FINAL LIED AND ARIAS CONCERT
PROGRAMME
Edith Sharpin — soprano, Cole Knutson — piano accompanist:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791):
An Chloe, K.524 (1787)
Der Zauberer, K.472 (1785)
Hugo Wolf (1860–1903):
Nixe Binsefuß, from Goethe-Lieder (1888)
Verschwiegene Liebe, from Mörike-Lieder (1888–1890)
André Messager (1853–1929): J’ai deux amants, from Coups de roulis (1923)
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937): Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera, M.51 (1907)
Fernando Obradors (1897–1945): Canciones clásicas españolas (1921)
- La mi sola, Laureola
- Del cabello más sutil
- Chiquitita la novia
Sara Wiljaars — soprano, Cole Knutson — piano accompanist:
Franz Schubert (1797–1828):
An die Laute, D.905 (1827)
Minnelied (“Holder klingt der Vogelsang”), D.429 (1816)
Clara Schumann (1819–1896): Lorelei (1843)
Robert Schumann (1810–1856): Röselein, Röselein!, Op.89 No. 6 (1850)
Samuel Barber (1910–1981):
A Green Lowland of Pianos, Op.45 No. 2 (1972)
Nocturne, Op.13 No. 4 (1941)
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963): Deux Poèmes de Louis Aragon, FP 122 (1943)
- C
- Fêtes galantes
Isabella Hulbert — soprano, Cole Knutson — piano accompanist:
Henry Purcell (1659–1695): Sweeter than Roses, from Pausanias, the Betrayer of His Country, Z.585 (1695)
Margaret Bonds (1913–1972): Young Love in Spring, from Songs of the Seasons (1955)
Claude Debussy (1862–1918): Silence ineffable
Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992): L’amour de Piroutcha, from Harawi (1945)
Richard Strauss (1864–1949):
Gefunden, Op.56 No. 1 (c. 1898)
Das Rosenband, Op.36 No. 1 (c. 1886)
Aaron Copland (1900–1990): Sleep is supposed to be, from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson (1950)
Jonathan Dove (*1959): It’s My Wedding Day, from The Enchanted Pig (1996–1997)
Macedonian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska began her musical journey as a violinist, and it is with a sense of innate musicianship that sees her embody characters musical and operatic “with poise and impact” (Opera Today). She is an Alumna of the International Opera Studio at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, where in 2023 she made her role debut as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier”. In the 2023/24 season, Ema made her house and role debut as the Fox in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” at the Canadian Opera Company, and her debut at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre singing the lead role in George Benjamin’s “Picture a Day Like This”. In concert, she recently made her debut in Japan singing Mozart arias with the NHK Symphony and Petr Popelka, and already a celebrated recitalist, Ema has partnered in recent seasons with Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Charles Richard-Hamelin and Sean Shibe.
Celebrated for his “mastery of the art of playing with lightness and finesse, his sensitivity of touch, and intensity,” Métis-Canadian pianist Cole Knutson is an accomplished recitalist who has appeared at leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin Konzerthaus, Salle Bourgie, and Salle Cortot. Most recently, he and duo partner Jeeyoung Lim were awarded First Prize at the 2025 Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. His accolades include a full scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and support from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Gabriel Dumont Institute, SK Arts, the Guildhall Trust, and the Art Song Foundation of Canada. His flourishing career has been shaped by residencies at the Musée d’Orsay and participation in SongStudio at Carnegie Hall, the Académie Royaumont, and the Liedakademie Heidelberger Frühling. Notable artistic influences include Julius Drake, Eugene Asti, Wolfram Rieger, Graham Johnson, Rudolf Piernay, Thomas Hampson, and Renée Fleming. coleknutson.com