Words First: Talking Text in Opera

Jacqueline Goldfinger and Alexandra Deshorties

May 03, 2021 Keturah Stickann/Jacqueline Goldfinger/Alexandra Deshorties Episode 40
Words First: Talking Text in Opera
Jacqueline Goldfinger and Alexandra Deshorties
Show Notes

Keturah begins the podcast with an interview with soprano, Alexandra Deshorties.  They start discussing Donizetti’s Roberto Devereaux, and move into Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, using each libretto to discuss how the text tells the story, and how to work within the confines of the music to find an appropriate interpretation of the text.  Alexandra is frustrated with the idea of sounding “pretty” or “cute,” and wants the text to ring true in all of its beauty and ugliness.  She is convinced that the music can help achieve that.

Keturah’s second interview is with playwright and librettist, Jacqueline Goldfinger.  Jacqueline is a friend and collaborator of Melissa Dunphy, who was on this podcast a few weeks ago.  Keturah and Jacqueline discuss this relationship, as well as the numerous other composers with whom she works.  They also talk about the differences between playwriting and libretto writing, and how she collaborates within each project.