I have downloaded several videos featuring the Operatic Talent of Wendy Waller (Soprano). Her Mother, Juanita Waller was responsible for most of her vocal training. Her professional debut was here in Sarasota Florida. Enjoy
Wendy Waller
Soprano
Wendy Waller, in Cooperation with Agency Robert Lombardo&Associates New York
Wendy Waller, daughter of the dramatic Soprano Juanita Waller, completed her vocal training with her mother. Subsequently, she studied operatic interpretation and stage techniques with Master Teachers Grace Bumbry and Licia Albanese and acting with Delores Mitchell. Her professional debut was made as a Studio Artist with the Sarasota Opera in Florida.
Ms. Waller's exceptional vocal art lies in the very rare combination of a dynamic voice possessing a unique timbre that expresses it palette of vocal color over its three-octave range. The synergy of these elements have offered Ms. Waller the opportunity to portray a broad horizon of roles from the traditional Bel Canto and French grand opera eras reaching through the most challenging mozartean dramatic coloratura on to the fuller expanse of jugendlich dramatische heroines. The now internationally established soprano began, after her initial career as a lawyer, started her European stage career in 2000 at the Deutsche Nationaltheater Weimar, where she debuted as "The Queen of the Night." Since 2004 she has been engaged as a freelance operatic and concert artist.
Her opera and concert appearances have included the following houses and festivals: Opera National de Lyon, Grand Theatre du Gènéve, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Vanemuine Theatre, Estonia, International Operafestival Miskolç, Hungary and Heidenheimer Festival, the Tubinfestival weeks in Talinn and the Klassik Open Air concert in Nurnberg attended by over 25,000 people. Among the conductors with whom she has collaborated are Hartmut Haenchen, George Alexander Albrecht, William Spaulding and Arvo Vollmer.
Her equally prolific concert and recital activity has led to frequent recital and oratorio appearances Stockholm, London, Paris, Washington, Vienna, Eastbourne, U.K., the Tonhalle Duesseldorf, Talinn and chamber music festivals such as the Newport Music Festival in Rhode Island, the Minnesota Arts Festival and the Ukrainian Art Institute of New York. Ms. Waller's broad concert repertoire extends from the works of the Baroque Master Bach to the modern composers like Poulenc. She has created characters and made the commercial recordings of the world-premieres of works by Michel Levinas (the opera, Les Negres) and Christian Jost (the oratorio, Phoenix Ressurexit).
Her first solo CD project "Génie Oblige! released in 2009, on which the artist and her collaborative artist, pianist Margaret Singer interpret the art songs of Franz Liszt was awarded that year's only "Diplôme d´Honneur " by the Franz Liszt Society of Budapest in its 34th Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque competition. The five‐member jury cited the soprano's unique concept for this privately produced CD, which was inspired by her affection for and fascination with the composer Franz Liszt and his music in its resolution. The goal of this project ,to highlight the vocal repertoire of Liszt. has reached its zenith in a television film "La Vie de Liszt" which features Ms. Waller, and will be aired by ARTE, France as part of the Liszt Bicentennial 2011.
Wendy Waller, Soprano
Lees Pictures
The multitalented Waller recently produced the CD recording Gènie Oblige! Devoted to the music of Franz Liszt, the recording earned the only Diplôme d'Honneur awarded in 2009 during the 34th annual Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque Competition. She is the first African-American woman to receive such an honor. Known for her extraordinary performance as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Waller has added Bellini and Donizetti to her repertoire
Ms. Waller has long had a passion for art song. Throughout her operatic career, Ms. Waller has intentionally devoted equal amounts of time to concert and recital endeavors. Her recital debut took place in New York City, as a sponsored artist of the firm in Steinway Hall. This was followed by successive seasons as a featured artist on the Ukrainian Institute of America’s concert series in New York City and the Newport (Rhode Island) Music Festival. She has performed all of Dvořák’s songs for soprano, as well as the Moravian duets; Mozart concert arias; Liszt’s Petrarch Sonnets; the Four Last Songs; Bach cantatas, works by Scarlatti,, Donizetti and zarzuelas, as well as more traditional art songs by Schubert, Rachmaninoff and Medtner.
Whether with full orchestration or piano reduction for recital format, Strauss’s Four Last Songs have become a personal favorite, and her performance of them in Tallinn with the Estonian National Orchestra was selected for live national broadcast. Other orchestral concert appearances include Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Nationaltheater Mannheim; Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied with Hartmut Haenchen; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Düsseldorf’s Tonhalle; the televised gala dedication concert of the Jõhvi (Estonia) Concert Hall; Exultate, Jubilate in Tallinn with the Estonian National Symphony; Dvořák’s Te Deum with the Staatskapelle Weimar; the Mozart Requiem, Bach’s Jagdkantate and Leonard Bernstein’s Kaddish, in a project with the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar. Her much acclaimed appearance before an audience of 25,000 in Nürnberg with opera and operetta arias brought a new dimension of open-air performance to her career.
