Mur Mitoyen
John Carr Cook, tenor
Parker Sheil, piano
Tel jour, telle nuit
1. Bonne journée
2. Une ruine coquille vide
3. Le front comme un drapeau perdu
4. Une roulotte couverte en tuiles
5. A toutes brides
6. Une herbe pauvre
7. Je n’ai envie que t’aimer
8. Figure de force brûlante et farouche
9. Nous avons fait la nuit
Francis Poulenc
Words by Paul Eluard
Shadow of the Blues
1. Silhouette
2. Litany
3. Island
4. Could Be
John Musto
Words by Langston Hughes
A Young Man’s Exhortation
Part I
1. A Young Man’s Exhortation
2. Ditty
3. Budmouth Dears
4. Her Temple
5. The Comet at Yell’ham
Part II
1. Shortening Days
2. The Sigh
3. Former Beauties
4. Transformations
5. The Dance Continued
Gerald Finzi
Words by Thomas Hardy
A concert that explores themes of yearning, loss, and shifting perspective through time in the work of Hardy and Finzi, Eluard and Poulenc and, Hughes and Musto. Three composer poet pairs whose artistic styles complimented each other’s individual way of rebelling against the status quo and injustices of their time.
A native of Issaquah, Washington, tenor John Carr Cook recently graduated with his Masters from McGill University where he studied with Professor Stefano Algieri. Highlights from recent years include singing the role of Grimoaldo under director Patrick Hansen in Opera McGill’s innovative production of G.F. Handel’s Rodelinda and singing the role of Gonzalve in Stu & Jess’ found space production of Maurice Ravel’s L’heure Espagnol. Especially close to John’s heart was premiering the role of the incorrigible Mr. Toad in William Bolcom and Paul Sills’ story theater musical Wind in the Willows. John was last on stage as Wilhelm Grimm in Dean Burry’s The Brothers Grimm with Opera on the Avalon’s school tour in St. John’s Newfoundland.
Boston-born pianist Parker Sheil is most known for her collaborative work with singers. She has been on faculty at both the Florence Voice Seminar, in Italy, and at Broadway For All, in New York City. As a soloist, Parker placed third in the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s youth concerto competition, at Symphony Hall. Away from the keyboard, Parker conducted Léhar’s comic operetta The Merry Widow with the McGill Savoy Society, and played oboe with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.
