Our Shows
Soaring: An Evening of Circus and Song
Four operas, three singers, two amazing art songs, and one brilliant accompanist: Soaring is a ninety (90) minute show with a 10 minute intermission featuring selections from Romeo and Juliette, The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, and The Magic Flute.
Where: Next Stage Arts, Putney, Vermont
When: March 16, 2024, 4pm and 7:30 pm
Three French Birds
Three arias, two aerial apparatuses, and one singing aerialist: Three French Birds is a 30 minute show exploring love in many forms from Juliette’s giddy aria, “Je Veux Vivre,” to Carmen’s sensual “Habanera” with a little Mozart snuck in between.
Performer Bios:
Sarah Newcomb, Soprano (Soaring)
Sarah is returning to the stage after a 20-year pause. Her previous credits include busking on the streets of Portland, Maine in the late 1990’s and a couple of stints as a singing hostess at Italian restaurants.
Sarah became an empty nester in 2023 and moved from Maine to Vermont. She is overjoyed to share a love of singing VERY LOUDLY with such wonderful people, and looks forward to many more performances in the coming years.
James Anderson, Tenor (Soaring)
American Tenor, James Anderson, has enjoyed a career of constant demand in opera houses and concert halls throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the United States, South America and Africa. Anderson was a member of the Ensemble at the State Theater in Kassel, Germany; the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf; and, for eight seasons, at the National Theater in Munich, under the direction of Zubin Mehta.
Mr Anderson's opera repertoire is very broad. Performances of leading roles include Rodolfo La Boheme, Pinkerton Madama Butterfly, Alfredo La Traviata, Don Jose Carmen, Des Grieux Manon, Tom The Rake's Progress, and Bacchus Ariadne auf Naxos, to name just a few of the over 150 opera, operetta, and Broadway musical roles.
Highlights of concert appearances include the Tenor Soloist in the following: Beethoven Ninth Symphony at the Philharmonie in Berlin; the Schubert Stabat Mater at the Hotel des Invalides, Paris; Verdi Requiem in Dallas; Wagner's Das Rheingold at the Salle Pleyel in Paris under the direction of Marek Janowski with Eva Marton and James Morris.
Mr Anderson recorded the role of Christ in Beethoven's Oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives with Serge Baudo and the Orchestre National de Lyon. Anderson was cast with Ramon Vargas on a Grammy nominated recording of Early Verdi Arias. Anderson is also to be seen in Zubin Mehta's film rendition of Wagner's Tannhäuser and recently returned to Toulouse, France for performances of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
In 2004, Anderson relocated to the US and now resides with his wife Kate and daughter Cassandra in Brattleboro, Vermont.
In Brattleboro, Jim teaches voice and was the stage director for Puccini's Suor Angelica in his new home town. Anderson, joined by Hugh Keelan and Jenna Rae, performed Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, and again with Keelan, the Britten Serenade for Tenor and Horn with Victoria Eisen and the Windham Orchestra, as well as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana.
Anderson studies under Margaret Harshaw and Richard Torigi.
Elizabeth Wohl, Soprano Aerialist (Soaring and Three French Birds)
Soprano-aerialist Elizabeth Wohl is a Brattleboro-based opera singer and acrobat. She delights in developing innovative interpretations of beloved classical pieces. She blends aerial acrobatics with well-loved arias to complement each aria’s inherent dramatic arc. She strives to draw audiences into every performance through the alchemy of vocal and aerial arts--inspiring wonder, delight and awe. Ms. Wohl’s one-woman show "Three French Birds," was hailed as “an audience favorite,” at the Providence Fringe Festival, and she performs individual aerial-arias separately throughout the New England region for concerts, non-profit fundraising events, and weddings.
When she is not singing in the air, you can find her singing on the ground as a soloist with the Friends of Music at Guilford, the Keene Chorale, and the Windham Philharmonic. In 2020, Ms. Wohl prepared to sing Pamina, in Die Zauberflöte, but the production was postponed indefinitely due to COVID. In 2018, Ms. Wohl had the rare opportunity to sing the traditionally baritone role, Ping, in the Windham Philharmonic’s production of Turandot.
Ms. Wohl believes each of us is an artist, and that we shape the world together through every interaction. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to shape the world with you this evening. An active member of her local community, She’s a mom and the caretaker of an incorrigible labradoodle. You can find her online at www.arcbenderscircusopera.com or on instagram at @soprano_aerials
Aria Translations:
Porgi Amor:
Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro, O Love, give me some remedy
Al mio duolo, a'miei sospir! For my sorrow, for my sighs!
O mi rendi il mio tesoro, Either give me back my darling
O mi lascia almen morir. Or at least let me die.
Word-by-word translation by Jane Bishop, bishopj@citadel.eduSe Vuol Ballare:
Se vuol ballare, signor Contino, If you want to dance, Sir Count,
Il chitarrino le suonera. I'll play the guitar for you.
Se vuol venire nella mia scuola, If you want to come to my school,
La capriola le insegnera. I'll teach you the moves.