Ms. Waller completed her vocal training with her mother,dramatic soprano Juanita Waller. Subsequently she continued her operatic study with Master Teachers Licia Albanese and Grace Bumbry, and acting with Delores Mitchell. Ms Waller won many prizes and received grants from organaizations such as the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, the Loren L Zachary Competition, the National Arts Club, The Gerda Lissner Society and the Homer Bagby Foundation
Background for understanding Rossini's "Semiramide"
Act 1
Temple of Baal, Babylon
The High Priest Oroe invites all to enter the temple, and Babylonians (along with others from abroad, including Idreno the Indian King) do so carrying offerings to Baal. Assur states that the day has come for the Queen to choose a successor and he reminds all of his own valour. Idreno express surprise at Assur's aspirations and all express their individual concerns and fears.
Semiramide enters to the acclaim of all, but Idreno, Idreno, and Assur individually speculate as to who will be chosen. They press the queen to announce her decision, but at the same time Semiramide herself is fearful about making that decision, especially as she appears to be expecting someone's arrival. Suddenly, the temple is plunged into darkness and there is general consternation amidst fears of its imminent collapse. All desert the temple.
Arsace, who had been sent away from Babylon by his dying father, the former King Nino, enters. He brings with him a casket containing his father's relics, but he is puzzled as to why he has been called back to Babylon. He declares his love for Princess Azema who loves him, and he states his unwillingness to support Assur in his bid for the throne: (Aria: Eccomi alfine in Babilonia... Ah! quel giorno ognor rammento / "Oh, I shall ever remember the day of glory and happiness...").
Arsace asks to see the High Priest. Oroe enters, opens the casket, and exclaims upon seeing it that it contains the holy relics of the dead king. He hints to Arsace about some treachery had been involved. Seeing Assur approach, Oroe leaves with the relics. Assur arrives and questions the reason for Arsace's return. The two men discuss Azema, with Arsace reaffirming his love for her (Duet: Bella imago degli dei / "Beautiful, divine image, Azema alone do I adore") while Assur states that he too loves her. "You have no idea what love is", the younger man tells the older: (Aria/duet: D'un tenero amor / "That fierce heart of yours is not capable of tender love...")
The entrance hall of the palace
Azema enters, happy that Arsace is now in Babylon. Idreno follows her and asks for her hand; she tells him that this must be Semiramide's decision. "What of your heart?", he asks assuming that his rival can only be Assur. Scornfully told that it will never be Assur, Idreno is comforted, although he expresses his desire "to punish the wicked boldness of a rival" and continues to express desire for Azema: (Aria: E, se ancor libero / "And, if your fair heart is still free, at least feel some pity in your breast...")
The Hanging Gardens
Having fallen in love with Arsace and believing that he loves her, Semiramide waits for his arrival: (Aria: Bel raggio lusinghier / "A beautiful, enchanting ray of hope and contentment has shone for me at last"). The oracle had predicted his arrival, so it confirms her in the belief that she will find love with Arsace. However, when he arrives, he alludes to his love for Azema without specifically naming her, but he also declares that he will die for his queen if necessary. Semiramide still believes that he really loves her: (Aria: Serbami ognor sì fido / "Keep your head and your affections ever as devoted to me"). They leave separately.
The Palace Throne Room
All enter to await Semiramide's arrival and her announcement of her choice of consort. Arsace, Idreno, Oroe, and Assur all swear to obey her command: (Ensemble: Semiramide, Arsace, Idreno, Oroe and Assur: ( Giuri ognuno, a' sommi Dei / "Let each of you swear to the most high gods to obey my commands..."). She demands loyalty to the man she choses and they are told that he will also be the queen's husband. When Semiramide names Arsace as her chosen one, Assur is outraged and Idreno accepts the decision but requests Azema's hand, which is granted. After asking Oroe to unite Semiramide and Arsace, Semiramide is horrified by the uproar which emits from the close-by tomb of King Nino: (Aria: Qual mesto gemito Da quella tomba / "What a melancholy groaning from the tomb there..."). All are horrified as King Nino's ghost appears, warning of the crimes to be expiated, telling Arsace that he will reign and to respect the High Priest's wisdom, and commanding him to come down into his tomb. Each character expresses his or her own anguish.
Act 2
A hall in the palace
In a brief encounter, Mitrane warns the royal guard to keep Assur under surveillance and not to allow him to leave the palace. Then Semiramide enters, followed shortly after by Assur.
