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(Moses und Aron—Schoenberg) by Philip Langridge

I have to confess that the first time I looked at the part of Aaron with a view to singing it, I thought it much too difficult to learn. It was not so much the rather angular vocal writing—I had seen music written in a much more aggressive way than this—it was more a question of tuning. The flow of the vocal line in many places is very lyrical, but when you look at the detail of the accompaniment, the chords written beneath almost every note, you find that some notes fit exactly with that of the singer and some absolutely do not. I began by learning each phrase, one note following the other, so that each note was exactly in tune. Then each of these notes had to be sung, whistled, or hummed while playing the notes of the chord underneath it. If there was an exact match with the note I was singing, I put a ring round it. On the other hand, a note which was ‘challenged’ in the accompanying chord was very firmly crossed out. I know it sounds very long and laborious, but actually it did save time in the end because I was aware of the sounds around me when I sang it and that gave me a great sense of security....

1 (Aron) (Schoenberg: Moses und Aron). Ten. Brother of Moses, who asks him to use his powers of oratory to convince the Israelites to follow Moses out of bondage. Aaron is unable to accept the idea of a god which he cannot see in person. While Moses is away collecting the tablets of stone from the Lord, Aaron builds a golden calf for the people to worship. When Moses returns, he smashes the stone tablets in frustration and chides his brother for being so sceptical. Aaron, having been put in chains, is released on Moses's orders, but dies as soon as he is freed. Created (...

(Rameau: Les Boréades). Ten. Son of Apollo. Brought up by the High Priest Adamas, his identity has remained a secret. In love with Queen Alphise, he is only able to marry her when his royal blood is revealed. Created (f. stage p. ...

(b Genoa, 1821; d Milan, 1896).

Italian mezzo-soprano. She studied with her father, the composer and teacher Natale Abbadia...

(Verdi: Nabucco). Sop. Elder but illegitimate daughter of Nabucco. She is in love with the Hebrew Ismaele who rejects her in favour of her younger sister Fenena. She attempts to replace her father as ruler of Babylon, but later, as an act of remorse, commits suicide. Aria: ...

(Saint‐Saëns: Samson et Dalila). Bass. Satrap of Gaza. He taunts the subjugated Hebrews for praying to their God who is not helping them in their distress. Their leader, Samson, slays him. Created (...

(Handel: Giulio Cesare). Bass. General and Counsellor to Tolomeo, who cheats him. Achilla defends Cleopatra against Tolomeo and is mortally wounded. Created (...

1 (Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide). Ten. Greek hero betrothed to Iphigénie. Defends her against her father, Agamemnon, who is about to sacrifice her. Created (...

(Handel: Acis and Galatea). Ten. A shepherd, in love with Galatea. Killed by the giant Polyphemus. Galatea transforms him into a stream. Creator (...

Masque or serenata in one act (later two) by George Frideric Handel to words by John Gay and others; Cannons,

(Handel). Lib. by John Gay and others; 2 acts; f.p. Cannons, Edgware, nr. London, 1718, possibly dir. by ...

(Bellini: Norma). Sop. (but often sung by mez.). An acolyte of the temple. Pollione's love for her makes him reject Norma, the High Priestess. Adalgisa is horrified to realize that Pollione was Norma's lover and determines to send him back to her, but fails. Duet (with Norma): ...

(b Dresden, 1 Aug 1926).

German bass-baritone. As a boy he was a member of the Dresden Kreuzchor, and he studied in that city and at Weimar before making his début at the Dresden Staatsoper in ...

(Rameau: Les Boréades). Bass. High Priest of Apollo, entrusted with raising Apollo's son Abaris. Created (f. stage p. ...

(b Rohr, nr Rothenburg, Bavaria, 22 Feb 1740, or Munich, 6 July 1743; d Vienna, 24 Aug 1804)....

(b Charlestown, MA, 9 Feb 1834; d West Harwich, MA, 4 July 1900).

American tenor. He studied singing in Boston and in ...

(b Bristol, 20 Dec 1928; d Norwich, 8 April 1996).

English bass. He was a chorister at Worcester Cathedral and later became an actor. After singing in the D'Oyly Carte Opera chorus, from ...

(Britten: Peter Grimes). Ten. Rector of the Borough. Suspecting Grimes of being responsible for the death of his apprentices, he leads the men as they march to Grimes's hut to investigate his treatment of his latest Apprentice, John. Created (...

(Strauss: Arabella). See Waldner, Gräfin Adelaide.

1 (J. Strauss II: Die Fledermaus). Sop. The Eisensteins’ maid. With her sister Ida, she goes to Prince Orlofsky's party, wearing a dress she has ‘borrowed’ from her mistress. At the ball she meets another guest—Eisenstein. Later that night she visits the governor of the local gaol, whom she has also met at the ball, and again bumps into Eisenstein. It all ends good‐humouredly. ...