Sept 20 Program

2020-2021 Season Music & Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church Engaging the Mind, Warming the Heart, Inspiring the Spirit



Music and Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church Presents Bach Aria Soloists Virtual Concert Sunday, September 20, 2020 Watch Party ~ 7:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church 840 S. 17th Street Lincoln, NE www.fpclincoln.org www.fpclincoln.org with generous support from the Dolezal Family Foundation The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported this program through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

Bach Aria Soloists Sunday, September 20, 2020 7:00 p.m. Watch Party Elizabeth Suh Lane - Violin Sarah Tannehill Anderson - Vocalist Dr. Elisa Williams Bickers - harpsichordist, organist, and pianist Hannah Collins - Cello Tempo di Menuetto Fritz Kreisler Elizabeth Suh Lane, Elisa Williams Bickers Si Dolce’il tormento Claudio Monteverdi Sarah Tannehill Anderson, Elizabeth Suh Lane, Hannah Collins, Elisa W. Bickers Sicilenne Maria Theresa von Paradis Hannah Collins, Elisa Williams Bickers Quel sguardo sdegnosetto, aria Claudio Monteverdi Tutti Organ Sonata Op. 65, No. 4 Felix Mendelssohn Allegro con brio Elisa Williams Bickers Höchster aria, BWV 51 J.S. Bach Sarah Tannehill Anderson, Hannah Collins, Elisa W. Bickers Sonata in G dur for Violin and Continuo, BWV 1019 J.S. Bach Allegro; Largo; Gigue Elizabeth Suh Lane, Elisa W. Bickers, Hannah Collins Da Tempeste G.F. Handel Zarabanda Tutti Gaspar Sanz Tutti

Texts & Translations Monteverdi Si Dolce’il tormento So sweet is the torment That fills my heart Si dolce è’l tormento I can gladly live Ch’in seno mi sta, With her cruel beauty. Ch’io vivo contento In beauty’s heaven Per cruda beltà. Self-glory increases Nel ciel di bellezza And pity gets lost; S’accreschi fierezza But always my faith Et manchi pietà: Will be a rock against Che sempre qual scoglio The wave of pride. All’onda d’orgoglio Mia fede sarà. False hope Turns away from me, La speme fallace Neither pleasure nor peace Rivolgam’ il piè, Descends on me Diletto ne pace And the cruel woman Non scendano a me, I adore denies me E l’empia ch’adoro The relief of her favour; Mi nieghi ristoro Amid infinite pain Di buona mercè: Amid betrayed hopes, Tra doglia infinita, My faith stays alive. Tra speme tradita There is no respite Vivrà la mia fè. From fire and ice; Per foco e per gelo I’ll only find respite riposo non ho At heaven’s door… nel porto del Cielo If the fatal hit riposo haverò... Of a straight arrow se colpo mortale Wounds my heart, con rigido strale Reversing my fate il cor m'impiagò From the deadly arrow cangiando mia sorte I will heal my heart… col dardo di morte il cor sanerò... If the fire of love Has never been felt Se fiamma d’amore By the hard heart Già mai non sentì That’s stolen mine, Quel rigido core If I’m denied mercy Ch’il cor mi rapì, By the cruel beauty Se nega pietate That’s charmed my soul - La cruda beltate So let her suffer, Che l’alma invaghì: Repenting and forlorn, Ben fia che dolente, And sigh for me one day. Pentita e languente Sospirimi un dì.

Monteverdi Quel Sguardo That haughty little glance, bright and menacing, Quel sguardo sdegnosetto that poisonous dart lucente e minaccioso, is flying to strike my breast. quel dardo velenoso O beauties for which I burn, vola a ferirmi il petto, by which I am severed from myself: Bellezze ond'io tutt'ardo wound me with your glance, e son da me diviso but heal me with your laughter. piagatemi col sguardo, Sanatemi col riso. Arm yourself, O eyes, with sternest rigor; Armatevi, pupille pour upon my heart d'asprissimo rigore, a cloud of sparks. versatemi su'l core But let lips not be slow un nembo di faville. to revive when I am slain. Ma 'labro non sia tardo Let the glance strike me; a ravvivarmi ucciso. but let the laughter heal me. Feriscami quel squardo, ma sanimi quel riso. O fair eyes: to arms, to arms! I am preparing my bosom as your target. Begl'occhi a l'armi, a l'armi! Rejoice in wounding me, Io vi preparo il seno. even until I faint! Gioite di piagarmi And if I remain vanquished in fin ch'io venga meno! by your darts, E se da vostri dardi let your glances strike me – io resterò conquiso, but let your laughter heal me. feriscano quei sguardi, ma sanami quel riso. Highest, renew Your goodness every morning from now on. Bach Hochster aria Thus, before this fatherly love, a thankful conscience shall display, Höchster, mache deine Güte through a virtuous life, Ferner alle Morgen neu. that we are called Your children. So soll vor die Vatertreu The wood battered by the storm, Auch ein dankbares Gemüte if it should then arrive safe in port, Durch ein frommes Leben weisen, it does not know what more is to be desired. Daß wir deine Kinder heißen. Thus, my heart in pain and tears, Handel Da Tempeste now that it finds its comfort, will bring happiness to my spirit. Da tempeste il legno infranto, se poi salvo giunge in porto, non sa più che desiar. Così il cor tra pene e pianto, or che trova il suo conforto, torna l'anima a bear.