Conflict between the two soon emerges. She reminds him of that it was he who gave the cup of poison to Nino, thus causeing his death, and he reminds her that it was she who had prepared it: "who handed me the cup of death?" he asks. Recalling that at that time she had a son, she speculates that he might have been killed by the same man who killed Nino. Assur continues to pressure Semiramide to make him king. In turn, she threatens to reveal the crime, and they sing an extended duet: (Se la vita ancor t'è cara / "If you still hold life dear, go, get yourself out of my sight") recalling the terror and retribution that each could inflict upon the other if the true facts came to light. Semiramide continues to demand that Assur acknowledge Arsace as his king.
Rejoicing is heard in the distance, and while Semiramide regains some of her former happiness, Assur becomes resigned to his fate.
Arsace's father's tomb
Oroe and the Magi are assembled in the tomb. The High Priest urges Arsace to come forward but makes him aware that there may be some unpleasant news awaiting him. Upon his arrival, Oroe tells him that he is Ninia, Nino's son, who had been saved by Fradate (one of the priests) and brought up as his own. Agast at this news, Arsace then learns that Semiramide is his mother. To reinforce this news, Oroe hands him a scroll, the reading of which confirms the Priest's statements. The final blow comes when Assur reads Nino's words: "Assur was the traitor".
Almost collapsing in grief into Oroe's arms, he asks for comfort: (Aria: In sì barbara sciagura / "In such barbarious misfortune"), but the priests quickly reinforce his need to take immediate revenge. They equip him with armour and a sword and give him the determination to proceed: (Aria: Si, vendicato, il genitore / "Yes, my father avenged"). Sword in hand, Arsace leaves.
Semiramide's apartments
Azema and Mitrane are alone, the former complaining that she has lost everything now that Arsace, the love of her life, is due to marry the queen. Entering, Idreno overhears this and is distraught. Azema promises him her hand if he so desires it, but he wishes that she would love him: (Aria: La speranza più soave / "This soul of mine once entertained the fondest hopes"). Two choruses of Maids, Lords, and Indians lead them all to the temple.
In the temple
Semiramide confronts Arsace, who finally hands her the scroll which has revealed all. Horrified, she then understands Arsace's real identity, and becomes remorseful, offering herself to his revengefull blows. He swears filial loyalty, expressing the wish to spare his mother: (Duet: Ebben, a te... Giorno d'orrore... Madre, addio! / "Well then - go on, strike; fulfill a god's behest!/ Let the gods vent their entire wrath upon me first"). Together, they each accept the reality: (Giorno d'orror! E di contento / "Day of horror...and of joy!"), but Arsace declares that he must go to his father's tomb and take whatever action is necessary. Knowing what is in store, Semiramide urges him to "Return to me victorious".
Adjacent to Nino's tomb
Defiantly, Assur enters and proclaims that this will be Arsace's last day on earth. Learning from his men that the people have turned against him, he still vows to kill Arsace. He moves towards the tomb only to find some unknown force, some apparition holding him back: (Deh ti ferma...Que numi furenti / "Oh, stay, be pacified, forgive"). His men urge him on, but still the apparition remains in his mind. His men are puzzled, until he seems to recover and then, with his men beside him, vows to fight on: (cabaletta: Que' Numi furenti, Quell' ombre fremente / "Those wrathful gods, those quivering shades").
Along with Oroe, Arsace enters the tomb. He awaits his rival. Assur enters, also awaiting Arsace. Then Semiramide comes in to pray at Nino's tomb, asking for forgiveness and protection for her son: Aria: Al mio pregar t'arrendi: il figlio tuo diffendi / "Yield to my prayer: protect your son"). In the confusion of the darkness, all three - Arsace, Semiramide, and Assur - express some bewilderment as to the loss of their courage at this crucial moment: (Trio: L'usato ardir / "My wonted daring, my courage, where has it gone?"). But in the darkness and seeking to strike Assur, Arsace strikes Semiramide as she steps between them to stop the fight. Surprised to learn Arsace's real identity, Assur is arrested, Semiramide dies, and to general acclaim by the people, Arsace reluctantly accepts that he shall be King.
Wendy Waller sings "Bel Raggio Lusinghier" from Rossini's "Semiramide"
wendy waller
Wendy Waller sings "Oh! Quand je dors" (Franz Liszt) from Génie Oblige!
Wendy Waller sings "Rejoice,Greatly" (The Messiah)
Wendy Waller sings "Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém" from Antonin Dvorak's Opera
Wendy Waller sings "Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém" from Antonin Dvorak's Opera
Wendy Waller sings "How Beautiful are the Feet" from Handel's Messiah
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