Sapro, ma piano, meglio ogni arcano I'll find out, but quietly; or better,
by pretending,
Dissimulando scoprir potra. I'll discover every mystery.
L'arte schermendo, l'arte adoprando, The art of fencing, the art of adapting,
Di qu pungendo, di la scherzando, Here fighting, there fooling,
Tutte le macchine rovesciera. I'll overturn all the machinery.
Word-by-word translation by Jane Bishop, bishopj@citadel.eduSull’Aria:
Giunse al fin . . . Deh Vieni
Come, my beloved, heaven and earth conspire with us in love.
Giunse alfin il momento The moment finally arrives
Che godro senz'affanno When I'll enjoy [experience joy] without haste
In braccio all'idol mio In the arms of my beloved...
Timide cure uscite dal mio petto! Fearful anxieties, get out of my heart!
A turbar non venite il mio diletto. Do not come to disturb my delight.
O come par che all'amoroso foco Oh, how it seems that to amorous fires
L'amenita del loco, The comfort of the place,
La terra e il ciel risponda. Earth and heaven respond,
[Oh, it seems that earth, heaven and this place
answerer my heart's amorous fire.]
Come la notte i furti miei risponda As the night responds to my ruses.
Deh vieni, non tardar, o gioja bella Oh, come, don't be late, my beautiful joy
Vieni ove amore per goder t'appella Come where love calls you to enjoyment
Finche non splende in ciel notturna face Until night's torches no longer shine in the sky
Finche l'aria e ancor bruna, As long as the air is still dark
E il mondo tace. And the world quiet.
Qui mormora il ruscel, qui scherza l'aura Here the river murmurs and the light plays
Che col dolce susurro il cor ristaura That restores the heart with sweet ripples
Qui ridono i fioretti e l'erba e fresca Here, little flowers laugh and the grass is fresh
Ai piaceri d'amor qui tutto adesca. Here, everything entices one to love's pleasures
Vieni, ben mio, tra queste piante ascose. Come, my dear, among these hidden plants.
Vieni, vieni! Come, come!
Ti vo' la fronte incoronar di rose. I want to crown you with roses.
Text by Lorenzo da Ponte
Translation by Naomi Gurt Lind
Section II: The Fighters--Excerpts from Carmen
Habanera (Prends Garde a Toi!)
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle Love is a rebellious bird
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser, That nothing can tame,
Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle, And it is simply in vain to call it
S'il lui convient de refuser. If it is convient for it to refuse.
Rien n'y fait, menace ou priere, Nothing will work, threat or pleading,
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait; One speaks, the other stays quiet;
Et c'est l'autre que je prefere And it's the other that I prefer
Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plait. He said nothing; but he pleases me.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! Love! Love! Love! Love!
L'amour est enfant de Boheme, Love is the child of the Bohemian,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi, It has never, never known any law,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime, If you don't love me, I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde a toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
Si tu ne m'aime pas, If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime! If you don't love me, I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime, But, if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde a toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
Si tu ne m'aime pas, If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime! If you don't love me, I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime, But, if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde a toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre The bird you thought to surprise
Battit de l'aile et s'envola; Bat its wing and flew away;
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre; Love is far away, you can wait for it;
Tu ne l'attend plus, il est la ! If you wait for it no more, it is there!
Tout autour de toi vite, vite, All around you, quickly, quickly,
Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient! It comes, goes, then it comes back!
Tu crois le tenir, il t'evite; You think to hold it, it avoids you;
Tu crois l'eviter, il te tient! You think to avoid it, it holds you!
L'amour, l'amour, l'amour, l'amour! Love, love, love, love!
L'amour est enfant de Boheme, Love is the child of the Bohemian,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi, It has never, never known any law,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime, If you don't love me, I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime, If you don't love me, I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
Si tu ne m'aime pas, If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime! If you don't love me, I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime, But, if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde a toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
Si tu ne m'aime pas, If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime! If you don't love me, I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime, But, if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prend garde a toi! If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
literal translation by Lea F. Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)Toreador:
A long and gory description of a bullfight, sung by the Toreador, describing how love awaits him at the end of his bullfight.
Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, Your toast, I can give it to you
Senor, senors car avec les soldats Sirs, sirs, for along with the soldiers
Oui, les Toreros, peuvent s'entendre; Yes, the Toreros, can understand;
Pour plaisirs, pour plaisirs, For pleasures, for pleasures
Ils ont les combats! They have combats!
Le cirque est plein, The arena is full,
c'est jour de fete! it is the feast day!
Le cirque est plein du haut en bas; The arena is full, from top to bottom;
Les spectateurs, perdant la tete, The spectators, losing their heads,
Les spectateurs s'interpellent The spectators began a big fracas!
a grand fracas!
Apostrophes, cris et tapage Apostrophes, cries, and uproar
Pousses jusques a la fureur! Grow to a furor!
Car c'est la fete du courage! Because it is a celebration of courage!
