Tuesday Voice Series: Dichterliebe: Whose Love?
Featuring co-curators and performers Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野and David Eliakis.
The recital will be followed by a discussion from 1:10 pm–1:45 pm
The Tuesday Voice Series is made possible in part by a generous gift from Dianne W. Henderson.
PROGRAM
Poetry by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) from Lyrisches Intermezzo
Please withhold applause until the end of the performance.
Prologue: Whose Love?
words by Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野
arr. David Eliakis
Dein Angesicht (Fünf Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127)
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48
1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 1)
2. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 2)
3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube
Robert Schumann
Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
Die Lotosblume (Myrthen, Op. 25, no. 7)
Robert Schumann
Ich will meine Seele tauchen (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 5)
Robert Schumann
arr. David Eliakis
Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Ich grolle nicht (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 7)
Robert Schumann
arr. David Eliakis
Stirb’, Lieb’ und Freud’! (Myrthen, Op. 25, no. 2)
Robert Schumann
Hör’ ich das Liedchen klingen (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 10)
Robert Schumann
arr. David Eliakis
Am Leuchtenden Sommermorgen (Sechs Gesänge, Op. 11 no. 2 & Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 12)
Robert Franz (1815-1892) & Robert Schumann
Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 13)
Robert Schumann
Allnächtlich im Traume
Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn (1805-1847), Robert Franz, & Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Die alten, bösen Lieder (Dichterliebe, Op. 48, no. 16)
Robert Schumann
arr. David Eliakis
BIOGRAPHIES
Heralded as “an artist with extraordinary things to say” (The Globe and Mail) and “a force of nature” (Toronto Star), Nikkei Canadian settler Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野(they/he) is a transgender opera singer and interdisciplinary theater creator based in Tkarón:to (colonially known as Toronto, Canada). Teiya comes from a background of nearly 20 years of singing both traditional and contemporary operatic roles across Turtle Island and Europe including the Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte, Cio-Cio San Madama Butterfly, and the soprano solos in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Verdi’s Requiem.
Their critically acclaimed operatic-play The Queen In Me recently had a sold-out run at the National Arts Centre, and has played at the Belfast International Arts Festival, Meridian Arts Centre in Ontario, Canadian Opera Company (world premiere), and will tour to the west coast this season.
In their practice Teiya explores the intersections of identity through reimagining the operatic and classical music canon in works such as their iterative Butterfly Project, Little Mis(s)gender (in development with Queer AF Collective), and Dichterliebe: Whose Love?, among others.
They have recently launched an autoethnographical multifaceted series entitled Project T with its first performance in New York (ChamberQUEER, June 2024) and will continue with public documentation, performances and recordings of their transition. Other vocal highlights include performing alongside two-time Polaris Prize and Juno award winner Jeremy Dutcher in albums Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa (2018) and Motewolonuwok (2023), and creating the role of Solana in the world premiere of Canada’s first lesbian opera When the Sun Comes Out (Queer Arts Festival, 2013).
Passionate about the hidden gems of music, pianist David Eliakis thrives on uncovering lesser-known works and composers waiting to be discovered. With an ear for the unique and a love for the classics, he enjoys reinterpreting timeless songs, breathing new life into beloved melodies.
His performances have taken him to the stages of Brazil, Switzerland (World Economic Forum), England (as a finalist in the Wigmore Hall Song Competition), Northern Ireland, Germany, New York, and across Canada as pianist and musical director for Against The Grain Theatre’s national tour of La Bohème.
A recipient of the Ontario Arts Council Chalmers Award, David had the honour of studying privately with Warren Jones (Manhattan School of Music) in New York City, as well as working with Julius Rudel, Sir Martin Isepp, Dalton Baldwin, Graham Johnson, and Roger Vignoles.
A faculty member of the Royal Conservatory of Music, David has also collaborated with Tapestry Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Opera In Reach, and Amplified Opera in numerous performances of “The Queen in Me” with Teiya Kasahara, including performances at the Belfast International Arts Festival, and the National Arts Centre. He was also the host and curator of Against The Grain Theatre’s monthly Opera Pub for five years.
As a lecturer he speaks passionately about under-represented composers and works, as well as singers of past generations. He was also featured as a guest speaker at the Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of Maria by Callas.
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
As part of the Faculty’s commitment to improving Indigenous inclusion, we call upon all members of our community to start/continue their personal journeys towards understanding and acknowledging Indigenous peoples’ histories, truths and cultures. Visit indigenous.utoronto.ca to learn more.