Patrons

($1,000 +)

Blair Burns Robert Campbell Spencer Duncanson Deve l ope r ($500 - $999) Rob Dalgliesh and Daniel Friedman Donnalynn Grills Heather Milne Judith Panson Edith Wiebe Suppo rt e r ($150 - $499) S tephen and Jackueline Boyd Gerald Brown Roger Dutton James Graham Charles Huband

Don and Cindy Larsen Laurel Litardi Robert MacDonald Douglas McKeag Sidney Robinovitch Annemarie Wiebe Dr. Kathryn and Dr. Robert Young

Friend ($50 - $149)

Diane Berger Rob Herriot Charles Huband Julie Husband and Anthony Cyre Tracy Dahl and Raymond Sokalski Kadri Irwin Rocky and Cheryl Kreis Terumi Kuwada Robert Macklin Connie Matthes Rory Runnells Margot Sim and Ken Hiebert Muriel Smith George E and Nicole Spencer Olesia Toumine Ruby Tretiak Karin Woods

Membe

r ($1 - $49)

K. Virginia Coleman Joanne Liang

The Li

t

tl

e

Opera Co

mp

a

ny

expr

es

s

es

gratitude to

al

l

of our

spo

nso

rs

and donors. We

also

extend our gratitude to

Chollet and the staff of

S

t.

An

dr

e

w’s

R

ive

r He

i

ghts

United

Chur

c

h.

Media Publ

i

c Relations:

Lead Marketing and Promotional Photograph y / Heather Miln e Poster & Program Design / Stephen Boyd Marketing and Webmaster / Don Larsen 234 Yale Av e nue, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0L9 littleopera.c a

Lisa Rumpel, Director Rory Runnells, Director Eldene Spencer, Director Diane Berger, Director Emeritus Don Larsen, Director Emeritus Peter Klymkiw, Director E meritus

Board of Di r ecto rs Robert Campbell, President Spencer Duncanson, Arti stic Director Donnalynn Grills, Treasurer Muriel Smith, Secre tary Odette Heyn, Director Rob Herriot, Director