Soprano soloists and graduating Scripps seniors Elsbeth H. Escher and Mary Theiss will each perform an afternoon of musical selections accompanied by pianist Paul Bishop, Escher on Saturday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m., Theiss on Saturday, April 27, at 3:00 pm. Both performances will take place in Balch Auditorium on the Scripps campus and are free and open to the public.
Escher’s program will include arias from Mozart operas, selections from Italian romantic songwriter Tosti and French composer Gabriel Faurè, cabaret songs by Arnold Schoenberg, and “cowboy songs” by American composer Libby Larson. Escher will conclude with Emmaus Plea, a hymn written by her father, Gustav E. Escher III, who will provide the musical accompaniment for this piece. Escher is a member of The Pomona College Choir and Glee Club and is a frequent soloist at First Church of Christ Scientist in Claremont.
Theiss’ program will include a solo cantata from composer Joseph Haydn; songs by Johannes Brahms; selections from Banalités by Francis Poulenc; and four of Samuel Barber’s Hermit Songs. Currently Theiss performs with both the distinguished Claremont Chamber Choir and Claremont Concert Choir, where she is also acting president.
The Scripps senior recitals are given by graduating music performance majors in lieu of a senior thesis and in partial fulfillment for the requirements for graduation.