Dear Madame Viardot from NOTES ON VIARDOT by Michael Ching published on 2023-10-27T08:35:25Z NOTES ON VIARDOT is an opera by Michael Ching, which will premiere in April 2024 at University of South Dakota-Vermillion, Tracelyn Gesteland, Producer/Director. The opera has had workshops at Florida Grand Opera, Taos Opera Institute, and Missouri State University. The opera celebrates the life of the singer and composer with many, many musical quotations from her own work, and those she worked with, including Rossini, Chopin, Clara Schumann, Saint-Saens and many more. Demo performed by Peter Lake, tenor [click "Show more" for lyrics] As she begins to read, Young Ivan appears, writing to Pauline from his family estate in Russia. (From letters from Turgenev to Pauline Viardot around 1852.) YOUNG IVAN Chère madame Viardot, bonjour I haven’t heard from you in weeks. Outside it’s like a hurricane The house shakes and creaks It’s a swirling white darkness outside the windows My brother came to see me with his wife If they were actors in a play They’d call the play “The Provincials” I had a front row seat for two long days. Yet I almost miss them now that they are gone No music, no friends, Just that sound of swirling snow Just work. Work, snow, and memories I need your letters describing your happy, active lives Who’s come to dinner? Who’s come to stay? What do they tell you? What do they say? News of yourself, of Viardot Your mother, your brother, Your daughter Louise Theurste freund, dearest friend Theurste freund, dearest friend I embrace your hands most tenderly And am yours Ivan Turgenev In the opera, Turgenev (and Pauline Viardot) are portrayed by two singers, two the younger, and two their older selves.