C'est la fete des gens de coeur It is the celebration of people with heart!
Allons! en garde! Allons! Allons! ah! Let's go, on guard! Let's go! Let's go! Ah!
Toreador, en garde! Toreador, Toreador! Toreador, on guard! Toreador, Toreador!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant And dream away, yes, dream in combat,
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde, That a black eye is watching you,
Et que l'amour t'attend, And that love awaits you,
Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, love awaits you!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant And dream away, yes dream in combat,
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde, That a black eye is watching you
Et que l'amour t'attend, And may love await you,
Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, love await you!
Tout d'un coup, on fait silence... All of a sudden, it is silent
Ah! que se passe-t-il? Ah, what is happening?
Plus de cris, c'est l'instant! More cries! It is the moment!
Plus de cris, c'est l'instant! More cries! It is the moment!
le taureau s'elance The bull throws himself out
En bondissant hors du Toril! Bounding out of the Toril!
Il s'elance! Il entre, He throws himself out! He enters.
Il frappe! un cheval roule, He strikes! A horse rolls,
Entrainant un Picador, Dragging a picador,
Ah! bravo! Toro! Hurle la foule! Ah, Bravo! Bull! The crowd roars!
Le taureau va, il vient, The bull goes, he comes,
il vient et frappe encore! He comes and strikes again!
En secouant ses banderilles, Shaking his banderillos,
Plein de fureur, il court! Full of fury, he runs!
Le cirque est plein de sang! The arena is full of blood!
On se sauve, on franchit les grilles! They save themselves, they pass the gates
C'et ton tour maintenant! allons! It is your turn now. Let’s go!
En garde! allons! allons! Ah! On guard! Let’s go! Let’s go! Ah!
Toreador, en garde! Toreador, Toreador! Toreador, on guard! Toreador, Toreador!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant And dream away, yes, dream in combat,
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde, That a black eye is watching you,
Et que l'amour t'attend, And that love awaits you,
Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, Love awaits you!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant And dream away, yes, dream in combat,
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde That a black eye is looking at you
Et que l'amour t'attend, And that love awaits you
Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, love awaits you!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant And dream away, yes, dream in combat,
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde That a black eye is looking at you
Et que l'amour t'attend, And that love awaits you
Et que l'amour t'attend, And that love awaits you.
Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, love awaits you!
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! Love! Love! Love!
Toreador, Toreador, L'amour t'attend! Toreador, Toreador, love awaits you!
Translation by Lea F. Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)Section III: The Lovebirds--Excerpts from the Magic Flute
Der Vogelfänger
I am a bird catcher, a simple man, hoping to find a sweet wife, to love forever.
Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja, The birdcatcher I am indeed,
Stets lustig heissa hop-sa-sa! Always happy, heidi heh hey!
Ich Vogelfanger bin bekannt I, the birdcatcher, am well known
bei Alt und Jung im ganzen Land. To old and young throughout the land.
Wei mit dem Lokken umzugehn Know how to get around the bird decoys
und mich aufs Pfeiffen zu verstehen! And be understood on the fife.
Drum kann ich froh und lustig sein, Therefore I can be happy and funny,
Denn alle Vogel sind ja mein. For all the birds are indeed mine.
Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja, The birdcatcher I am indeed,
Stets lustig heissa hopsasa! Always happy, heidi heh hey!
Ich Vogelfanger bin bekannt I, the birdcatcher, am well-known
Bei Alt und Jung im ganzen Land. To old and young throughout the land.
Ein Netz fur Madchen mochte ich; A net for girls is what I would like;
Ich fing sie dutzendweis fur mich! I'd catch them by the dozen for me!
Dann sperrte ich sie bei mir ein Then I would lock them up with me
Und alle Madchen waren mein. And all the girls would be mine.
Wenn alle Madchen waren mein, If all the girls were mine,
So tauschte ich brav Zukker ein. Then I¹d dutifully trade for some sugar.
Die welche mir am liebsten war, The one I liked the best,
der gab ich gleich den Zukker her. To her I would immediately give the sugar.
Und kusste sie mich zartlich dann, And if she kissed me tenderly then,
Wär' sie mein Weib und ich ihr Mann. She would be my wife and I her husband.
Sie schlief an meiner Seite ein; She would fall asleep by my side;
ich wiegte wie ein Kind sie ein. I would rock her to sleep like a child.
word-by-word translation by Lea F. Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)Bei Mannern
The princess and the bird catcher sing about how wonderful married life will be, and how they each hope they’ll find it soon.
Tamino Mein
Tamino describes the trials that await them. Pamina tells him that she will go with him through fire and water guided by the magic flute.
Pa Pa Pa
Papageno and Papagena find each other at last. They have their first quarrel, and make up.
Section IV: The Farewell
A Waterbird
I am a waterbird, flying into the sun.
I Will Be Earth
I will be earth, you be the flower, you have found my root you are the rain. I will be boat and you the rower, you rock me you toss me. You are the sea.