La Voix Éternelle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Pauline Viardot with Melissa Elsman & Kathryn Southworth
Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm | Presentation: 1:00-2:30pm
Melissa Elsman, contralto, and Kathryn Southworth, pianist, present the lecture and musical performance: La Voix Éternelle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Pauline Viardot.
Pauline Viardot was one of the most influential figures of the 19th-century European arts scene. A celebrated opera sensation, composer, pianist, and voice teacher, she also inspired and helped launch the careers of some of the greatest composers and literary figures of her time. Though a remarkable composer in her own right, her works were largely forgotten after her death in 1910—due in part to the challenges faced by women composers. A growing revival in the 21st century has brought her music back to life, and her works will be performed and explored during this presentation.
Melissa Elsman, New England-based contralto, is known for having a rich warm sound that is flexible and fresh. She performs a wide range of art song and operatic repertoire and has a special passion for uncovering and performing lesser-known pieces, particularly those by female composers.
Melissa was recently a guest artist and lecturer at her alma mater, Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she presented the lecture recital La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès. Melissa is currently touring this program along with La Voix Éternelle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Pauline Viardot, and Forgotten Voices: The Courageous Women Behind the Music throughout New England.
Melissa has appeared with a variety of companies, including Opera del West, South Shore Opera Company, Boston Opera Collaborative, The Song Set Chicago, New Brew Chicago, Opera on Tap Chicago, and Opera on Tap New Hampshire.
She holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. In addition to her performance career, Melissa teaches private voice lessons at her home studio in Concord, NH, and also serves on the voice faculty at Concord Community Music School and Shaker Road School.
Kathryn Southworth (dean of students and faculty, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.
