Soprano Simone Osborne's day planner is getting a lot of action these days. The former Next! artist made her Carnegie Hall debut in January 2012 at the Marilyn Horne Song Celebration. The New York Times review praised her voice's "creamy, sweet top register and an arrestingly dark lower range."
Listen Osborne sings Franz Liszt's "Oh! quand je dors."
This month finds Osborne in Vancouver, where she leads the cast of Vancouver Opera's production of W. A. Mozart's The Magic Flute. In May, she'll make her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, singing in a production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
The Canadian Opera Company recently announced Osborne will sing two roles in its 2013-14 season: Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème and Oscar in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.
The inaugural winner of Les Jeunesses Musicale's Maureen Forrester Award, Osborne agreed to share with CBC Classical her list of 10 pieces of music that make her swoon.
1. Final trio from Der Rosenkavalier, Richard Strauss.
I challenge you to listen to this glorious music without falling to pieces by the end. I have heard it countless times over the years and it still brings me to tears. This is the point in the opera where the Marschallin gives Octavian over to Sophie and the two young lovers realize that their dream of love has come true. Each of the three characters is in a completely different emotional state at this moment, and yet Richard Strauss captures it all and so much more.
In this clip, the opportunity to watch conductor Carlos Kleiber in complete sync with the singers, and carrying them on his hands the whole way, is icing on the cake.
2. “Sono andata” from La Bohème, Puccini.
To me, this simple little duet in the final act of La Bohème is perhaps the most special part of the whole work. It is hard to choose a favourite section of La Bohème, as the entire opera is sheer perfection from start to finish, but this part breaks my heart every night. This comes just before Mimi’s death, when she reveals to Rodolfo that she has just one thing to share with him but that it is “as profound and infinite as the sea.” She loves him and he is her whole life.
Those Italians sure know how to write romance! Whenever I sing Musetta, I have to avoid the backstage area during this part, or I’ll make my next entrance in a fit of tears – something I’ll have to remember when I sing it next season at the COC. The Canadian soprano Teresa Stratas is heartbreaking in this clip.
3. “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” from the Rückert Lieder, Gustav Mahler.
I have yet to find a place where sadness and beauty unite in such a meaningful way as they do in music. The first time I heard this live, I was completely transported. My only regret is that I’ll never have the low notes to do these songs any justice.
4. “Contessa perdono” from the finale of Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart.
Another beautiful moment that comes at the end of an opera. The Countess forgives the Count for all of his indiscretions. Her grace, forgiveness and strength are so beautifully captured here by the genius of Mozart.
5. "A Chloris," Reynaldo Hahn.
Sometimes, less is more. I fell in love with a live recording of mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and pianist Malcolm Martineau performing this Hahn song as an encore on her Carnegie Hall debut recital. Last month, I had the incredible fortune of working with Martineau, way out in the rolling hills of Argyll, Scotland, and brought this piece to coach with him. It was a full-circle moment that will keep this song close to my heart for a very long time.
6. St. Sulpice scene from Manon, Jules Massenet.
Sometimes, more is more! Maybe it’s the soprano in me, but this over-the-top love duet between Manon and Des Grieux makes me want to leap up and down. I just love the dramatic, all-or-nothingness of it all and the fact that, in the end, the girl gets the guy. Spoiler alert: she does happen to die in the end, but at least she has the tenor by her side!
7. "Beautiful dreamer," Stephen Foster.
Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne has been an incredible inspiration and mentor in my life and career so far. She is the most generous, insightful and wonderful woman on earth, not to mention one of the most remarkable singers of all time. Vocal fireworks and Rossini runs aside, this is just the most beautiful voice. Any time I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed, I put on this clip and all my cares seem to float away.
8. Blue, Joni Mitchell.
I couldn’t choose a favourite song from Joni Mitchell’s Blue album if I tried. Many of my dreams have come true over the past few years and this means I am spending a lot of time on the road. At last count it was 10 countries in the last nine months. I am so grateful for every minute of it, but I have also come to realize how lonely this life can be. Whenever I start to miss family or friends, I start this album at the beginning. By the end, I feel a whole lot closer to home. A Canadian girl I’ll always be, I guess!
9. "Tomorrow is my turn," sung by Nina Simone.
We didn’t listen to much classical music in my house when I was growing up. What I do remember listening to was a whole lot of Jazz. Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Miles Davis and Billy Holiday. I recently found a copy of a Nina Simone album at the family home and realized why her voice has always felt so familiar to me. I love all of these jazz greats to this day, but there is something about Simone’s delivery that feels so direct.
10. "Gabriella’s sång," Stephan Nilsson and Helen Sjöholm.
This song comes at the end of As it is in Heaven, a rather dark Swedish film about an internationally renowned conductor who returns to his small hometown at the end of his life and unintentionally realizes his life’s goal of “creating music that will open a person's heart." This may sound cheesy, but, sometimes, when I’m swamped by challenging new music to learn, frustrated in the practice room or a bit anxious before a big debut, I put this on and remember not to lose the forest through the trees.
What do you think of Osborne's selections? Let us know in the comments below.
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Anton Kuerti's 10 essential works for piano