Our first episode is a collaboration between the University of Mississippi Music Department, Living Music Resource™, and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies. We examine trouser roles – a fascinating tradition in opera – as a way to explore feminism and the empowering of women in music and beyond. Enjoy excerpts from the books Lover and Confessions of Cherubino by Bertha Harris and opera selections by Engelbert Humperdinck, W. A. Mozart, Johann Strauss, Jacques Offenbach, and Richard Strauss that feature trouser roles.
Podcast Theme Song – “Hydrogen Jukebox” by Cecil Price Walden – Performed by the UM Wind Ensemble under the direction of David Willson.
Hosts for this episode (in order of appearance) – Nancy Maria Balach, Amanda Fliflet, Theresa Starkey, Jaime Harker.
"Thank You Note segment" – Erika Wheeler, Emma Johnson, Alexis Rose
Readings from Lover and Confessions of Cherubino by Bertha Harris
Musical Selections:
“Prayer Duet” from Hansel and Gretel - Erika Wheeler (Gretel), Alexis Rose (Hansel), Amanda Johnston (piano)
“Aprite, presto, aprite” from Le nozze di Figaro - Emma Johnson (Susanna), Katie Hovan (Cherubino), Amanda Johnston (piano)
“Orlofsky's aria” from Die Fledermaus - Katie Hovan (Orlofsky), Amanda Johnston (piano)
“The Violin Aria” from Les contes d'Hoffmann - Nancy Maria Balach (Nicklausse), Amanda Johnston (piano)
“Act III trio” from Der Rosenkavalier – Tanisha Ward (Marschallin), Maddi Jolley (Sophie), Ashley Ashmore (Octavian), Amanda Johnston (piano)
Podcast Engineer – Amanda Fliflet
Produced by the University of Mississippi Department of Music