Gerald Seminatore DMA – essays, photos, and project archives
On our recent AMERICAN PILGRIMAGE concert, tenor Arnold Geis offered several songs by composer Richard Hundley. “Lions” (1971) is an energetic setting of Jame’s Purdy’s poem “Lions have lain in grasses before.” Arnold’s performance captured the vitality of the song, while Mark Salters rhythmically prowled at the piano.
Click here for Arnold’s performance of “Lions.”
(Photo courtesy of Taso Papadakis)
Lori Laitman is recognized today as one of the America’s most successful and creative living composers. She has composed three operas, an oratorio, and other choral works. In more than 250 songs, she is revitalizing the fusion of poetry and music in song, and helping to continue the tradition of of American art song in the twenty-first century.
For our recent AMERICAN PILGRIMAGE concert, soprano Katie Elizabeth Martin offered Laitman’s tender Dickinson setting “If I…”
EMILY DICKINSON (American, 1830-86)
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
View Katie’s performance by clicking here. Mark Salters is at the piano.
(Photo courtesy of Taso Papadakis)
For our recent AMERICAN PILGRIMAGE concert, tenor Gerald Seminatore and pianist Mark Salters offered songs by Charles Ives ( 1874-1954). (Links to performance videos of two songs appear below.)
Ives was one of the most original of twentieth century American composers. In more than 100 songs, Ives wove together original melodies, fragments of popular songs and hymns, and harmonies of sweet simplicity or crashing dissonance. There is a pronounced nostalgia in many Ives songs, and sometimes a humorous or ironic note. Two of these songs–“Religion” and “The Cage”–are models of economy, brevity, and harmonic expressiveness.
"Religion" (1920), words Dr. James Thompson Bixby There is no unbelief. And day by day and night by night, unconsciously, The heart lives by faith the lips deny; God knows the why. Click here for Gerald's performance of "Religion." "The Cage"(1906), words by Charles Ives A leopard went around his cage From one side back to the other side; He stopped only when the keeper came around with meat; A boy who had been there three hours Began to wonder, “Is life anything like that?” Click here for Gerald's performance of "The Cage." (Photo courtesy of Taso Papadakis)
On our recent AMERICAN PILGRIMAGE concert, tenor Arnold Geis offered songs by composer Richard Hundley. For “Isaac Greentree” (1981), Hundley adapted a text from Samuel Palmer’s “Epitaphs and Epigrams: Curious, Quaint, Amusing” (1869). Arnold’s performance captured both the lyricism and the tenderness of this epitaph. (The text appears below.)
Click here to view Arnold’s performance of “Isaac Greentree” on YouTube.
Mark Salters is at the piano.
(Photo courtesy of Taso Papadakis)
In springtime comes
The gentle rain,
Soothing honey sweet breeze
And sheltering sun.
Beneath these trees
Rising to the skies
The planter of them
Isaac Greentree lies.
The time shall come
When these trees shall fall
And Isaac Greentree rise
Above them all.
Emily Dickinson (1830-86) is universally recognized as one of the most important literary voices of the American experience. Her poems have attracted many composers, and Aaron Copland’s “Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson” are some of the finest musical settings of Dickinson in the American song repertory.
We are pleased to share a video of Katie Elizabeth Martin singing Copland’s “Why do they shut me out of Heaven?” This live performance is from our recent AMERICAN PILGRIMAGE concert at the Brand Library in Glendale, CA. (Photo courtesy of Taso Papadakis.)
Click here to view Katie’s live performance of “Why do they shut me out of Heaven?
EMILY DICKINSON (American, 1830-86)
Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?
Did I sing—too loud?
But—I can say a little “Minor”
Timid as a Bird!
Wouldn’t the Angels try me—
Just—once—more—
Just—see—if I troubled them—
But don’t—shut the door!
Oh, if I—were the Gentleman
In the “White Robe”—
And they—were the little Hand—that knocked—
Could—I—forbid?
Last night’s performance of “American Pilgrimage” at the Brand Library and Art Center was a home run. Brilliant performances, an attentive audience, and a wonderful venue all combined for a concert that earned a standing ovation! We are grateful for the invitation from the Brand and hope to return there next season. Photos and some audio will be posted soon. Thanks to everyone who came out to join us!
American tenor GERALD SEMINATORE completes the quartet of artists for our upcoming “American Pilgrimage” concert at the Brand Library in Glendale, CA (June 27). Gerald began his professional musical career with ensemble engagements including the Handel & Haydn Society, the Boston Early Music Festival, and the New England Bach Festival. He was an apprentice artist for two seasons with the Santa Fe Opera, and operatic engagements followed at the Glimmerglass, Chautauqua, West Bay, Oakland, and Dayton opera companies, among others. He made his European debut at England’s Aldeburgh Festival, and went on to become a member of the solo ensemble at Germany’s Dortmund Opera. Further engagements have included the Frankfurt am Main Opera, Kaiserslautern’s Pfalztheater, the Bremen Opera, and other theaters in Germany and the United States. Gerald has been heard in nearly one hundred song recitals, and his deep knowledge of and experience with song repertoire provided the inspiration for the Spacious Vision Song Project. (Photo by Taso Papadakis)
MARK SALTERS is a pianist, vocal coach, and recital collaborator. A native of New York, Mark served on
the coaching staff of the Opera Department at the University of Michigan, and on the faculty of Yale University’s graduate opera program. He has accompanied master classes for many well-known singers and coaches including Frederica Von Stade, Roberta Alexander, Vladamir Chernov, Carlo Bergonzi, Sherill Milnes, Régine Crespin, Richard Bonynge, Rodney Gilfry, George Shirley, Carol Neblett, and others.
Mark has also worked with conductors and directors from Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, Frankfurt Opera, St. Louis Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. He served on the music staffs of the Opera Theater of Connecticut and the Long Wharf Theater of New Haven before coming to California.
Mark regularly accompanies singers at events sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, as well as concerts and classes of the Classical Singers Association. He is a member of the music staffs at both the Cole Conservatory at CSU Long Beach, and is Music Director for the opera workshop at CSU Fullerton. He also serves as Director of Music and Principal Organist at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Irvine.
Soprano KATIE ELIZABETH MARTIN is a native of Montana. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Montana, Missoula. In 2010, she graduated with the Master of Music in Vocal Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, where she is currently pursuing doctoral level studies.
Katie has received an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions, and she was also a finalist in the 2007 Music Teacher’s National Association competition in Toronto. She has also received first place in several other regional competitions.
Katie’s operatic appearances have included Drusilla in Monverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea for USC Thornton Opera, the Countess in the Montana Lyric Opera’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro, Mrs. Coyle in USC’s West Coast premiere of Britten’s Owen Wingrave, Miss Wordsworth in Britten’s Albert Herring, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Frasquita in Carmen. She has also participated in the Songfest 2010 Professional program in Malibu, CA.
Katie will be sharing songs to texts by Emily Dickinson, composed by Aaron Copland and Lori Laitman, as well Samuel Barber’s radiant Hermit Songs, which were first premiered by the operatic legend Leontyne Price.
We welcome back tenor ARNOLD LIVINGSTON GEIS for his second Spacious Vision concert. Arnold holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Biola University, and in 2014 he was awarded the Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the USC Thornton School of Music. Arnold has performed as a chorister with the Los Angeles Opera, and he is currently a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Recent operatic credits include Cavaliere Belfiore in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, the Chevalier in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Laurie Lawrence in Adamo’s Little Women.
Spacious Vision 