Sonnets from the Portuguese – song cycle for soprano, oboe and piano

Sonnets from the Portuguese – The five songs in this cycle tell the story of Elizabeth Barrett’s unlikely courtship by the more accomplished and worldly poet, Robert Browning.  It begins with “Unlike are we,” a sonnet that describes Robert as “a quest for Queens” and herself as “a poor, tired wandering singer.”  The setting is full of wide leaps and strong dissonances.  The second sonnet, “If thou must love me,” asks that love, when it comes, should be for love’s sake and therefore permanent, not for things that change, like one’s looks.  The setting is whimsical, reflecting the spirit of the text.  “Let the world’s sharpness” is a sonnet about shutting out the world so that they may concentrate on their growing love.  In the setting, musical lines converge, as if closing out the world.  What remains is lyrical and tender.  In “My Letters,” Elizabeth reviews the correspondence between them – letters about friendship, companionship, love and more.  The setting is introspective, somewhat recitative, and passionate.  Finally, “How do I love thee?” expresses the depth of Elizabeth’s feelings in a positive, yet tender and harmonically rich setting.

Difficult

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To listen to “Unlike are we,” click here.

To listen to “If thou must love me,” click here.

To listen to “Let the world’s sharpness,” click here.

To listen to “My Letters,” click here.

To listen to “How do I love thee?” click here.