We are now available for subscription on itunes! Search under 'Sparks and Wiry Cries' to subscribe or 'Martha Guth' or 'Erika Switzer'. This means you can have SWC downloaded to you without ever thinking about it...automatic song happiness.
The newest Episode:
VISI 2010
This episode is centered around the Vancouver International Song Insititute. This is a fabulous program headed by artistic director Rena Sharon in the stunning city of Vancouver, Canada. VISI, centered on the campus of the University of British Columbia, is a two and a half week intensive program in June for college level performers/students of classical song, pedagogues, and musicologists. VISI also includes a beloved performance festival in venues all around the city of Vancouver with an intensive season during the institute.
This episode we feature the stylings of world renowned collaborators and teachers: Soprano Tracy Dahl with Pianist Margo Garrett, and Baritone Francois LeRoux with Pianist Mickhail Hallack. Songs of John Greer, Robert Fleming and Claude Debussy.
Performers for this episode are listed below. As always, a youtube or a google search can also provide many hours of entertainment from these artists...yes, even in the world of Classical song.
Margo Garrett
Composer Libby Larsen
In this episode we have the pleasure of hearing an interview with the extraordinary American composer Libby Larsen. We also take an in depth look at her often-performed cycle 'Try me good king', five songs set to the last words of five of the six wives of Henry the VIIIth.
The Ballads of Carl Loewe
In this episode Bass Baritone Shenyang and Pianist Vlad Iftinca perform three ballads from their Alice Tully Hall Recital in NYC. Beautiful collaboration, impeccable musicianship and exciting storytelling bring these fanciful tales to life. One depicts Goethe's fateful Elf-King who brings about the demise of all who see him, another falls in love with the queen of the fairies, and a third ends up the blacksmith for the Norse God Odin who is off to fight in Battle.
This latest episode centers around American composer Tom Cipullo. We interviewed him at his home in Long Island City and also present four of his songs. Special thanks to the Albany label for their generous permission to have Paul Sperry's fabulous rendition of 'Reasons why I don't keep a gun in the house' aired today on the podcast.
Anthony Mcgee
Donna Loewy
Viva Espana!
This most recent episode features the beautiful, passionate and lyrical songs from Spain. Join us as we explore the music of Turina, de Falla, and Montsalvatge. Guest speaker and opera singer Ricardo Lugo gives us our much needed Spanish lessons along the way.
AND -check out a search for 'Cante jondo' excerpts on youtube...it's worth it!
Jo Greenaway
Christa Mayer
Hugo Wolf!
We continue on with more form the big German song composers. This songcast is dedicated to the tormented genius of Hugo Wolf. Not known far outside the world of 'Art song', this composer was a master of the miniature and dedicated much of his compositional efforts to classical song. We explore four of his songs with poetry by two greats: Goethe and Moerike. Enjoy!
Keun-A Lee, Piano
Frederique Vezina, Soprano
Shenyang, Bass-Baritone
Vlad Iftinca, Piano
Valentines Day
This episode is dedicated to the ones we love, near and far. We are listening to songs by Hugo Wolf, Johannes Brahms, Gabriel Faure, Franz Schreker, and Sergei Rachmaninov.
Goetz Payer
Debra Stanley
Michael guido
Joseph Kaiser
Stefani Iranyi
Performers for our Schubert Podcast:
David Santos
Thomas Wija
The great passion in my career is the world of classical song. Renowned pianist Erika Switzer and I will co-host the upcoming episodes. We will look at song in a different light that will air every other week. Each podcast will be centered around a theme, and include live recordings spanning Mozart to the present day. We will also have the pleasure of including interviews with composers, musicologists and poets whose voices add a meaningful dimension to our conversations about song and performance. This podcast offers favorite repertoire, performed by ourselves and the many wonderful colleagues we have the pleasure to work with. This new generation of song singers have won international awards for excellence in their field and are currently performing in all corners of the globe. My hope is that this venue has the intimacy that the first composers of song originally had in mind, and that what has been delighting us on the concert stage can now be enjoyed in your living room. -Please enjoy! Special thanks to Matthew Principe for his commitment and enthusiasm as producer and Matt Galek for his invaluable help with this project.
Episode 12:
For more information on the performers of 'Hollydaze' please see the list below.
Steven Dann
Episode 11:
For more information on the performers of the Francis Poulenc songcast, see the links below. Debra and Michael's recordings were made in the Velte-Saal at the Hochscule fur Musik in Karlsruhe, April 21st, 2009. Claire and Marc's performance was recorded in October of 2002.
Michael Guido
Debra Stanley
Claire Booth
Episode 10:
Information for 'Waves of Destruction':
The recording of Jena Osman reading her poem was used with the kind permission of the people from Pennsound, and Ms. Osman herself. Thank-you! This is an extraordinary website dedicated to cataloging spoken poetry in digital form, available to the public for their own use. The Recording of 'Target' performed by Laurie Rubin was recorded in April of 2007 with the L.A. based group EAR Unit.
Chris DeBlasio