Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Vagabond Context Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Vagabond was originally set for voice and piano and is part of a larger song cycle entitled Songs of Travel. Composed between 1901-1904, this was Vaughan Williams’ first major offering in the world of vocal music. Songs of Travel is Read more…
Léo Delibes: Flower Duet Context Léo Delibes’ three act opera Lakmé is perhaps this French composer’s most well-known work. Composed between 1881-1882, Lakmé is based on Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahamane by Théodore Pavie. Flower Duet features in Act 1 of the opera, and is now performed as a stand alone vocal piece in Read more…
Peter Warlock: Sleep Born on 30th October 1894, Peter Warlock was a British composer and music journalist. Whilst working in music he was known by the pseudonym Peter Warlock, with his birth name actually being Philip Arnold Hestletine. He is best-known for his songs and vocal music, which included sets of Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Ombra mai fù Commonly known as Handel’s ‘Largo of Love’, Ombra mai fù is the opening aria in the 1738 opera Serse. Sung by the character Xerxes I of Persia, the vocal part is composed for a countertenor. Perhaps the most striking element of this aria is the vocal range used, as it the Read more…
Good day dearest readers, welcome back (or if this is your first visit – welcome!) to Day 9 of my Female Fortnight Challenge! We have a very exciting journey to go on today and it involves a woman who I know a great deal about as I am currently researching Read more…