This page features recordings from my senior vocal recital, the culmination of three years of study under Dr. Cynthia Selph. As a soprano, I explored repertoire from classical art song, musical theatre, and spirituals, showcasing the breadth of my training and vocal development.
Classical Selections
Le Violette — Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Alessandro Scarlatti was an important Italian Baroque composer whose operas and cantatas shaped early vocal music. He was known for writing melodies that were both elegant and expressive, setting the stage for later Italian opera. Le Violette appears in his opera Pirro e Demetrio, a work centered on political conflict and shifting loyalties in the Macedonian court. The aria is sung by the character Mario and serves as a gentle, reflective moment apart from the opera’s main drama. In it, he contemplates the delicate beauty of violets, using their imagery to convey the gentleness and vulnerability of love.
Chanson d’amour — Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Gabriel Fauré was one of the leading French composers of his time and is remembered for his refined harmonies, clear melodic lines, and sensitive approach to text. His songs helped shape the development of the French mélodie. Chanson d’amour is a light and charming piece that captures the playful excitement of love. The song’s steady, flowing rhythm and clear phrasing reflect Fauré’s elegant early style, in which emotional warmth is expressed through restraint and balance.
Widmung — Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann was a central figure of the Romantic era and one of the most important composers of German art song. Widmung (“Dedication”) is the opening song in his collection Myrthen, written as a wedding gift to his wife, Clara. Set to a poem by Friedrich Rückert, the piece expresses heartfelt love and devotion. Schumann’s use of modulation and chromatic color deepens the emotional impact of the song, tracing the text’s movement from intimate gratitude to a radiant declaration of love.
Musical Theatre Selections
How Could I Ever Know — The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden, based on the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, follows young Mary Lennox as she helps bring new life to her grieving uncle’s household. “How Could I Ever Know” appears near the end of the show, when Lily’s spirit comforts Archibald Craven and helps him begin to let go of his grief. The song unfolds in long, expressive phrases supported by a gentle, sustained accompaniment that mirrors the tenderness of the text.
Dear Friend — She Loves Me
She Loves Me tells the story of Amalia and Georg, two clerks who constantly clash at work but are unknowingly falling in love with each other through anonymous letters. “Dear Friend” takes place as Amalia waits nervously in a café to finally meet the man she has been writing to. The music mirrors her shifting emotions, beginning tentatively and growing increasingly hopeful as her anticipation builds. The understated humor of the lyrics reveals Amalia’s earnest but slightly flustered attempts to remain composed. Bock and Harnick balance sincerity and wit, using both music and text to illuminate her character with warmth and humanity.
Practically Perfect — Mary Poppins
The stage musical Mary Poppins expands on the beloved story of the magical nanny who brings order, joy, and imagination to the Banks family. “Practically Perfect” introduces Mary when she first arrives at the Banks home. In this upbeat and confident song, she sets out her philosophy with poise and gentle humor. George Stiles’s crisp, rhythmic writing and the playful lyrics establish Mary’s character and her unique blend of discipline and enchantment.
Spirituals
Steal Away to Heaven — Traditional, arr. Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes is a respected American composer and arranger whose sacred and choral works are widely performed. Steal Away to Heaven is his medley of three traditional African American spirituals: Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, and Steal Away. Each of these songs comes from the lived experience of enslaved people and expresses themes of sorrow, longing, hope, and a deep desire for spiritual freedom. Hayes weaves the melodies together with warmth and emotional depth, creating a setting that honors the simplicity of the original tunes while shaping them into a cohesive and uplifting whole.
Arise, My Love, and Come Away — Arr. Mark Hayes
This arrangement by Mark Hayes sets a text inspired by the Song of Solomon, a biblical passage known for its imagery of love, renewal, and beauty. The gentle, flowing accompaniment creates a sense of invitation and uplift, mirroring the text’s call to rise and follow. The result is a setting that feels both intimate and reverent.
