Â鶹Éç

View a photo gallery from concert four.

Katharine Tier - Australia

Dopo notte (Ariodante) - Handel

Ariodante and Ginevra are in love. Their relationship is sabotaged by Polinesso, who wants Ginevra for himself, and sets events in motion to show Ariodante that Ginevra is unfaithful. After much intrigue, disguise, duelling and false rumours, Polinesso confesses his guilt. Ariodante sings of his joy that, after the night of nightmares, the sun of happiness has risen. The part was originally written for the celebrated castrato, Carestini.

Samson, recherchant ma présence ... Amour! Viens aider ma faiblesse! (Samson et Dalila) - Saint-Saëns

Samson, leader of the Hebrews in their successful revolt against the Philistines, has been enthralled by the beautiful Philistine, Dalila. Now, after a nocturnal vigil, Dalila awaits his return, and calls for love to come to her aid. But her quest is not for love, but revenge for her wronged people. Using love as a weapon, she alone can now defeat the victor.

Im Treibhaus (Wesendonck Lieder No 3) - Wagner

Mathilde Wesendonck was Wagner's muse, and in 1857-8 he set five of her poems to music, one of the few times he was to use someone else's words. This song, perhaps the best-known of the set, was a sketch for Tristan und Isolde, and quotes almost exactly the prelude to Act III. In this melancholy text, the writer compares herself to tropical plants in a hothouse, being kept alive but missing home desperately.

Javier Arrey - Chile

O Carlo, ascolta ... Io morrò (Don Carlo) - Verdi

Rodrigo, Carlo's great friend, has been shot by an Inquisition assassin while visiting Carlo in prison. As he lies dying, he tells Carlo that his beloved Elisabeth will wait for him outside the convent of San Yuste the next day. He dies, happy in the knowledge that Carlo will continue the fight for liberty.

Slýs ó Bóže modlitbu mow (Písné Biblické Op 99 No 3) - Dvořák

Dvořák used verses from the Psalms, taken from the Bible of Kralice, as the basis of the Biblical Songs, and the songs often have the feel of church music. The third setting takes the text: "Hear my prayer, Lord my God, hide not from my entreaty, hear my mourning. My heart is sore, the fear of death lies heavy on me. If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly away to be at rest in the wilderness. I would escape the tempest and the fear of death."

Hai già vinta la causa! ... Vedrò mentr'io sospiro (Il nozze di Figaro) - Mozart

Count Almaviva thinks that he will meet Susanna, his wife's maid, in the garden for a romantic tryst. But then he hears her whisper to his manservant, Figaro, her fiancé, that they have won their legal case, and can now get married. The Count is enraged that he should be forced to forgo his pleasure, and that he, an aristocrat, should be helpless to stop his servants rejoicing in their triumph over their master.

Largo al factotum (Il barbiere di Siviglia) - Rossini

Figaro introduces himself, in this famous 'patter' aria. Not only is he the barber of Seville, with his well-stocked shop, but he is also the general factotum of the city. He is happy to run errands, arrange meetings and perform all kinds of services - as long as he gets paid for it.

Natalya Romaniw - Wales

Quando avran fine omai ... Padre, germani, addio! (Idomeneo) - Mozart

The Trojan princess, Ilia, is prisoner of Idomeneo the King of Crete, and in love with his son, Idamante. Ilia laments her fate, singing of her hatred for the conquerors of her country, but also of the strength of her love and how she is torn between her emotions.

Allons! Il le faut! ... Adieu, notre petite table (Manon) - Massenet

Manon is giving up her lover, des Grieux, having been persuaded by her opportunistic brother that she will be better off with the rich nobleman, de Brétigny. She sings a poignant farewell to the little table, which symbolised the life she shared with des Grieux in their apartment.

Je veux vivre (Roméo et Juliette) - Gounod

Juliette is at a masked ball at her family's house, and her beauty has been much admired. In this graceful aria, often known as Juliette's Waltz Song, the young, high-spirited girl declares herself uninterested in marriage, saying she wants to live in a world of dreams.

Vira Slywotzky - USA

Crudele! - Non mi dir (Don Giovanni) - Mozart

Donna Anna is mourning the death of her father, the Commendatore, who has been murdered by Don Giovanni. Donna Anna's betrothed, Don Ottavio, is putting pressure on her to become his wife, but she asks him not to speak of marriage while she is still full of grief.

L'année en vain chasse l'année! ... Azaël! Azaël! (L'enfant prodigue) - Debussy

Lia laments the loss of her son, Azaël, in this concert piece based on the Biblical parable 'The Prodigal Son' with which Debussy won the Prix de Rome in 1884, aged 22. With each passing year since her son's departure, Lia's sadness increases. She remembers the good times they had together, and still she does not understand why he has gone.

Do not utter a word (Vanessa) - Barber

Vanessa has been awaiting the return of Anatol, her lover from twenty years ago. When Anatol is shown in, Vanessa cannot look at him, and tries to curb her strong emotions. She tells him to say nothing, to do nothing - as he may not wish to stay after hearing what she has to say. She confesses that she has been waiting for him all these years, sure that he would return to her. She has been so lonely, and she has tried to keep her beauty for his sake. But this is not her Anatol - he is the son of her lover and another woman.

Jan Martiník - Czech Republic

A te l'estremo addio ... Il lacerato spirito (Simon Boccanegra) - Verdi

The pirate, Simon Boccanegra, has agreed to stand as Doge of Genoa in the hope that the nobleman Fiesco will allow his marriage to Maria, his daughter. Fiesco disapproves of Boccanegra and has imprisoned Maria in his palace to keep the lovers apart. But Maria has died after giving birth to Boccanegra's child, and Fiesco mourns his daughter's death.

Vous qui faites l'endormie (Faust) - Gounod

Méphistophélès sings a serenade to persuade Marguérite to open the door for Faust. The serenade gives mocking advice to a woman not to give up her virginity before marriage. But Marguérite has already slept with Faust, and is expecting his child.

Vecchia zimarra, senti (La bohème) - Puccini

Colline, a student of philosophy and friend of the dying Mimì, is taking his beloved old overcoat to the pawnshop to raise money to fetch a doctor for his friend. He bids the coat a fond farewell, remembering how many poets and philosophers have been kept in its pockets.

Ves' tobor spit (Aleko) - Rakhmaninov

Aleko has run away from his family to join a band of gypsies. He has fallen in love with Zemfira, but she has now grown tired of him and has taken a new lover. In Aleko's cavatina, he sings of his misfortune in love.