Bach Aria Soloists Bach Aria Soloists is the adventurous chamber music ensemble dedicated to presenting the genius and relevance of Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries and those composers he inspired to today–through acclaimed performances, multi-genre collaborations and BachReach education. Elizabeth Suh Lane Founder, Artistic Director, Violin Elizabeth Suh Lane has been acclaimed, “…among the finest chamber musicians in America today” by renowned music director Michael Tilson Thomas, and “a phenomenal violinist” by the late violin pedagogue Max Rostal. She has performed across the globe as a chamber and orchestral musician in the finest concert halls – Carnegie, Suntory, Salzburg Festspiele, Berlin’s Philharmonie, Helzberg, Theatre des Champs Elysee, and the Barbican, to name a few. Elizabeth concertized throughout the world as a first violinist with the London Symphony Orchestra under directors Sir Colin Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, André Previn, Mstislav Rostropovich, Pierre Boulez, and many others; she toured with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Gidon Kremer; and with the Academy of St. Martin-in the-Fields under Sir Neville Marriner. She has been invited to perform in numerous international festivals: Tanglewood, England’s Britten-Pears, Germany’s Schleswig– Holstein, Japan’s Pacific Music, the Carmel Bach Festival and the Ravinia Festival. Elizabeth has performed as a substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and served on the faculties of the Snowpond Chamber Music Seminar in Maine and the Brian Lewis Young Artists‘ Program instructing advanced students. She was Artistic Director of the Kansas City String Quartet Program for twelve years. Elizabeth is founder-Executive-Artistic Director and violinist of the Bach Aria Soloists. Her leadership has brought world-class collaborations to Kansas City to partner with BAS, incl: the world’s preeminent scholar of Bach Dr. Christoph Wolff; Narong Prangcharoen she commissioned to compose DIALOGUE for BAS’ 15th Anniversary. Elizabeth invited radio personality-composer Bill McGlaughlin to present the BAS’ live radio show – Inspired by Bach – broadcast on Kansas Public Radio. McGlaughlin remarked, “Elizabeth is a real virtuoso musician, and what the Bach Aria Soloists are doing is of the highest quality in the most artful manner, the way it should be done.” Elizabeth has vast experience with chamber music performance and coaching throughout her career on two continents. In addition to Bach Aria Soloists, she was invited to perform with the Satterlee Piano Trio in a series of concerts and master classes in Ann Arbor and Bowling Green; with the Maia Quartet for their final concerts; and toured South America as first violinist of the Barbican Quartet.

Elizabeth fulfills her love of teaching by mentoring a studio of young violinists who have won scholarships to Harvard, Juilliard, Eastman School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, UCLA, Michigan State, Washington University, Wheaton, Case Western, among others. She has instructed thousands of students as Artistic Director of the Kansas City String Quartet Program, and coaches Orchestral Clinics for youths throughout the metropolitan region via Bach Aria Soloists’ Bach Reach offering FREE innovative, interactive education to schools and seniors, thanks to our generous funders. She was also a member of the LSO Education team training teachers and students in schools across Great Britain. The Asian American Chamber of Commerce honored Elizabeth with the 2010 Professional Leader of the Year Award for her success and significant contribution to music and education in the community. Elizabeth was a Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellow and Broadus Erle Memorial Scholar – awarded to the most outstanding string player at Yale University where she studied with Syoko Aki and served as Assistant to Baroque violin specialist Jaap Schröder. Sarah Tannehill Anderson Soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson is an extremely versatile musician who excels at opera, oratorio, choral music, contemporary works, and art song. In addition to being soprano of Bach Aria Soloists, she has performed with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Boston Lyric, Opera Omaha, Fort Worth Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In Kansas City, Sarah is a member of the Lyric Arts Trio and former soprano of the Kansas City Chorale with whom she recorded five albums. Sarah has won two Grammy Awards for her work with the Kansas City Chorale. She is a featured soloist on the Chorale’s recording, Life & Breath – Choral Works By René Clausen, which won the Grammy Award in 2013 for Best Choral Performance. In 2016, Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil won the Grammy for Best Choral Performance. Sarah has performed with many other regional ensembles including the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, the New Ear Ensemble, the Kansas City Ballet and the Heartland Men’s Chorus. Sarah is the founder of Raise Your Voice a digital hub for vocal training, and resides in the Union Hill neighborhood with her husband, baritone and music educator Sam Anderson.

Dr. Elisa Williams Bickers Harpsichord, Organ, Piano Dr. Elisa Williams Bickers, FAGO, is the harpsichordist, organist, and pianist for the Bach Aria Soloists. She is the associate director of music and principal organist at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. She performs regularly in recital as a solo organist, harpsichordist, and accompanist, including with the Kan- sas City Symphony, Te Deum Chamber Choir and the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale. She has served on the faculties of the UMKC Conservatory and Washburn University as instructor of organ and harp- sichord. A native of Clinton, Maryland, Dr. Bickers began her organ studies with the Potomac Organ Institute. She has degrees in church music and organ performance from Texas Christian University and the University of Kansas. Her teachers have included Dale Krider, Joseph Butler and Michael Bauer. She was awarded the 2009 Carlin Award for excellence in teaching, the highest honor possible for graduate students at KU. She has competed and won prizes in the William Hall Competition, NYACOP and the International Buxtehude Competition. Most recently, she was awarded the Fellow certificate of the American Guild of Organists, the Guild’s most prestigious certification. Most recently, Dr. Bickers guided the installation of Richards, Fowkes & Co. (Opus 22) pipe organ at Village, which is a landmark instrument in this city. She is also the chair for New Music for the 2018 American Guild of Organists National Convention.

Hannah Collins Cellist Cellist Hannah Collins, winner of De Linkprijs for contemporary interpretation, is a dynamic performer who takes an active role in expanding the repertoire for cello. She has commissioned solo works by composers such as Caroline Shaw and Timo Andres, and studied European solo cello works in France and The Netherlands with support from the Presser Foundation. Hannah continues to catalyze and champion the works of compelling young composers with New Morse Code, her duo with percussionist Michael Compitello. New Morse Code’s 2017 debut album Simplicity Itself on New Focus Recordings was described by icareifyoulisten.com as “an ebullient passage through pieces that each showcase the duo’s clarity of artistic vision and their near-perfect synchronicity.” Hannah has given solo and chamber music performances at festivals such as Orford Centre d’arts, Kneisel Hall, the Aldeburgh Festival, and Musique de Chambre à Giverny. She is a member of the Chanterelle Trio and Cantata Profana, and has recently performed with Quodlibet Ensemble, A Far Cry, Talea Ensemble, and The Knights. Praised for her “incisive, vibrant continuo” playing (S. Miami Classical Review), Hannah also appears regularly as a Baroque cellist with the Sebastians, New York Baroque Incorporated, and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra. Hannah earned a B.S. in biomedical engineering from Yale and holds graduate degrees in cello performance from the Yale School of Music and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. She is an alumna of Ensemble Connect, a fellowship focused on performance, teaching artistry, and arts advocacy run by Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and Weill Music Institute. Her principal mentors have included Stefan Reuss, Ole Akahoshi, Aldo Parisot, Michel Strauss, Robert Mealy, and Marcy Rosen. Hannah is currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Kansas School of Music and Assistant Director of the Avaloch Farm Music Institute.

2019 - 2020 Arts for the Soul Contributors Season Underwriters Dolezal Family Foundation Dorthea Gore Memorial Fund Lincoln Community Foundation (Give to Lincoln Day) The Arts for the Soul Concert Series would like to thank all donors for their contributions to the concert series in 2019-2020. Without our generous donors and sponsors, concerts like this one would not be possible! You are invited to worship with us on Sundays and continue the wonderful music experience offered here at First Presbyterian Church. On-line on Sundays Until we open again! 402-477-6037 www.fpclincoln.org If you would like to advertise your business in our Arts for the Soul music concert programs, please contact Brian Pfoltner 402-477-6037. Thank you to our advertisers for their support of Arts for the Soul!





2020 - 2021 Season For Sing from the Heart Free online concert! Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage featuring vocal soloists with storyteller Pippa White Join us for a watch party: Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m. www.fpclincoln.org For Information : fpclincoln.org 402.477.6037 Find us on Facebook